Flying Kite Quilt Block Tutorial

A Pinwheel-type Design

by Julie Baird

Skill Level: Confident Beginner

Grid: 2x2 (4-patch)

Making a Flying Kite quilt block is Easy Peasey when you paper piece it!

No templates to fiddle around with and perfect little blocks...every time! And the seam allowances are ALWAYS pressed in the right direction.

On this page, you'll find:

Free 4" and 6" patterns to download
Complete illustrated instructions
Two ideas for quilts - one would make a terrific baby quilt
Links to resources for other pinwheel type blocks like the Flying Kite

Let's begin!

General Instructions

Set up your sewing machine for paperpiecing: reduce the stitch length to 1.5 or 15-18 stitches/inch, install an open toe applique foot and, if you find it difficult to remove the paper after all the stitching is complete, install a 90/14 needle.

If you haven't tried it, check out our Best Pressing Technique for the flattest paperpieced blocks you've even seen.

Step 1: Download and print the pattern

You'll need to have Adobe installed on your computer. If you don't have it, click here to go to Adobe's website to download and install the most current version of the program.

Print the size of your choice:

Remember before printing either pattern sheet set 'Custom Scale' to '100%' under the 'Page Sizing and Handling' heading in order to print the correct block size. There's a 1" square on the download page to help you quickly assess if it's right.

NOTE: The pattern will look like it's backwards and that's exactly right. It's because the unit is asymmetrical and the printed side is actually the backside of the block.

My favorite paperpiecing papers are:

Step 2: Cut the patches for your Flying Kite

Flying Kite design

While many quilters use 'hunks' of fabric to paperpiece with, I prefer to pre-cut my patches for traditional blocks.

There's less fabric waste, but more importantly, pre-cutting ensures that the outside edges are on the straight of grain. This makes for a more stable block.

After stitching a few, make any adjustments you need to the cut dimensions suggested below.

			Cutting Chart for a Flying Kite Quilt Block ~ Paper Piecing ~
Patch	Fabric	Qty	Finished Block Size		Sub Cut
Patch	Fabric	Qty	4”	6”	Sub Cut
1	A	1	3-3/4” x 3-3/4”	4-7/8” x 4-7/8”
2	Background	4	1-1/4” x 2-3/4”	1-1/2” x 3-3/4”	--
3	B	1	3-5/8” x 3-5/8”	4-5/8” x 4-5/8”
4	Background	1	3-3/4” x 3-3/4”	4-7/8” x 4-7/8”
Grid Size			2”	3”	na
Unfinished block size			4-1/2”	6-1/2”	na

Patches #3 and #4, though identical in finished size, are cut at different sizes to ensure there is adequate fabric around the outside edge for trimming to a perfect block at the end.

Step 3: Assemble the Flying Kite units

Cut the units apart between the dashed lines. This is a rough cut—everything will get prettied up at the end—even all those scraggly thread tails!

Dab a dot of Elmer's glue stick (the one that goes on purple and dries clear) on the unprinted side of the pattern behind #1. Adhere the wrong side of your fabric Patch #1 to the paper, using the dashed lines for foolproof placement.

You can see how the fabric extends past the dashed outline. We'll trim the excess off at the end for a perfect block.

Position Patch #1 using the dashed guidelines

With right sides together (RST) match the long edge of #2 with #1. (see arrows)

Stitch on the solid line between #1 and #2, starting and stopping past the dotted lines.

Press.

Position #3, RST, with the sewn patches—the long edge with#2 and the short edge with #1.

Stitch the seam between #3 and #1.

Press.

At this point, we need to trim #3 to establish the placement line for the final patch.

Match the edge of your ruler to the black seamline between #3 and #4. To crease the paper along the ruler's edge, you'll need to pull the it away from the stitching (see the red circle below).

If you accidentally rip the paper too far, you can use a piece of Scotch Brand Magic Tape to repair it. Just be careful not to iron directly on the tape—it will melt! This shouldn't be a problem though, as all the pressing is done from the fabric side of the unit.

Trim Patch #3 to establish the placement line

Line up the 1/4" mark with the folded edge (red arrow) and trim with your rotary cutter.

Align the short bias sides of #4, RST, with the sewn unit.

Stitch the seam between #3 and #4, starting and stopping outside the dashed lines.

Press.

To trim the units to size, align the 1/4" mark of your ruler with the solid black outside line of each triangular units.

Trim with your rotary cutter and repeat for all sides of all four units.

Helpful Hint

I do trim all three sides at this point. However, if your block regularly comes up a smidge too small, wait to trim the outside edge of the block until all the units are sewn together.

Step 4: Assemble the Flying Kite quilt block

Lay out the units as shown below. Unlike many of the blocks in the library, the units of our Flying Kite are triangular instead of square.

One of the benefits of paperpiecing is that the seam allowances will automatically nest if you follow the order of piecing provided.

Select two adjacent units and with RST pin them, nesting the SA at the center. I like to feed the center or squared end into my sewing machine first.

Pin and stitch two completed units together

You can see in the photo above that I've switched back to my regular 1/4" foot. I am stitching just at the right edge of the black line, at a scant 1/4"

I've found that it's not necessary (most of the time) to push the pin through both layers of paper—through the top layer and then both fabric layers is usually enough.

Repeat for the second pair.

Press with the seam allowance following in the same direction or towards #1. (You can see the SA peeking out below in the corners below.)