Quilt Blocks, Tutorials, Uncategorized

New York Beauty Quilt Along – Block 5

This tutorial is part of the New York Beauty Quilt Along
To see schedule and tutorials for all 10 blocks in the series, check here!
 
 

Hi everyone! Welcome to the 2nd week of the New York Beauty Quilt Along! I am very excited to bring you a tutorial for Block 5! You can find the paper piecing template for the block here. This template will make an 8″ finished block. This was my favorite block of the series, and I love it because there is so much going on visually.

To print your paper templates, regular printer paper will do. Please set your sewing machine stitch at a shorter length than you usually sew with (my machine is usually at 3.5mm for regular sewing; for paper piecing I set it at 2mm) to allow for perforation and easy tearing away of the paper when you’re finished.

I know many of you are going for a scrappy block; others are working with a group of fabrics that they’ve assembled. I am going to break down my cutting instructions based on the segments that I’ve labeled in the 2 photos below. If you need additional help in cutting for a specific number of fabrics, please feel free to let me know in the comments and I will certainly get back to you as soon as possible!

  

I have accounted for seam allowances in my cutting instructions. I know some following along are beginners to paper piecing, so I have accounted for a generous amount of fabric to give us all some flexibility in working with the block. 🙂 If you are more experienced at paper piecing, you may want to adjust the size of your cuts to be more frugal with the fabric.

Cutting Instructions

{A}   3-1/2″ x 3″ (cut 7)
{B}   2-1/2″ x 3-1/2″ (cut 6)
{C}   2″ x 2″ (cut 12)
{D}   8″ x 3″ (cut 1)
{E}   8-1/2″ x 3-1/2″ (cut 2)
{F}   3-1/2″ x 2″ (cut 3)
{G}   3″ x 4″ (cut 4)

Also cut out your paper templates, including the light gray area surrounding them. This light gray area is the seam allowance.

Helpful Hint: It can be helpful to label the actual paper with your fabric choices before beginning. As an example, I’m showing you my paper template, all labeled for my block.

This is one of my templates…as you can see, I labeled it with my fabrics to help me later when I start to sew!



STEP 1 ~ SEGMENT C

1a. As a paper piecing warm-up, I’m going to start out with the easiest paper piecing segment. Take out the paper piece pictured above, and all of your 2″ x 2″ fabric pieces.

1b. Place the fabric for piece #1 wrong side facing you, with the paper template on top of it. Your fabric should be centered and exceed the piece #1 outline by at least 1/4″ on all sides. Pin in place.

1c. Take your fabric for piece #2, and place it right side up. Place the template on top of it. Fabric #1 should be right over fabric #2. Remove the pin and pin it through both fabrics.

1d. Sew along the line between 1 and 2. You should not sew into the light gray seam allowance area.

1e. Turn your template over. Trim the seam allowance of your fabric to approximately 1/4″.

1f. Open up your fabrics and press fabric #2 to the side.

1g. Now take out fabric #3. Place it right sides together with fabric #2.

1h. Flip the template over and sew on the line between 2 and 3.

1i. As before, trim the seam allowance to 1/4″ and press the fabric to the side.

1j. You will continue this procedure until you have all 12 fabrics assembled.

1k. Turn your template over so that the paper side is facing you. Trim the excess fabric. Fold the paper at the perforations and gently tear away.

STEP 2 ~ SEGMENTS A & B

2a. Take out your paper piece with the segments A and B on it, and your corresponding fabric pieces.

2b. Take the fabric for piece #1. Place it wrong side facing you. The template should then go on top of the fabric, and it should be approximately centered.

2c. Now take out your fabric for piece #2. Fabric #2 should bypass the seam allowance by approximately 1/4″ (for some great shots of a similar segment piece as this, such as holding your fabric to the light and pre-folding, check out the tutorial for the previous block here).
2d. Sew on the line between piece #1 and piece #2. Stop and start at the gray seam allowance (again, do not sew into the gray seam allowance).
2e. Trim the seam allowance to approximately 1/4″.
2f. Now take our your fabric for piece #3. It should hang past the line on the template between #2 and #3 by at least 1/4″.
2g. Sew on the line between #2 and #3.
2h. Trim the seam allowance to 1/4″, then press the fabric to the side.
2i. Continue adding pieces until you have all 13 assembled.
2j. With the paper template facing you, trim the fabric even with the paper. Fold the paper along the perforations and gently remove it.
STEP 3 ~ SEGMENT G
 
