2019 Block of the Month—July: “Shoo Fly” Quilt Block
In January, Team Nancy Zieman introduced the first of 12 blocks in the New! Summer Picnic 2019 FREE! Block of the Month Series. Find the January through June Quilt Block Tutorials under Popular Blog Posts: 2019 Block of the Month. Join the New! Summer Picnic 2019 Block of the Month Series, anytime, by viewing the supply listing in the January 5th NZP Blog Posting.
Each month, we’re featuring one quilt block design. The quilt blocks are created using Nancy Zieman’s NEW! Afternoon Picnic Fat Quarter Pack* from Riley Blake Designs (*18″ x 22″ fabric rectangles) plus background, sashing, border, and binding fabrics. Follow along as we demonstrate how to create this Month’s “Shoo Fly” Quilt Block (below).
Keep your fabric choices sorted using this handy Fabric Planner diagram. Download the planner HERE. Make notes or pin swatches to remind you of the fabric placements.
2019 Block of the Month Afternoon Picnic Summer Picnic July Shoo Fly PDF
Choose the Fabrics
For the New! Summer Picnic 2019 FREE! Block of the Month Series, “Shoo Fly” Quilt Block, select the following fabrics from your Nancy Zieman’s NEW! Afternoon Picnic Fat Quarter Pack from Riley Blake Designs and a Nancy Zieman’s No-Hassle Triangle Gauge by Clover.
Afternoon Picnic Cream Main, Afternoon Picnic Red Tonal, and Afternoon Picnic Black Gingham
“Shoo Fly” Block
This whimsical Shoo Fly block is a great addition to our Afternoon Picnic, Summer Picnic block of the month series. Using four half square triangles and five squares this quilt block will go together in a flash, then you can enjoy the warm summer evenings with family and friends.
Instructions: (Each block is a 12″ finished square. Finished quilt measures approximately 44-1/2″ x 57-1/2″)
Cut Fabric for Block
- Cut four 4-1/2″ squares of Afternoon Picnic Cream Main.
- Cut one 4-1/2″ square of Afternoon Picnic Black Gingham.
- Cut two 4-7/8″ squares of Afternoon Picnic Cream Main.
- Cut two 4-7/8″ squares of Afternoon Picnic Red Tonal.

Construct The Units
All seam allowances are scant 1/4″ unless otherwise stated.
The step-by-step photos illustrate construction of the block.
Half Square Triangles (HSTs)
1. Create four 1/2-square triangle blocks of Afternoon Picnic Cream Main and Afternoon Picnic Red Tonal.
- Align 4-7/8″ squares cut from Afternoon Picnic Cream Main and Afternoon Picnic Red Tonal right sides together to create block sets.

- Mark blocks using a No-Hassle Triangles Gauge and an erasable gel pen.
- Use a No-Hassle Triangles Gauge. The left side of the gauge is designated to create 1/2-square triangle blocks. Depress button on sliding portion of the gauge and move to size of the desired 1/2-square triangle.

- With block sets right sides together, place No-Hassle Triangles Gauge corner to corner. Match corner marks of gauge with corner of block sets. Mark fabric through center of gauge with an erasable gel pen.

Stitch Blocks
- Align presser foot along one side of center mark, stitch.
- Kiss the next block set to the stitched block and chain stitch from one block to the other.

- Rotate block, stitch along other side of center mark.
- Cut blocks apart along center markings with a rotary cutter, ruler, and mat.

- Press seams to darker fabric.


Join Squares
- Place squares from first column onto second column, right sides together.
- Chain stitch from one block set to the next. Clip threads between blocks.
- Press seams open, or press seams to alternate sides.

- Place squares from third column onto second column, right sides together.
- Chain stitch from one block set to the next. Clip threads between blocks.
- Press seams open, or press seams to alternate sides.

