Scrappy Shoo Fly Quilt Block Tutorial

[@SewtheDistance]

Here's the inspiration quilt video:kzbin.info/www/bejne/iGrLk314hLiJZ7c Here's MORE Scrap Buster Videos: kzbin.info/aero/PLjHvTLWU9QXTpH2hkPAx9TVTKwo5U-Y2R

[@jennystrahley927]

YES! That's how I pin too! You're the only other person I've ever seen in videos that pins this way. I love it because I can peel back the fabrics and see if seams are matching. 🖐(hi-5) 😊 Your scrappy blocks are colorful and pretty, and the layer cake version will be gorgeous. Thanks for sharing!

[@SewtheDistance]

Glad I’m not the only one! I was taught to do it this way in the early 90s. I’ve tried to do it the other way and occasionally, still do depending on the situation, but this is how I do it the majority of the time. 😀

[@dianehuntley2493]

Always watch your videos when I find them😊

[@SewtheDistance]

Thank you so much! I hope you fine me often! 😎

[@BrendaH289]

I love the one with the blue center

[@barbarasinopoli7690]

Came to watch this again. I particularly love the two color version of the block. Thanks for the videos!!

[@SewtheDistance]

My pleasure! So happy you love this one! I love the two-color one, too. Who knew this is such a versatile block. Thank you for watching (twice!). 🥰

[@SewingWithLawayne]

I love how with just changing one color/direction you get a whole new block.

[@SewtheDistance]

Isn’t that cool!? I love that, too!

[@juliatepe5760]

I like the bright colors you chose!

[@juliatepe5760]

Ooohhhh the Moda fabrics are lovely too!

[@SewtheDistance]

Thank you! ❤️

[@pamstrong8709]

I learned to make this block in an adult ed quilting class at the local high school in the fall of 2021. It was my favorite because of its simplicity. Thank you for reigniting my interest!

[@SewtheDistance]

That’s so cool! It’s a great block! Thanks for sharing! ❤️

[@lbaker4222]

I love your tutorials, you are a good teacher😊

[@SewtheDistance]

Thank you! 😃

[@kwatson5451]

Wonderful tutorial on the versatility of this block showing the countless color combinations. Thanks!

[@SewtheDistance]

You are so welcome! ❤️

[@sewbeitquilts]

Ok Kris, I absolutely love this tutorial but now I need that vacuum! 😂

[@SewtheDistance]

LOL! My husband made fun of me when I bought it because I just love gadgets, but I LOVE THIS VACUUM! LOL! I use it ALL the time!

[@margm4]

Wonderful tutorial..you’re the best teacher👍 You not only show, but you explain! Love the blocks, your quilt will look amazing with that layer cake bundle. Yes, please tell more about the vacuum! ❤️🇦🇺

[@SewtheDistance]

Oh, thank you so much! You are so sweet! Glad you like it! That vacuum! Love it! It’s rechargeable, inexpensive, and you can empty it. It’s great for so many things! I got it on Amazon.

[@margm4]

@@SewtheDistance Thanks Chris ❤️

[@marywise2014]

❤love the colors you chose. Just beautiful!

[@SewtheDistance]

Thank you! It was fun to make!

[@deenagraham5488]

Nice tutorial, Kris! Love the versatility shown.

[@SewtheDistance]

Thank you! So glad you like it!

[@susanrichtarcik5672]

I needed a 9 1/2 in block to make for a row quilt and now I have found it. Thank you, can't wait to make this one. And the way you show it I think I can do the half square triangles.

[@SewtheDistance]

YAY! So happy this is helpful! I love when that happens! Thank you so much!

[@mirtaPR]

Oooh so nice n pretty never made one 👍👏🏼

[@SewtheDistance]

So much fun and so easy! ❤️

[@deborah1555]

Love William Morrix fabrics

[@deborah1555]

Morris I mean

[@SewtheDistance]

They are amazing! Love it!

[@judylitton4198]

Awwww love this 😀.

[@SewtheDistance]

Thank you! ❤️

[@tracyrichmond-pshyk8863]

I too use water or steam in my wool mat. It always seem ok, I’ve had no problems.

[@SewtheDistance]

Thank. you for this! I am glad I am not alone! I haven't noticed a difference either. ❤️

[@livingweirdestherc6644]

That’s a neat block

[@SewtheDistance]

Thank you! ❤️

[@arvettadelashmit9337]

I have wondered how this pattern got its name (Shoo-fly). I'm sure it has other names. Your blocks are very interesting and colorful. We will have to wait until you finish the quilt top. It is going to be beautiful. Thank you for this video.

[@SewtheDistance]

Great question! I am not sure. That may be something I look into. It does have a ton of other names. Thank you so much for watching and commenting! I have been working on the quilt using the layer cake that I show. I am loving it!

[@bethkoch11]

A lot of quilt blocks have fun names, this being one of them. I don't know the answer, but I do know that my grandmother was Pennsylvania Dutch, and she made the most wonderful "Shoofly Pies".

