3 Dimensional quilt blocks are a lot of fun. The bow tie is kind of a more fussy block, but it’s great for boys or dad quilts.
The center of the bow tie is where the 3-d comes in. You can stick your finger under all four sides of the knot area of the bow tie.
When I sewed mine, I kep the bow tie to one fabric and the background to another. You can choose to do this, or go scrappy. Whatever you decide will work, but you will want to make sure that the fabrics have good contrast. The bow tie’s can get lost if there isn’t, losing all that hard work to make the block 3-d not worth it.
3D Bowtie Pattern & Quilt Block Instructions:
1) Cut your pieces- You will need 3 squares for your bow tie and 2 squares for your background. They will all be EXACTLY the same size. You can play with the finished size of the block by varying this, but keep all the sizes of the squares the same. For my bow tie quilt block, I used 2″ squares.
2) Fold one bow tie square in half and iron. Layer one background on top of a bow tie block. Repeat with other 2 squares, keeping the background fabric underneath.
3) Lay the pieces in the following order-
4) Take the folded bow tie square and place INSIDE the background and bow tie fabric. Pin to secure and sew along the RIGHT side of the square.
5) Fold back the background and bow tie square and finger press. You piece will now look like this:
6) Repeat with the other side, tucking the folded bow tie inside the layered square and sew along the LEFT side of the square.
7) Open the layers and finger press.
8) Pretend your going to make a 4 patch quilt block. Push the center seams of the pieces together, pulling the folded bow tie piece into place. You might have to fiddle with the bow tie piece to get it to go where you want, but just keep with it.
9) Sew along the top edge, stop with your needle down in the center and fiddle with the bow tie piece again making sure it’s lined up properly. It’s a bit tricky, might take a bit, but should come out just fine.
10) Open block and iron. The center of the bow tie will be 3-d. It might take a little but of fussy fiddling to get it right, but it should iron nicely.
For another 3-D Quilt Block….try the pinwheel:
What kind of 3-D Quilt blocks have you sewn before?
Becky Jorgensen is the creative quilter behind Patchwork Posse, the Patchwork Planner and her online quilt group Patchworkers Plus. You can find her patterns in books, magazines, and her quilt membership. Gather your quilting supplies, organize your sewing space, explore the process of disappearing quilt blocks, or finish a free quilt pattern. I'll help you use what you have, finish what you start and make your quilting journey fun!
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After My Grandma Crossed-Over I found 69 of these squares(I’ve just come across them once again.)
. It sparked a memory… I remember on a warm summer day staying with her in 1962-ish, I was 5 yrs. old. I was sitting at her feet, watching her tug and pull on sime clothing (hers, my Poppa’s and some of her Mom & Dad’s (my Great Grand parents). If they didn’t rip then they went beside her in her quilting basket.The ones that did rip she gave to me to practice on. She then showed me the cutting process. She told me she learned this way with her Momma and Aunts and the Greats when she was my age. She then showed me hou to sew them. (man-oh-man I quickly became a ‘pin cushion!! The thimbles were all to big for me.) Later that evening the Ladies on 3 generations met at the home I live in now. The old quilting frame was set up. I watched them stretch a quilt on it. first they knotted it all over then chairs were drawn up all around the frame. They began to finish the edges. (there were teeny-tiny pokey things set in the frame, owie-ow-ow.) I still have the frame. (sorry to ramble…)
I have 69 Bow Tie squares that she’d finished. I’m dividing them into 2 quilts, mine and my sister’s as we’d both lived with she and my Poppa. I’m reinforcing her stitches (the squares are 46 yrs old).
My ?? is this. By making 2 quilts I’m needing to make more squares. HOW DO I AGE MY MATERIAL TO LOOK SIMILIAR TO THE AGE OF HER’S? Any advice you can give me will be GREATLY appreciated. (Tami, shhhhh it’s a secret surprise for Laura.)