3a. Take out your paper piece for Segment G, and the corresponding fabric pieces.
3b. Place your fabric for piece #1 wrong side facing you. Next, place the paper template on top of your fabric, approximately centered (the fabric should overhand piece #1 by at least 1/4″ on all sides).
2c. Next, place the fabric for piece #2 with the right side facing you. Place the paper template on top of it. Fabric #2 should overhand the line between #1 and #2 by at least 1/4″. Pin in place.
3d. Sew on the line between #1 and #2, starting and stopping at the gray seam allowance (do not sew into the gray seam allowance).
3e. Trim the seam allowance to approximately 1/4″.
3f. Press fabric #2 to the side.
3g. Now take out your fabric for piece #3. Lay it down right side facing you. Place the paper template on top. Fabric #3 should overhand the line between 1&2 and 3 by at least 1/4″.
3h. Sewing this segment will be a little different. This time, you are going to begin sewing on the line between 1 and 3, and continue through and sew the line between 2 and 3 (it is a straight line).
3i. Continue adding fabrics until you have attached all 7 pieces.
3j. Trim your fabric even with the paper template, then gently remove the paper template.
STEP 4 ~ ASSEMBLE SEGMENTS D & E
 
4a. Take the paper piece for Segment D and 1 corresponding fabric piece. Pin the template to the fabric, then trace and cut.
4b. Now take your paper piece for Segment E and the corresponding fabric pieces.
4c. There are probably a few ways of doing this, but since I was making a block of 4, this is how I did mine to lessen my own confusion. 🙂 First I put one of the paper templates with the wrong side facing me. I followed that up with the 2 pieces of fabric (they should be right sides facing eachother). Finally, I placed the last paper template, right side facing me. Both of the paper templates should be even (you can check that the bottom straight edge of both are level). Pin in place.
4d. Sew along the short straight line only, stopping and starting at the gray seam allowance.
4e. Press the seam open, then gently remove the paper.
STEP 5 ~ ASSEMBLE THE BLOCK
 
5a. Take segments C and G.
5b. Flip Segment C down and place it on top of Segment G, right sides together. Find the approximate center points of both and place a pin there. Pin the beginning and end. You may also find it helpful to place additional pins. Sew the pinned curved edge with a 1/4″ seam allowance. Segment C almost works like an accordian, and should curve nicely for you. Press seam down.
5c. Now add Segment D.
5d. Flip Segment D down, and place it on top of your previously assembled piece, right sides together. Again, pin at least in the center and at each end. Sew the pinned curved edge with a 1/4″ seam allowance. Press seam up.
5e. Now add Segment A.
5f. Flip Segment A down and place it on top of your previously assembled piece, right sides together. Pin in place, then sew along the curved edge with a 1/4″ seam allowance. Press seam down.
5g. Finally, take Segment E. Flip it down and place it on top of the previously assembled piece, right sides together. Pin the approximate center and both ends. Sew along the curved edge with a 1/4″ seam allowance. Press seam down. Trim your completed block to 8.5″.
Congratulations, you’ve finished the block!!
Feel free to post any questions in the Flickr Group, and also post your completed block photos there as well! And be sure to check back next Monday for the next block in the series!

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37 thoughts on “New York Beauty Quilt Along – Block 5

  1. So darned awesome, Sara! I love it!! I especially love your fabric choices 🙂

    1. precioso me encanto su totorial

  2. Raelene says:

    Ahhh, I am a little scared. No make that really scared. I will give this a go as I know with accurate seams anything is possible with paper piecing. Wish me luck,
    Hugs

  3. You have the best tutorial for paper piecing I’ve ever seen!!! Thank you for all your work.

  4. Kim says:

    LOVE this block Sara!!!!! Thanks for a great tutorial :o)

  5. Diane-crewe says:

    I only just did block 0!! Need to have a go at 1 now xx will be coming back to this one xx

  6. Diane-crewe says:

    oh!! Just looked at the list and we are supposed to do this one next !! PANIC TIME!!

