Quilt Block Mania Halloween Blocks Galore

My contribution for this month's Quilt Block Mania's frightening Halloween fabric festival was such a delight to create. It is a mini sampler quilt all on its own with a Candy Corn block, 2 pumpkins, and a Wicked Witch hat. Four 6" blocks in one pattern. It will look amazing paired with lots of its friends from the Quilt Block Mania Halloween block bonanza or by itself for a ghoulish pillow or mini quilt.

Fabric Requirements:  Halloween Scraps
I used 24 different Halloween fabrics, only repeating the green and purple backgrounds and 2 fabrics next to the pumpkin stems. You can use up your Halloween scraps to make your blocks. ***Note: for ease of cutting and piecing, the blocks strips are all cut 6.5" wide so charm packs won't work. Jelly rolls, layer cakes, fat quarters, or 1/8 or 1/4 cut, or your scrap pile will work.

CUTTING Instructions:
(Summary: each block has 5 strips: 4 cut 1.75" H x 6.5" W & 1 cut 1.5 H x 6.5" W)

Block strip sets:
Cut 16 strips 1.75" H x 6.5" W
Cut 4 strips 1.5" H x 6.5" W
Cut 2 pieces 1.5 H x 2" W (green stems)  

Green Background
Cut 4 pieces ****

Purple Background
Cut 8 squares 2.5 x 2.5"

PIECING Instructions:
 -Candy Corn
Sew 1.75" strips together in pairs,join for 4 strip unit, add 1.5" strip to top of strip set.
Measures 6.5" x 6.5" 
Cut two background strips 5" x 7" and sew diagonally (from center to bottom outside corner) to each side to create a triangle square, 
Measure and then trim away excess. Press to green.
Trim to 6.5 x 6.5

 -Witch Hat
Sew 3 1.75" strips together, for a 3 strip unit, add 1.5" strip to top of strip set. 
Reserve bottom 1.75" strip (add after green background)
Cut two background strips 5" x 7" and sew diagonally to each side to create a triangle square, 
Trim to edge of first unit. Trim away excess.
Add reserved 1.75" strip to bottom of unit to create hat brim.
Trim to 6.5 x 6.5

-Pumpkins
Sew 1.75" strips together in pairs, join for 4 strip unit.
Cut 1.5" strip in 1/2 in middle of strip. 
Sew to sides of green stem 1.5 x 2" piece.
Trim to 1.5 H x 6.5". Sew to top of strip set.
Measures 6.5" x 6.5"

Finish by sewing purple squares to each corner using diagonal seam method (see photo).
Trim away excess of square and block back 1/4" from seam on outer edge.
Press seam to corners. 

Final Piecing:
Join Candy Corn to top Pumpkin, press seam to Corn.
Join bottom Pumpkin to Witch Hat, press seam to Hat.
Join two rows to make block. 
Measures 12.5" unfinished. 12" when sewn in a quilt.

See my fellow bloggers/quilters for 28 more Halloween patterns. Aren't they great!!

 **** See our fearless leader Carolina Moore's block and links to all the fabulous Halloween patterns HERE ****

September Edition of 2020 Monthly Color Challenge

Looking for another fun block? You are in luck! Jen Shaffer of Patterns By Jen has created another cool one. Very fun to make and perfect for an Autumn quilt, wallhanging, or fall pillow. See bottom of post for the link to the pattern - free during September.

Here's my version made with a fall batik and a Autumn word print. I do love a good text fabric!

12" Fun Fall Flying Geese

This month's inspiration is the coolest bird! The Cinnamon Teal - photographed in Utah near the Great Salt Lake by Matthew Pendleton. Photo from the MacaulayLibrary.org

The block involves a great way to easily make multiple Flying Geese in an efficient way. You only need to cut 1 geese piece and 4 background squares to create 4 Flying Geese. I usually make scrappy blocks and make each Goose separately but this is definitely an amazing way to make a FLOCK of GEESE of the same fabrics and do it quickly!

You mark the sewing line (1/4" from both sides of small squares center) and stack the first 2 squares on the large geese piece. After sewing on both lines, you cut the unit in half along the middle line. Press the seams and you'll have 2 heart shaped units. You add another marked square to each and again sew on both sides.

Cut again on the middle line, press, trim, and voila! You have 4 Flying Geese! Pair them with 2 more squares of the background fabric and you've got this month's block. Easy peasy and lots of fun. 

Pro Trimming Tip: use the 45-degree angle mark on your ruler to keep the geese flying right. Before making a cut - ensure that there is at least a  1/4" seam allowance at the FG point so he doesn't get chopped off. Then move on to trimming the sides and base.

To see more versions of this Cinnamon Teal Geese block visit 

September Bloggers

Wendy - Pieceful Thoughts

Sarah - Sew Joy Creations

Alla - Rainbows Bunnies Cupcakes

Tammy - Tamarinis

Joanne - Everyone Deserves A Quilt

Visit Jen's blog in September for the free pattern and to see her 3 versions of the block  And after you make one, post your finished block on the linky at Jen's page for a chance to win great prizes from the 2020 Monthly Color Challenge Sponsors. Winners for the 3rd quarter will be announced on October 1st, 2020. 

Sponsors July thru September

Quilters Chic - PDF Pattern

For The Love of Geese - PDF Pattern

Carole Lyle Shaw - Pattern and Grunge bundle

Quilters Dream Batting - Dream 80/20 - 60" x 60"

The Fat Quarter Shop - Fabric Bundle

Warm Company - Warm 80/20 - 55" x 60"

Warm Company - 1 yard Insul-Bright

Make Modern Magazine - 6 month subscription

Patterns By Jen - Superior Thread S-Fine 50

Patterns By Jen - Magic Wand