{Tutorial} Beach Ball Block

This block is made of two each of two different squares – referred to as Square A and Square B. The block finishes at 12″ square.

CUTTING INSTRUCTIONS

Beachball Fabric – White

Cut one strip 3-1/2″ W x WOF
- Subcut to six 3-1/2″ squares

Square A – Lapis Blue and Turquoise

From each color cut
- 2 – 3-1/2″ squares
- 8 – 1-1/4″ squares

Square B – Coral and Chartreuse

From each color cut four 1-1/4″ squares and one strip 2-1/2″ W x WOF
- - Subcut the strip to the following pieces:
    - 1 rectangle – 2-1/2″ x 6-1/2″
    - 1 rectangle – 2-1/2″ x 4-1/2″
    - 1 rectangle – 1-1/2″ x 4-1/2″
    - 1 rectangle – 1-1/2″ x 3-1/2″

PIECING INSTRUCTIONS – MAKING BEACHBALLS

On all of the 1-1/4″ squares, draw a diagonal line from corner to corner on the wrong side of the fabric with a fabric safe marker.

Place a 1-1/4″ square on one corner of a white 3-1/2″ square, right sides together. Sew on the diagonal line. Repeat on all corners. Tip: Sewing a thread width to the right of the drawn line (see below) will help you to keep the piece the correct size. Sewing on the line or to the left of the line will make the piece smaller once you’ve trimmed off the excess corner.

Trim each corner a quarter inch from the sewn line. Press all corners open with seams toward dark corners.

Repeat on all white 3-1/2″ squares. You will have six beachballs.

PIECING INSTRUCTIONS – MAKING SQUARE A

Using the layout shown below, sew one solid 3-1/2″ square to a beachball with matching color corners. Press seams toward the solid color square.

Sew both rows together, making sure to match the center seam. Press seam open.

You will have one Lapis Blue Square A and one Turquoise Square A.

PIECING INSTRUCTIONS – MAKING SQUARE B

Sew the 1-1/2″ x 3-1/2″ rectangle to a beachball with matching color corners. Press seam toward the rectangle.

Sew the 1-1/2″ x 4-1/2″ rectangle to the bottom of the beachball section. Press seam toward the rectangle.

Sew the 2-1/2″ x 4-1/2″ rectangle to the right side of the beachball section. Press seam toward the rectangle.

And finally, sew the 2-1/2″ x 6-1/2″ rectangle to the top of the beachball section. Press seam toward the rectangle.

Completed Square B

You will make a coral and chartreuse Square B.

PIECING INSTRUCTIONS – ASSEMBLING THE BLOCK

Lay out the blocks as pictured below. Sew the top two blocks together and the bottom two blocks together. Press both seams toward the Square B blocks.