- Stitch top row to middle row, right sides together.
- Press.
- Stitch bottom row to middle row, right sides together, to create the complete Shoo Fly block.
- Press
Nancy Zieman’s No-Hassle Triangles Quilt Blocks book shows how to create 12 additional quit blocks. For best results, use the No-Hassle Triangles Gauge.
Watch No-Hassle Triangles Quilt Blocks (Part One and Part Two) on The Best of Sewing With Nancy online.
For a chance to win Nancy Zieman’s New! Afternoon Picnic Fat Quarter Pack please leave a comment below.
The randomly selected winner of two tickets to Quilt Expo and two Quilt To Give Volunteer Pins, from the July 13 Blog post, is Marlene Milligan.
Her comment is: I am jumping on board and making a Quilt to Give! I’m also hoping to attend the show in Madison and would love to participate in sewing a quilt.
Happy Quilting!
Team Nancy Zieman
Nancy Zieman Productions. LLC.
Love this quilt and the fabrics are beautiful. Thank you.
The Shoo Fly Quilt and the beautiful fabric, looks like a first time half block try. Thank You
The Shoo Fly block is so endearing and the Afternoon Picnic fat quarter bundle is the perfect charming fabric choice for a block like this!
That’s a fun block!
the pdf for this month’s block won’t load
Dear Deborah,
The “Print Post as PDF” is now working.
Thanks for letting us know.
I love the fabrics. The colors remind me of summer.
These fabrics remind me of Grandma’s house and a farm kitchen with the pretty curtains blowing in the breeze coming through the window!
Very Pretty! So is the Block! I see a table runner made out of block of the month patterns with these fabrics…..
The colors in this collection remind me of Grandmas house and a farm with “gingham” curtains in the kitchen window…. It’s beautiful Fabric!
This is such a pretty bundle of fabrics–would love to use them!!
Perfectly named fat-quarter bundle!! It reminds me of the old-fashioned table cloths we used to use on the picnic tables back in the 60′s. They’d be perfect for a cute lap quilt!! Thanks so much for the chance to win!!
Love these fabrics – could really use these for some neat gift items.
I love these bright, cheerful fabrics. They would make a wonderful table topper for my kitchen or a “quick grab” picnic cloth…. you know, sandwich, drink, and a book…find a shady spot… bliss.
I would love to make the Summer Picnic quilt using the Afternoon Picnic pack. I love the fabrics; they are so cheerful and pretty.
I love the fabric pack and the blocks so far. But I also can’t load the PDF. =(
Dear Evelyn,
The “Print Post as PDF” is now working.
Thanks for letting us know.
I love this fabric. Every time I look at it, it makes me smile . I love all the colors and blocks so far in this quilt. She always make the instructions easy to follow. Can’t wait to see the rest of them. Thanks for the chance to hopefully win some. Thanks again.
I love the colors. Who doesn’t love a Shoo Fly block?
I would love to win this fabric pack.
I would love to win that fabric, it is so pretty and looks beautiful in the block of the month quilt. Thanks for letting me enter the contest.
I too could not get PDF to download.
i love the fabrics you choose for this block. Shoo fly block is simple yet always pretty. So glad we can honor Nancy. I have learned so much from her over the years!
Dear Stephanie,
The “Print Post as PDF” is now working.
Thanks for letting us know.
l’m unable to download the July PDF pattern. l checked by downloading June & it worked fine. Any help would be most appreciated .. thanks!
Dear Patti,
The “Print Post as PDF” is now working.
Thanks for letting us know.
I really like the fabrics chosen and would enjoy sewing this quilt.
I am having trouble with the pdf of July block. I would lie to save pdf and make at a later date. Can you help please?
Dear Carolyn,
The “Print Post as PDF” is now working.
Thanks for letting us know.
I just love the floral patterns in this fabric pack. So many ideas come into play when using the Shoo Fly Block! Thanks!
Love the colors in this bundle. I can think of a few patterns I would love to use it on. Thanks for the chance.
I love this fat quarter collection. It reminds me of my childhood bedroom done up in in red, white, and blue Raggedy Ann & Andy. Brings a smile to my face.
