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Flying Kite Quilt Block Tutorial
A Pinwheel-type Design
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Skill Level: Confident Beginner
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:
- 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.
Not sure which paper to use?
Have a look at my review of several of the most popular brands available to us quilters on the market.
Which one will you choose?
2022's New Quilt Fabrics ~ Get ready to drool!
Click the images below to see the full collection and any commercial and/or free patterns that showcase them (for inspiration, of course!)
Step 2: Cut the patches for your Flying Kite
Flying Kite designSample Size: 6" finished / 6&3189;" unfinished
Grid: 8x8
Attribution: KC Star
AKA: Pinwheel (Grandmother Clark)
Design Type: 4-patch, Pinwheel
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~ Paper Piecing ~ | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patch | Fabric | Qty | Finished Block Size | Sub Cut | |
| 4” | 6” | ||||
| 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.)
With RST, pin the two halves together, again taking care to match the center. Stitch starting and stopping past the dashed outline.
Press. Twirl the SA if you'd like to reduce bulk in the center of the block.
Trim the dog ears with a scissor (the only one left to trim is circled in red) and your finished Flying Kite quilt block looks like this...
Flying Kite quilt blockQuilt Ideas using the Flying Kite block
Put all the blocks together in a straight set with simple sashing and cornerstones and this is what it looks like...
Now swap in all sorts of bright kid prints and you'll have a terrific baby quilt!
If you need a different size block...
For a list of all the quilt block patterns on this site, start here.
If you know the name of the block, you can shorten your search by using these alphabetical links:
Click here if you're looking for blocks with at least some paper piecing.
Click here if you're looking for the basic building blocks of quilting, i.e. Flying Geese, half square triangles, quarter square triangles, etc., along with several techniques to make each.
And finally, use these links to find blocks in these finished sizes:
My
Favorite Paper
Piecing Tools
For a complete list of all the tools I personally use, click here to read 'The Right Tools Make Your Job Easier', part of my series called, "Essential Paper Piecing Skills".
The serrated edge on this short-bladed scissor make it easy to trim seam allowances—my all-time favorite scissor.
