Patchwork
Spool
A thread spool seen from the side: two full-width feature bars top and bottom (the spool ends) joined by a narrow centre thread, with background to either side. Piece it as three rows — the middle row is background, thread, background.
Cut list
What to cut for one 12 inch finished block. A quarter inch seam allowance is already in every size.
Feature
- 2 rectangles
- 12½" × 4½"
- 1 square
- 4½"
Background
- 2 squares
- 4½"
By region
| Region | Fabric | Units | Cut from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feature 1 | Feature | 1 | 12½" × 4½" |
| Background 1 | Background | 1 | 4½" |
| Feature 2 | Feature | 1 | 4½" |
| Background 2 | Background | 1 | 4½" |
| Feature 3 | Feature | 1 | 12½" × 4½" |
How it goes together
- Step 1
Cut your pieces
Cut the pieces in the cut list. The sizes are for a 12 inch finished Spool block and already include a quarter inch seam allowance.
- Step 2
Piece the block
Join the pieces in the order the block is built, pressing each seam before adding the next.
- Step 3
Assemble the block
Finish the last seams, press, and square the finished block to size.
Read more
Color value vs hue in quilts
Value is how light or dark a color is. Hue is what we usually call “the color itself.” In quilts, value carries the design — hue carries the mood.
5 min read
Quilt block families, explained
Most quilt blocks belong to one of six families — Patchwork, Half-square triangles, Flying geese, Stars, Curves, and Hexagons. Each family is a way of piecing fabric together.
6 min read
The quilter’s seam allowance, explained
A seam allowance is the strip of fabric between the seam and the raw edge. Quilters work in a standard 1/4 inch — and getting it right is the difference between a top that finishes flat and one that fights you.
5 min read
Try the Spool on a real layout.
Open it on the Design Wall. Try a few colors, see the math, change your mind.