Nancy makes quilting so much easier! I love the reds, whites, and blues in the Fat Quarter Pack. Thanks for the opportunity to win it.
I love this fabric, and I love the quilt blocks that have been made thus far. The fabric just lifts one’s spirits–the flowers are so joyful and colorful!! Thanks for the opportunity to win this fabric!!
Love the fabric. It looks great with all the blocks in the sampler quilt.
I make a lot of charity quilts and would love to win this set . It is such a fun and bright and cheery combo. THanks for this opportunity.
Thanks for the chance to win. I was able to print the instructions using Crome.
This Shoofly Block is perfect in the Afternoon Picnic fabrics. Love this fabric line!
I love the shoo fly block, it really defines a quit. The fabric is beautiful and would be a stunning quilt.
The Shoo-Fly is a fun block to make, and the pretty Afternoon Picnic fabrics display its vintage look in an updated sweet and colorful way. Thanks for the patterns and inspiration!
Yes, having problems with the PDF. It will not load in Chrome or Firefox. I right-clicked to save. Something downloaded but Adobe says it an invalid file format or damaged.
Dear Kay,
The “Print Post as PDF” is now working.
Thanks for letting us know.
Lovely prize pack. Thanks for the chance to win.
I can’t seem to get the PDF to come up and save properly. Can you help?? Thanks and love this series!!
Dear Cheryl,
The “Print Post as PDF” is now working.
Thanks for letting us know.
“Shoo Fly” is the perfect block to use a light floral, a beautiful dark floral print and a graphic print. The combination of fabrics makes a perfect quilt block.
love these fabrics. they look so cool. thanks for the opportunity to win.
I love the simplicity of this block and the fabrics are perfect.
The PDF for this month’s block won’t load. Anyone else having this problem??
Dear Beverly,
The “Print Post as PDF” is now working.
Thanks for letting us know.
Thanks for fixing the PDF link!
Beautiful colors in Afternoon Picnic! I love the red and blue combination.
Afternoon Picnic is so pretty! It appeals to the gardener in me. Thanks for the giveaway and the BOM instructions.
I love, love these! Thanks for a chance to win. I can see so many projects to use these for!
The fabric is beautiful and would make a lovely quilt.
Lovely fabric and clear instructions, as always. I need one more block for a hand stitching project and this will be it. I’m inspired by yours.
What a wonderful block, and the fabric, WOW! Thank you!
I would love to make a quilt with the fabric pack.
Love the fabric. Shoo Fly is one of my favorite blocks.
I love how clear the directions are on the Nancy Zieman posts. This requires real talent. Would be fun to use these fun fabrics using the wonderful directions provided.
I would love to make my little great granddaughter a quilt (she’s two) out of this beautiful fabric.
Love the fabric and the quilt blocks. Keep it up team Nancy Zieman. Thankyou.
Such an aptly named fabric pack! It’s adorable and inspiring to quilt with!
I would just love to create something special for my granddaughter who just loves my “blankets”.
In this Shoo Fly quilt block, I see a picnic cloth in the middle with four picnickers sitting in a flowered field. Why not shake it up, put in one square of ant fabric. : )
I always like the shoo fly block.
Love all the vintage blocks so far! Perfect for the chosen fabrics
These fabrics are just so gorgeous-my head is swirling with ideas to make with them!!
I love the old fashioned look of the fabric – it reminds me of a patchwork quilt I have that was made by my grandmother. The finished quilt will be beautiful.
Can never have too much fabric!!!
As usual all bases are covered. The sample block, easy detailed instructions, how to tips, accuracy, etc!!! Even the fabric!!! Now for the homerun, to get busy and complete the project. Thanks for the inspiration.
The fabric pack is beautiful and I would love to use it in a summer quilt. Thank you for the giveaway.
Thank you for offering this giveaway
Nancy makes making quilt blocks look so simple and easy and her tutorials are great for the beginner quilter.