Shoofly Quilt Block Pattern

From our Free Quilt Block Patterns Library

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Skill Level:  Beginner

The Shoofly quilt block is a terrific block for the beginner quilter because it contains only half square triangles and cut squares—the most basic of units of patchwork.

A chameleon quilt block because several are based on this very simple structure.

On this page you'll find the instructions to make this block in 5 different sizes.

There are also examples of common variations on this block design.

To complete the page are illustrations of several designs with the same name—that look completely different.

Links to those instructions are shared if those tutorials are on the site.

Enjoy!

Several abbreviations are used in this tutorial:

  • SA - seam allowance
  • RST - right sides together
  • HST - half square triangle

All seam allowances (SA) are 1/4".

When you are instructed to press, first press the pieced unit flat to set the seam. Then open the patch, pressing from the front.

Seam allowances are pressed to the dark fabric unless otherwise noted.

The newest quilt fabrics to tickle your fancy...

Click the images below to see the full collection. We share any commercial and/or free patterns that showcase them, too. (For inspiration, of course!)

Step 1: Cut the Shoofly patches

Shoofly quilt block designShoofly design

Sample Size: 4½" finished / 5" unfinished

Grid: 3x3

Attributed to: Ladies Art Company

AKA: Fence Row (KC Star), Eight-Cornered Box (American Farmer), Fifty-Four Forty or Fight (Nancy Cabot), Simplicity (Old Chelsea Station)

Design Type: Even 9-patch

All it takes are two fabrics.

Just be sure there's enough contract between the two.

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Cutting Chart for a
Shoofly Quilt Block

~Traditional Piecing ~

PatchFabricQtyFinished Block Size
3" 4½" 6" 7 1/2" 9"
1** L 2 1⅞" x 1⅞" 2⅜" x 2⅜" 2⅞" x 2⅞" 3⅜" x 3⅜" 3⅞" x 3⅞"
2** D 2 1⅞" x 1⅞" 2⅜" x 2⅜" 2⅞" x 2⅞" 3⅜" x 3⅜" 3⅞" x 3⅞"
3 L 4 1½" x 1½" 2" x 2" 2½" x 2½" 3 " x 3 " 3½" x 3½"
4 D 1 1½" x 1½" 2" x 2" 2½" x 2½" 3" x 3" 3½" x 3½"
Unfinished Block Size 3½" 5" 6½" 8" 9½"
Grid Size 1" 1½" 2" 2½" 3"
**I prefer to cut my patches extra large for HST, stitch, and then trim them to size. If you prefer to do the same, add a bit extra to the measurements for Patches #1 and #2 above.

There is a chart further down in these instructions where you need it for trimming them to size.

These are the cut patches.

Cut the patches for the Shoofly quilt block

Step 2: Assemble the units for your Shoofly

Half Square Triangles

Make 4

Use the Quick Pieced technique to make these units. (Click here for more detailed instructions for this technique.)

Draw a diagonal line on the backs of the two light #1s with a pencil just dark enough to see.

With RST, layer a #1 and #2 together and stitch 1/4" away from both sides of the drawn line. Repeat for the second pair.

Stitch on both sides of the drawn lineThe arrow points to an anchor cloth.

Cut the patches apart on the drawn line to create 4 HSTs.

Cut the HSTs apart on the drawn line

Press.

Find your finished block size in the chart below and the corresponding HST dimensions. Trim as needed.

HST Dimensions

Finished
Block Size
Trim HST to…
3" 1½"
4½" 2"
6" 2½"
7 1/2" 3"
9" 3½"

Your half square triangles look like this.

Trimmed HST units ready for the block

Step 3: Assemble your Shoo Fly block

Lay out your patches in rows to create the Shoofly design.

Lay out the sewn units and cut squares

Stitch the units in each row together.

Press flat to set the seam and then SAs toward the solid square. (See the arrows in the diagram below.)

Press the seam allowances away from the HST

Stitch the rows together. The SAs nest to help make matching them pretty easy. Do use pins if you need them.

Nest the seam allowances to match the seams

Your finished Shoofly quilt block looks like this...

The finished Shoofly quilt block

...all ready for piecing into your next quilt project.

Common Variations on a Shoofly Quilt Block

The unifying element in each is a HST in each corner.

Snowball quilt block design

Snowball

Two colors form the snowball with a third fabric, a background, finishes out the corners.

Snowball Variation

This time with just two fabrics with dark corners and center.

Snowball quilt block variation

Grandmother's Choice

This Shoofly quilt block is drawn on a 5x5 grid, sometimes called an uneven 9-patch. Still a two fabric block the corner units are twice as wide as the side center units.

Big O

This two color block changes up the construction just a bit. Four rectangles with connector corners are puzzle pieced around a center square using a piecing technique called 'partial seams'.

We used this piecing technique in the Double Star Quilt Block.

Big O quilt block

Click here to learn how to make 'Big O'.


Other blocks are called 'Shoofly',  too...

...and quite a few others, in fact!

We've listed them here with the other block that carries the same name. Underlined names are links to instructions for that alternate version of the block.

Ohio Star quilt block aka Shoofly

Ohio Star or...

  • Eastern Star
  • Eight Point Design
  • Eight Point star
  • Lone Star
  • Star
  • Texas
  • Texas Star
  • Tippecanoe and Tyler, Too

Click here to learn to make an 'Ohio Star'.

Churn Dash quilt block aka Shoofly

Churn Dash

Or...
Broken Plate, Double Monkey Wrench, Double T, Dragon's Head, Fisherman's Reel, Hens and Chickens, Hole in the Barn Door, Indian Hammer, Joan's Doll Quilt, Lincoln's Platform, Love Knot, Ludlow's Favorite, Old Mill Design, Picture Frame, Puss in the Corner, Quail's Nest, Sherman's March, Wrench


Path and Stiles

Or...
Far West
Stiles and Paths

Path and Stiles quilt block aka Shoofly

Click here to learn to make 'Path and Stiles'.

Corn and Beans quilt block aka Shoofly

Duck and Ducklings

Or...
Corn and Beans
Ducklings
Fox and Geese
Hen and Chickens
Handy Andy
Wild Goose Chase

Learn to make 'Duck and Ducklings'.

Alamanizer

Or...
Eight Point All Over
Pavement Pattern
Triangles and Squares
Triangle Beauty

Alamanizer quilt block aka Shoofly

So many blocks. So little time!

Time to make more quilt blocks

The clock's ticking!

And there's more where this block came from.

Just visit our Free Quilt Block Patterns library for more!

For layout and design inspiration, visit Quilt Design 101.

What about a different quilt block?

For a list of all the 220+ quilt block patterns on this site, start here.

If you know the name of the block, shorten your search by using these links:

A-D

E-M

N-Z

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:


This article was printed from Generations-Quilt-Patterns.com

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