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On the Fly is Sue Beevers’ foundation-paper-pieced dragonfly quilt project, published by AllPeopleQuilt/American Patchwork & Quilting on June 14, 2013. It makes a 57-inch-square quilt from 25 dragonfly blocks. Each block finishes at 10 inches (10½ inches before it is sewn into the quilt), and alternating blocks face opposite directions.
Project specifications
| Feature | On the Fly specification |
|---|---|
| Finished quilt | 57 inches square |
| Finished block | 10 inches square |
| Unfinished pieced block | 10½ inches square, including seam allowances |
| Block count | 25 dragonfly blocks |
| Layout | Five rows; alternate dragonflies face opposite directions |
| Construction | Foundation paper piecing |
Fabric and supply list
The quantities below are specified for 44/45-inch-wide, 100% cotton quilting fabric. Measurements include ¼-inch seam allowances.
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| Fabric or material | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Violet-blue print | 1⅓ yards |
| White floral | ⅔ yard |
| Dark teal | 1 yard |
| Purple | ⅔ yard |
| Light green | 1 yard |
| Dark purple | ⅔ yard |
| Periwinkle | 1 yard |
| Lavender | ½ yard |
| Brown paisley | ¼ yard |
| Pale purple floral | ¼ yard |
| Dark coral | ¼ yard |
| Backing fabric | 3½ yards |
| Batting | 63-inch square |
You will also need printable foundation-piecing material, or lightweight tracing paper if you plan to trace the foundations, plus thread, a sewing machine, rotary-cutting tools, an iron and pressing surface, and a blunt seam-ripper edge for removing paper.
How the 25 blocks are distributed
The pattern calls for seven background-color groups. Cut and piece the blocks in this exact distribution:
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- Pattern finishes 51" x 51", but can be made larger
- Pattern is fully pieced
- 3 violet-blue-background blocks
- 2 white-floral-background blocks
- 6 dark-teal-background blocks
- 2 purple-background blocks
- 6 light-green-background blocks
- 4 dark-purple-background blocks
- 2 periwinkle-background blocks
The remaining prints supply the dragonfly bodies, wings and tails throughout the coordinated palette: violet blue, white floral, dark teal, purple, light green, dark purple, periwinkle, lavender, brown paisley, pale purple floral and dark coral.
Foundation-paper-piecing process
1. Prepare the foundations
- Print each foundation pattern 25 times on printable foundation-piecing material. If you are tracing instead, copy every pattern 25 times onto lightweight tracing paper.
- Check the printed 1-inch reference, if present on your copy, before cutting fabric. Foundation patterns must print at their intended size; do not use a “fit to page” setting that changes the measurements.
2. Piece each numbered unit
- Use the numbered sections on the foundation as your sewing order.
- Place each fabric piece with its right side oriented according to the foundation instructions, then sew on the line separating the next numbered section.
- Trim the seam allowance after each addition and press the newly added piece before continuing. This keeps the small angles and points accurate.
3. Build the dragonfly components
Make the body units, right-wing units, left-wing units and tail units separately. Join the completed units to form each dragonfly block, keeping the background color assigned to that block.
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Rank #3
- Colorful Dragonfly Design: Features detailed dragonflies with vibrant multicolored wings flying across a dreamy blue, teal, purple, and pink watercolor-style background. The glowing circular accents add movement and dimension to this enchanting nature-inspired print.
- 100% Cotton Quilting Fabric: This woven cotton fabric is suitable for quilting, sewing, and craft projects. Its vivid artwork makes it an attractive choice for statement quilt blocks, borders, bags, accessories, decorative accents, and coordinated fabric collections.
- Versatile Sewing Possibilities: Create colorful quilts, throw pillows, tote bags, table runners, placemats, wall hangings, fabric baskets, and other handmade projects. The whimsical dragonfly theme works beautifully for nature-inspired gifts and home décor.
- Sold by the Yard: Order the quantity needed for projects large or small. Multiple yards purchased in the same order will be cut as one continuous piece whenever possible, making it easier to plan quilt backs, borders, bags, and coordinating sewing projects.
4. Remove the paper
When a block is complete, remove the foundation paper carefully. A blunt edge of a seam ripper can loosen the paper without cutting the stitching. Remove small pieces from the seams and points before joining blocks.
5. Check the block size
Square each pieced block to 10½ inches, including the seam allowance. It will finish at 10 inches when sewn to its neighbors.
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Arrange and assemble the quilt
- Lay out the 25 blocks in five rows of five.
- Keep the dragonfly bodies parallel across the rows.
- Rotate alternating dragonflies so they face opposite directions, following the project layout rather than turning every block the same way.
- Sew the blocks into rows, then join the rows while matching the ¼-inch seams.
- Add the pieced violet-blue border.
Before sewing the rows permanently, photograph or label the layout. The varied background colors make it easy to rotate a block accidentally.
Quilting, backing and binding
Layer the completed quilt top with the 63-inch-square batting and 3½ yards of backing fabric. Quilt through all three layers using the method and density appropriate for your equipment. Finish the edges with the pieced periwinkle-and-lavender binding strip specified for the project.
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What makes this pattern distinctive
- Graphic movement: Opposing dragonfly directions create a directional rhythm across the five-by-five layout.
- Color variety: Seven background assignments and a broad coordinated print palette prevent the repeated block from looking static.
- Precision requirement: Foundation piecing controls the dragonfly’s narrow wings, body and tail, but accurate printing, trimming and pressing are essential.
- Manageable scale: Twenty-five 10-inch finished blocks produce a lap- or wall-quilt-sized 57-inch square rather than a full-bed quilt.
Practical checks before you start
- Confirm that every foundation copy is printed at the intended scale.
- Cut enough pieces for all 25 copies before chain-piecing, and keep each background group labeled.
- Press after every addition; pressing only at the end can distort the small units.
- Do not trim the blocks to the finished 10-inch size before assembly; the required working size is 10½ inches.
- Arrange and photograph the complete five-row layout before joining rows.
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