--- title: "Color Me Creative Quilt Block of the Month, Month Three: The Challenging Block" date: 2022-06-15 author: "Phoebe Moon" featured_image: "https://scrapdash.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/challenge.jpg" categories: - name: "Free Patterns" url: "/category/free-pattern.md" - name: "New Pattern" url: "/category/new-pattern.md" tags: - name: "How to Make a Crocus Quilt Block" url: "/tag/how-to-make-a-crocus-quilt-block.md" - name: "How to Use the Quilt-in-a-Day Flying Goose Ruler" url: "/tag/how-to-use-the-quilt-in-a-day-flying-goose-ruler.md" --- # Color Me Creative Quilt Block of the Month, Month Three: The Challenging Block This challenging quilt block builds on the technique you used in last month’s block and adds one additional fabric. There are many, many different ways to make the Flying Geese units used in this block. This monthly pattern will show you how to use the **[Quilt in a Day Flying Geese ruler](http://amzn.to/1Fpdckt)** # CC2007 as well as the traditional method. If you prefer a particular method, cut for that one, NOT the one shown here. To learn more about these methods, download the e-book “[**Strolling Geese**](https://scrapdash.com/cook-your-goose-quilt-mystery/)” from PhoebeMoon.com. Here is a quick tutorial: This is the fabric you will need to cut for the flying geese used in this month’s block. There are other cuts you will need to make for future months. ![Blocks of Fabric](https://scrapdash.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/FG-1-271x300.jpg) Read over the instructions on page 12 in the introduction before you begin sewing. ## Making a Flying Goose block using the Quilt-in-a-day Ruler The Quilt-in-a-Day ruler uses two squares, a large one that makes the sky corners and a smaller one that makes the center goose. ![Blocks of Fabric](https://scrapdash.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/FG-2-297x300.jpg) Place the goose color block right sides together in the middle of the background block. Draw a diagonal line on the back of that fabric packet. Sew a scant 1/4″ seam from both sides of that line. Cut on the line. ![Fabrics cut apart](https://scrapdash.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/FG-3-290x300.jpg) Press the two halves open from the front. It will look like a very strange half-square triangle unit. ![Fabric cut apart](https://scrapdash.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/FG-6-167x300.jpg) Put the two units together so that the two edges meet. The seams should not meet in the middle. Look for the Batman Ears on two sides. Draw a diagonal line bisecting the seam as shown below. ![Fabric ready to sew](https://scrapdash.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/FG-4-292x300.jpg) Sew a scant 1/4″ seam on both sides of the center line. Cut the unit apart. ![Fabric Cut Apart](https://scrapdash.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/FG-5-273x300.jpg) and press. Looks pretty silly, doesn’t it? ![pile of fabric](https://scrapdash.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/FG-7-225x300.jpg) Place the [Quilt in a day ruler](http://amzn.to/1Fpdckt) on the block, matching the lines on the ruler with the angles of the block. If you have a[ rotating mat](https://amzn.to/2ELQEQI), you will find it very helpful here. ![quilt fabric and a ruler](https://scrapdash.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/FG-9-153x300.jpg) Ta-da! Each set of fabric makes (4) Flying Geese blocks, and they are all perfectly sized. ![A single Flying Goose Quilt Block](https://scrapdash.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/FG-10-300x187.jpg) ## Making the Crocus Block ![Steps for making a crocus block](https://scrapdash.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/crocus-block-300x194.jpg) After you have made the (8) Flying Goose blocks, it’s time to add corners to them to make them into Crocus Blocks. These blocks will be the four corners of the Challenging Block. Notice that they are not all the same! You will be making 4 blocks with Color Two on the right and 4 blocks with Color Two on the left. Make a test block first. Following the directions in your pattern, draw a diagonal line on the back of (8) Color Two squares. Place them on the block, the SEW ON THE LINE. Fold the block to the corner of the Flying Goose block. If it matches perfectly, you can trim. If not, unsew a bit and try again. ![quilt block showing steps](https://scrapdash.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/crocus-block-1-282x300.jpg) Press the Color Two block to the corner and add the Color One block. Notice that it overlaps Color Two by a bit. That will become your seam allowance. ![](https://scrapdash.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/crocus-block-2-300x166.jpg) ![](https://scrapdash.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/crocus-block-4-300x180.jpg) Repeat the process. And press. You have made 8 Crocus Blocks! ![](https://scrapdash.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/crocus-block-done-300x225.jpg) Remember to make two of them! ## Here are some examples: ![Color Me Creative BOM - Block 2 and 3 Made by Kelly M](https://scrapdash.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/CEC-Block2-3-Kelly-Marion.jpg) Made by Kelly M![Color Me Creative BOM - Block 3 Made by Pam R](https://scrapdash.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/CEC-Block3-PamR.jpg) Made by Pam R ![Color Me Creative BOM - Block 3 Made by Judy V](https://scrapdash.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/judy-v-block-3.jpg) Made by Judy![olor Me Creative BOM - Block 3 Made by Birgit](https://scrapdash.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/CMC-Block3-Birgit.jpg) Block 3 by Birgit![All Color Me Creative Blocks by Kelly M](https://scrapdash.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/CMC-KellyM.jpg) All the blocks so far by Kelly M![Color Me Creative BOM - Block 3 Made by Polly S](https://scrapdash.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/pollyS-block3.jpg) Made by Polly S![olor Me Creative BOM - Block 3 Made by Kathy](https://scrapdash.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Kathy-Upton-1.jpg)Made by Kathy![Color Me Creative BOM - Block 3 Made by Daniella](https://scrapdash.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/daniella-block3.jpg) Made by Daniella![Pincushion made from scraps](https://scrapdash.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/pincushion-kathy-u.jpg) **Here is a pincushion Kathy made with her leftovers**![Elke made these Quilt Blocks](https://scrapdash.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Elke-3.jpg) Made by Elke![Polly S made this Challenging Block Quilt](https://scrapdash.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Polly-S-challenging.jpg)Polly S made a whole quilt out of this block! ## Color Me Creative Schedule - 4/18/2022 [Introduction and Block One](https://scrapdash.com/color-me-creative-bom-quilt/) - 5/11/2022 [Block Two: The Diamond Sawtooth Star](https://scrapdash.com/diamond-sawtooth-star/) - 6/15/2022 [Block Three: the Challenging Block](https://scrapdash.com/challenging-block/) - 7/13/2022 [Block Four: More Flying Geese](https://scrapdash.com/flying-goose-quilt-block/) - 8/10/2022 [Block Five: the Log Cabin](https://scrapdash.com/log-cabin-quilt-block/) - 9/14/2022 [Block Six: HST Quilt Blocks](https://scrapdash.com/traditional-hst-quilt-block/) - 10/12/2022 [Block Seven: the Churn Dash](https://scrapdash.com/churn-dash-quilt-block/) - 11/9/2022 [Block Eight: the Center Star](https://scrapdash.com/the-center-star/) - 12/14/2022 [Block Nine: Half Star Quilt Blocks](https://scrapdash.com/half-star-blocks/) - 1/11/2023 [Block Ten: the Center of the Quilt](https://scrapdash.com/block-of-the-month-quilt-center/) - 2/08/2023 [Block Eleven: Borders](https://scrapdash.com/BOM-quilt-borders/) - 3/15/2023 [Block Twelve: Finishing and adding a label](https://scrapdash.com/finishing-block-of-the-month)