How to Make the Patchwork Block: Gentleman’s Fancy
This tutorial is about about how to make the patchwork block “Gentleman’s Fancy”. The optical illusion that this block can make just makes my heart flip for joy. I love that it builds on skills we’ve already developed through the Free Block Friday series.
Block information
Block Number + Name: 02 – Gentleman’s Fancy
Quilt Pattern: Space Oddity Sampler for Free Block Friday. Enter your details below to get your copy of the pattern.
Construction Method: From Marti Michell Perfect Patchwork Templates and Rulers
From Marti Michell Perfect Patchwork Templates Used:
I’ve put together bundles of the templates and rulers I used for this project and you can find them in my online shop.
Make Your Own Templates
If you’d prefer to make your own templates the pattern comes with free printables of the templates so that you can make your own. To help you with making your own templates I’ve done a tutorial showing you one way to make them.
Before You Sew
- I pressed to my own preference; a mixture of open and to one side. I’ve provided a photograph of the back of the block so you can see how I did it.
- I used a Schmetz 70/10 needle.
- I used Wonderfil Konfetti Cotton 50wt in Pale Grey (KT906) thread for piecing.
- I used the From Marti Michell Perfect Patchwork Template Set B
- I used Flatter by Soak in Yuzu 248ml as my starch.
- I used a design board to layout my pieces while I worked. Click here for a tutorial on how to make your own.
If you’d like to know “My Top 10 Beginners Patchworking Tools” you can find them by clicking here.
Measurements for the pieces needed to construct this block will not be provided in this tutorial. It is a prerequisite of making this block that you have a copy of the pattern. Measurements can be found in this pattern.
Choose Your Fabrics
I provide 2 colouring options for the Space Oddity Sampler: Stardust and Ziggy. This tutorial shows the Stardust version. If you’d like to make a version with the exact fabrics that I have used they are:
I have used the Ziggy colouring with Nonna by Guicy Guice for Andover Fabrics, to purchase click the button below:
I have used the Ziggy colouring with First Light by Ruby Star Society for Moda Fabrics, to purchase click the button below:
Florida Volume 2 by Ruby Star Society will be available for purchase in June 2022.
Plan Your Quilt with PreQuilt.com
I’ve collaborated with the wonderful team at PreQuilt.com to provide you with free colouring sheets for the Jumping Jacks Sampler. You can plan your quilt blocks based on the fabric placements I have used in my blocks.
How to Make the Block
General Advice:
- Tolerance Levels: you need to decide what is an acceptable tolerance level for “mistakes”. For example if your blocks are consistently 12¼” instead of 12.5″ are you ok with this? Or if your seams matching are less than an 1/8″ “off” are you ok with this. There’s no hard or fast rule and it’s different for everyone, so remember it’s your quilt so make your decision for you.
- Press your seams at each step. Click here for a great article on how to press your seams for patchwork.
- You can iron and starch your fabric prior to cutting. I also starch when pressing bulky seams. If you can afford it, a wool pressing mat does wonders to help flatten seams.
- When pinning, pin away from you so that you don’t move your pieces when pinning.
- Where possible I chain piece all the pieces I can in one step. If you’re unsure of what chain piecing is, click here for a tutorial on how to do it.
The photos below show you the step progression of making this block. Please read the accompanying text before starting to make your block.
Block Assembly Steps
1: Square in a Square Unit
Use the From Marti Michell Perfect Patchwork Templates to cut all the block pieces. [Please see tutorial picture “Step One” for the pieces laid out.]
Refer to your copy of the pattern for which templates to use for each piece.
- Attach Piece A to Piece E to Piece A. Press.
- Attach Piece A to AEA to Piece A. Press.
FYI: I pressed my B13 triangles towards the outside.
2: Extended Square in a Square Unit
Use the From Marti Michell Perfect Patchwork Templates to cut all the block pieces. [Please see tutorial picture “Step One” for the pieces laid out.]
Refer to your copy of the pattern for which templates to use for each piece.
- Attach Piece B to AAEAA to Piece B. Press.
- Attach Piece B to BAAEAAB to Piece B. Press.
- Attach Piece D to BBAAEAABB to Piece D. Press.
- Attach Piece D to DBBAAEAABBD to Piece D. Press.
FYI: I pressed all the triangle to the outside.
3: Side Unit
Use the From Marti Michell Perfect Patchwork Templates to cut all the block pieces. [Please see tutorial picture “Step One” for the pieces laid out.]
Refer to your copy of the pattern for which templates to use for each piece.
- Attach Piece C to Piece G. Press. Repeat to make 4.
- Attach Piece C to GC. Press. Repeat to make 4.
- Attach Piece H to CBC to Piece H. Press. Repeat to make 4.
4: Complete the Block
Use the From Marti Michell Perfect Patchwork Templates to cut all the block pieces. [Please see tutorial picture “Step One” for the pieces laid out.]
Refer to your copy of the pattern for which templates to use for each piece.
- Join units into rows. Press.
- Join R1 + R2 + R3 to complete the block. Press.
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Got a Question?
If there’s something you’d like further details about the information covered in this blog post simply drop me an email via my contact page and we’ll get it sorted together.