6 inch Shadow Block Tutorial

Time to show off from my sewing marathon, three Shifting Shadows quilts.

I thought how awesome these shadow blocks would be for a baby quilt. One problem - the little blocks measure in at 3", which would mean 80 blocks for a baby size quilt. So I emailed Debora and asked if it would be okay if I enlarged them, and change up the setting. No problem! Create away! 

Since these bigger blocks are fast and easy to make, I've put together a tutorial for sewing 6 inch Shadow Blocks. And over the next few days, I'll show each quilt in more detail, as each has it's own story. There's just too much to put into one post!

Note: This block works best with focus fabrics that have a variety of medium to large distinct images throughout. Repetitive novelty fabrics could work, if there are several of them with the same theme.

Fabric Amounts

• minimum 1 yard focus fabric, with images fitting into a 5 1/2" square - 20 images needed
• 1/4 yard or one fat quarter for shadow. This can be grey, brown, or any dark fabric to coordinate with the focus fabric. Needs to be medium to dark to contrast.
• 1 1/3 yard background fabric (this amount is for a baby size quilt), light value to contrast with the shadow fabric.

Cutting for Blocks

Cut 20 (twenty) 5 1/2 " squares from the focus fabric.

Cut 2 (two) strips 1 1/2" from background.

Cut 1 (one) strip 4 1/2" from shadow.

Cut 1 (one) strip 5 1/2" from shadow.

(If using a fat quarter for the shadow, cut strips 18" long which allows for two strips 4 1/2" x 18", and two strips 5 1/2" x 18". There will be very little waste.)

Making the Blocks

Sew one 1 1/2" background strip to a 4 1/2" shadow strip. Do the same for the 5 1/2" shadow strip.

Press towards the background, away from the dark 'shadow'. This will make the 'shadow' sink into the background.

Starting with the 4 1/2" combo strip, subcut the strip into 20 (twenty) 1 1/2" pieces.

Sew these strips to the bottom of the 5 1/2" squares, with the 'shadow' on the right.

Press towards the 5 1/2" square to sink the 'shadow'.

Subcut the 5 1/2" combo strip into 20 (twenty) 1 1/2" pieces.

Sew these strips to the right side of the 5 1/2" squares, with the 'shadow' towards the bottom.

Press towards the 5 1/2" block, sinking the 'shadow'. The block is finished, measuring 6 1/2".

Arrange as desired, add sashing if you'd like - be creative. 

These blocks, along with sashing, created the three Shifting Shadow quilts, Safari, Jungle, and Polar Ice, each one just a bit different. For the full Shifting Shadows baby quilt, visit my Etsy shop. 

Happy Quilting!