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| Beautiful Tunes Quilt Block |
Beautiful Tunes Quilt Block – Pat Sloan (Block 7, Summer Soirée)
Looking for a fun and musical twist on quilt blocks? Pat Sloan's Beautiful Tunes (Block 7 of her Summer Soirée series) pairs traditional piecing with outside-the-box thinking—just the thing to add harmony to your quilt top!
About the Block:
Block 7, which is as nicely named as it is beautiful – Beautiful Tunes – is available in Pat Sloan's Summer Soirée Block‑Wednesday sew‑along. It's a 12″ finished block that honors the beauty of music with a nicely balanced combination of half‑square triangles (HSTs) and 4‑patch units
Materials & Cutting:
You'll need the following for this block:
- Two 7″ squares in light and medium shades to create HST units (trimmed to 6½″ finished)
- Extra squares and strips for the 4‑patch units.
Construction Overview:
1. Half‑Square Triangles
Sew together the 7″ light and medium squares with the old-school HST technique (sew on both sides of the diagonal, cut apart, press open), and then cut down to accurate 6½″ HSTs .
2. Four‑Patch Units
Assemble traditional 4‑patch blocks as instructed in the pattern.
3. Block Assembly
Organize your units into the recommended layout—a harmonious mix of HSTs and 4‑patches. Press seams and stitch in rows to maintain crisp corners.
4. Trim to Size
Ensure the finished block is a precise 12½″ unfinished (12″ finished).
Design Tips:
- Fabric Pairings: Pair light and medium prints to make star-bursting HSTs stand out.
- Color Expression: Harmonize with your quilt's overall color palette—soft pastels create a sweet melody, bold colors a dynamic harmony.
- Creative Combinations: Set some Beautiful Tunes blocks together in point‑on‑point settings or join with sashing for visual harmony.
Free download block tutorial and PDF here: Pat Sloan – Summer Soirée Block 7 Beautiful Tunes
See the entire sew‑along and inspiration gallery: Summer Soirée Sew‑along by Pat Sloan
Get video walkthrough to have quick visual reference: Beautiful Tunes – Pat Sloan Block 7 Video
Final Thoughts!
Beautiful Tunes block offers a sweet mix of piecing ability and design compatibility that makes it an expert addition to your sampler or sew-along quilt. Quilted alone or in a medley of blocks, it brings a melodic touch to your quilting experience.