[@SewtheDistance]

@@bethkoch11 I love it! I’m half Pennsylvania Dutch, too! Shoofly pies are delicious! Such a treat. ❤️

[@bethkoch11]

@@SewtheDistance You're right - they're fabulous! By the way, I just ordered that adorable little vacuum.

[@SewtheDistance]

@@bethkoch11 Yay! You’ll love it!

[@carlaatkins2619]

Yay!!👏🥳🎸‼️‼️

[@SewtheDistance]

Thank you! ❤️

[@ShadowMoonFarms]

Thank you

[@SewtheDistance]

You are so welcome! ❤️

[@Loridye3605]

Kris, if you rearrange the block is it still a true “shoo fly” block? Just wondering. Love the tutorial and the block!

[@SewtheDistance]

Great question! Technically, yes, but these variations have also picked up different names like snowball, snowball variation, hourglass, calico puzzle, and more. Even the shoofly block itself goes by different names like Eight Cornered Box, Fifty Four Forty of Flight, Simplicity, Hole in the Barn Door, and more. Hope this helps!

[@Loridye3605]

@@SewtheDistance It does. Thanks Kris for all you do!❤️

[@SewtheDistance]

You are so welcome! ❤️

[@silverpromidi]

This somehow got me looking into the Pine Burr Quilt and the Gee's Bend Quilters 🤣 would you be game enough to show how to make say a pillow top using this quilt pattern?

[@SewtheDistance]

LOL! I love it! I can look into doing a pillow tutorial video.

[@silverpromidi]

@@SewtheDistance yay 😍 thank you. I am thinking of giving it a go myself but it will not be handsewn uh uh ...

[@SewtheDistance]

That will work, though! One of my friends only hand sews things. ❤️

[@silverpromidi]

@@SewtheDistance brave person is all I can say 😀 although, I know of one youtuber who does period America and there was one video I remember her teaching another young woman she knows how to sew with a machine, and the young woman commented that that had been the first time she had ever used a sewing machine, and she is in her 20 or early 30s 😀 I still want to tackle parts of my huge quilt project by hand though, it may well end up as one of those 'messy quilts' 🤣

[@SewtheDistance]

Love it! What a labor of love, for sure!

[@desleybartlett322]

Hi Kris this question has nothing to do with this block that you have just posted but I am curious to know how you put information on your quilt labels. What sort of pen do you use. Thanks Desley

[@SewtheDistance]

Hi Desley! Great question! I have a video on my process. I will add a link below. I love to use my printer and printer fabric to make labels for my quilts. I always sign them, too, however, and when I do that, I use Micron Pens. They seem to work the best. Hope this helps! Here's the link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gH-2namAg9Vob8k

[@debbielee7117]

How did you cut the layer cake?

[@SewtheDistance]

I separated the lights, mediums, and darks like I show and then cut some of each pile for the pieces. Some were cut into 3.5” squares and some were cut in 4” squares according to the cutting instruction. Hope this helps!

[@suzanneyasinowski]

I use a dowel that has been sliced in half to open seams game changer

[@SewtheDistance]

I’ll have to try that! Thank you!

[@silverpromidi]

I found this from the Quilting in America website if this helps "Named after a wild plant with domed flowers called clover broom or shoo-fly, this 9-patch block originated around 1850 and became popular in the late 1800s." Here I am still finding time to now cut those scrappy blocks down to doll quilt size so I can make those dolls quilts 🤣🤣🤣

[@silverpromidi]

a bit more about this, I do wonder though if that later year was not a misprint? "Reflecting farm life, an alternate name for the pattern is Hole in the Barn Door. Its arrangement of triangles and rectangles around a center square resembles a hole through which flies could enter the home. "

[@SewtheDistance]

So interesting! Thank you for sharing!

[@silverpromidi]

@@SewtheDistance I had a great time looking into this, might find some time and brain concentration and look into the history of many of the quilt blocks and such, we don't have so much of that history here in Aus that I am aware of, although having said that we may have our own unique quilts here as well with the history of immigration. Oh this is sounding to be a HUGE rabbit hole to go down 🤣🤣

[@SewtheDistance]

Love this! If you are interesting in old quilts, Barbara Brackman has a ton of books on this. She is considered the leading expert in this field. Maybe you have already heard of her, but if not, I hope this helps in your journey. My favorite of hers is called "Clues in the Calico." I was just listening to a podcast today about how we tend to romanticize old quilts/quilt blocks/patterns, when in reality, many of the stories we hear aren't exactly accurate. We tend to love to think that quilt designs are from a certain era, when they are in fact, ancient patterns. It is so interesting to read about!

[@silverpromidi]

@@SewtheDistance I will go find out what I can with regards to Barbara, thank you 😀 I found it really interesting looking into the Gee's Bend quilters and their history. Fascinating all this history you have over there. I read yesterday how it might not have been had Jamestown not succeed, scary how finely balanced life and history is eh? 😀