Time to Complete: 3 to 5 hours (for Spring Serenade QAL) and under 1 hour (for tip of the week)
Skill Level: Beginner

We’re now in the fourth week of the Spring Serenade QAL, and this week is an exciting milestone—we’ll be making the third and final block of the quilt! After this, we’ll move on to assembling the rest of the quilt top with cornerstones, sashing, and borders. But for now, let’s focus on bringing this last block to life.

This block introduces the quick-corner method, a simple yet effective technique for creating diagonal piecing without cutting individual triangles. Instead, a smaller square or rectangle is placed on the corner of a larger fabric piece, stitched along a marked diagonal line, and then the seam allowance is trimmed away to reveal a crisp, angled unit. While there is some fabric waste, these trimmed pieces can be repurposed into smaller projects—something we’ll explore in this week’s tip!

For this final block, we’re capturing the moment of full bloom—when spring is at its peak, bursting with energy, colour, and movement. The petals in this block extend outward, stretching toward the sun, completely open in their final stage of growth.

This is the fourth blog post in the six-week Spring Serenade QAL series, with a new post dropping every Monday (starting March 5, 2025). Each week’s post will feature tips for completing that week’s tasks or fun bonus projects that build on the skills being explored. Even if you’re not following the Spring Serenade pattern, these insights can be applied to future quilt projects. Sign up for the weekly QAL newsletter* here(Opens in a new tab) to stay up-to-date on tasks, tips, and bonus content. The newsletter will only run for the six weeks of the QAL, so you won’t miss a thing.

For a comprehensive overview of what the QAL entails—including the schedule, tools, supplies, and more—check out my previous Spring Serenade QAL blog post here(Opens in a new tab). Remember, you’re welcome to join at any time and work at your own pace. If you’d prefer, you can save the posts and follow along at a later date.

All weekly tips, tricks, and resources will be centralized here(Opens in a new tab) for easy reference, so don’t forget to bookmark it!

*By signing up for the Spring Serenade QAL updates, you also agree to sign up to be on The Weekend Quilter and Brother International email newsletter list. We will not sell your email or spam you.

Supplies and Tools

Instead of tossing the trimmed fabric from your quick-corner units, you can turn them into half-square triangles (HSTs) with just one extra stitch! This is what you’ll need to perform this week’s tip:

• Basic sewing machine – the Brother Innov-ís BQ3100 from the Quilt Club Series was used in this tutorial
• Rotary cutter
• Quilting ruler
• Cutting mat
• Fabrics, quilting cotton. Cut:
  • One (1) Fabric A 2½in square
  • One (1) Fabric B 2½in x 4½in rectangle
• Coordinating thread, 50wt cotton for piecing
• Fabric pen or pencil
• Pins
• Fabric scissors
• Seam ripper
• Iron and ironing board or wool pressing mat

Directions

Read through all the directions before you start. Seam allowance throughout the project is ¼in, unless specified.

Step 1: Similar to Block C – Quick-Corner Units, Step 1 (page 10) of the Spring Serenade quilt pattern. On the wrong side of Fabric A 2½in square, use a fabric pen or pencil to draw a diagonal guideline from one corner to the opposite corner.

Step 2: Then using the previously marked diagonal line as a guide, draw a second diagonal line ½in away from the first one, on the side where the seam allowance will be trimmed.

Step 3: With the right sides together and noting the orientation of the marked guideline (as shown in the diagram), place one (1) marked Fabric A square on the left of one Fabric B 2½in x 4½in rectangle. Sew directly on the first marked guideline to secure the quick-corner unit.

Step 4: Then, sew directly on the second marked guideline to create what will become a bonus HST.

Step 5: Using a rotary cutter and quilting ruler, cut between the two sewn lines, separating the main quilt-corner unit from the extra HST. Press each seam to create one (1) quick-corner unit and one (1) HST unit.

Step 6: Trim the HST unit to size if needed and set aside for future projects.

By adding just one extra guideline, you’ll not only minimize fabric waste but also build a stash of versatile HSTs that can be used in future projects. These bonus HSTs are perfect for incorporating into scrappy quilts, mug rugs, and more.

Seeing your work brings us so much joy! Be sure to share your works-in-progress on social media by tagging Wendy @The.WeekendQuilter and @BrotherSews and using the #SpringSerenadeQuilt #BrotherSews hashtags.

Till next time, happy sewing!