  7. Lee says:

    Gorgeous, Sara! Love love love the text-y background. : )

  8. Annalee says:

    This is so clear. Thank you! I have a question, though. How come you don’t extend your seams into the light gray seam allowance area? How else do your seams get “locked” so they don’t unravel? Or is this something you don’t worry about since your stitch length is small?

  9. Katy Cameron says:

    Have I told you before how much I love the solids with the texty background?! This looks fab :o)

  10. Kris says:

    Great tutorial, Sara – Thank you so much!! Kris

  11. Maryanne says:

    Hi,

    I just wanted to say a big thank you for this tut and the QAL in general. I have uploaded this completed block to Flickr (I am moopip) and although far from perfect I am still completely amazed that I have made this!! Prior to last week my patchwork experience was close to minimal – I have made two 9 patch baby quilts, a free form quilt as you go log cabin and 8 of the easiest Dear Jane blocks. I think I stopped there because I was too scared.
    Paper piecing is truly miraculous!!!!
    I am not sure that I will be able to manage the whole QAL but I know I will finish them as soon as I am able. I can already see my red NYB sampler on my bed!!!

    Thank you again
    Maryanne

  12. Bettina says:

    What an absolutely wonderful tutorial- this is so clear, well thought out and easy to follow, thank you for taking the time to do this and to do it so well!
    I felt so inspired by this, I am going to start my very first bit of quilting and do this (talk about ambitious….).

    A question: you mention you were being a little generous with the piece sizes…how generous? I have a couple of 5 inch Charm Squares and am trying to work out if I can squeeze a piece B and C out of half a Charm by sneaking a quarter inch off B and adding it to the 1.5 inches leftover piece width for a C square (so B would be 3.25″ long and C would be 1.75″ on one side and 2 on the other) Am I cutting it too fine to get the curves?
    Many thanks x Bettina

  13. I love the background fabric! I’m not good at paper piecing but this makes me want to try again!

    Vicki @ Quilting Lodge

  14. Megan says:

    Thanks Sara – just finished this block now, and even though it took me aaaaaages, it worked!! Thanks for a really clear tutorial.

  15. Fiona says:

    Thanks for this great step by step tutorial… just used it and you made it so easy….
    Hugz

  16. Susan says:

    I want to try this! Thanks for sharing!

  17. Amazing tutorial! A definite try for the next project.

  18. Amazing tutorial! A definite try for the next project.

  19. For those of you who have not tried paper piecing..please give it a try. It makes getting things straight so much easier than any other method. Once you figure out the first pieces (which are a bit different from the rest), you will love it. I love paper piecing.

  20. Love it! Love it! But the pattern page is no longer any good.

  21. Linda says:

    While the tutorial is very detailed, I am afraid the end result is not good at all. The picture of the finished result completely lacks accuracy !

  22. The template link is no longer working. Is there anyway of getting the template. Thank You

    1. Patricia M Chojnowski says:

      Please note if you are LOOKING for the templates, HERE is the website: http://www.lenzula.de/en/pattern/free-pattern/new-york-beauty.html

  23. Linda says:

    Just discovered this beautiful quilt tutorial and I too would love the template…thanks!

  24. Linda says:

    http://www.lenzula.de/en/pattern/free-pattern/new-york-beauty.html

    found them!!! thanks so much!!! I feel like I found GOLD!!!!!!!!

  25. Deb says:

    Would love to have been able to print out the pattern – error occurs every time. I love paper piecing and this looks great!

  26. aschnell says:

    I love this block! and was hoping to make one of my own but when I went to the link where the template should be it said it was invalid. Any clue where I can find it?

  27. Thank you for this very clear and helpful tutorial and series!

  28. ifela says:

    Hello, just a little hint: Segment E is divided only for the reason to fit the background template in the sheet. You should stick the two parts together (the sides where figures the german text) and cut one background piece from your fabric.
    I hope to have contributed with the translation of the german text on the pattern (actually, I’m a german native speaker) to another little simplification of this beautiful block.
    Thank you for the great tutorial!!
    For a beginner in paper piecing, as I am, it is so much easier to finally begin one of all those free, wonderful but unexplained NYB-blocks in circulation in the www, when you can see and compare the single steps of piecing.

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