--- title: "Follow Me Fish Block Quilt Block and Free Pattern" date: 2024-04-02 author: "Phoebe Moon" featured_image: "https://scrapdash.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/follow-me-fish-by-scrapdash.jpg" categories: - name: "Free Patterns" url: "/category/free-pattern.md" - name: "Quilt Block Tutorial" url: "/category/block-tutorial.md" --- # Follow Me Fish Block Quilt Block and Free Pattern It’s time for #QuiltBlockMania! The challenge for this month is to create a beach related block. Here is a way to make a large fish block, also known as a Shaded Four-Patch or a Cat’s Cradle Quilt Block. The method shown on this page uses the [Creative Grid Cat’s Cradle Ruler](https://www.amazon.com/Creative-Grids-Cradle-Template-Acrylic/dp/B01AVO5D5G?crid=2QPXB626KSKYD&keywords=cat%27s+cradle+ruler&qid=1640818289&sprefix=cat%27s+cradle+ruler%2Caps%2C93&sr=8-2&linkCode=ll1&tag=quiltweb&linkId=8c007477f80da8b15b32594a14dac81c&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl), but an alternative is given. ## To Make the Follow Me Fish Quilt Block **Assemble:** - (1) 4″ Blue square - (1) 4″ Multi-color square - (2) 4″ × 5″ Blue rectangles - (1) 7-1/2″ × 8-1/2″ Multi-color rectangles ![Quilt Tutorial: Fabric Selections for the Free Follow Me Fish Table Runner Pattern](https://scrapdash.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Fabric-Selection-792x800.jpg)These are my fabrics. Sew a 4″ Multi-color square to the end of a 4″ × 5″ Background rectangle. Make 2. Press to the *rectangle*. ![Quilt Tutorial: How to Make a Cats Cradle Quilt Block](https://scrapdash.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Matchstick-Man.jpg)![Quilt Tutorial: How to Make a Cats Cradle Quilt Block](https://scrapdash.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Matchstick-Men-scaled-e1654295445937.jpg)Sew these two units together, alternating colors. The center seams will **not** match up. Press the seam open. (picture below) ![Quilt Tutorial: How to Make a Cats Cradle Quilt Block](https://scrapdash.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/uncut-cc.jpg) On the back of this unit, draw a line from the upper right corner at a 45-degree angle. It should just touch the edge of the left Red square. Note that it will not end at the other corner. This will be your sewing line. (picture below) ![Quilt Tutorial: How to Make a Cat's Cradle Quilt Block](https://scrapdash.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/cutting-the-block.jpg)Notice that I placed the 45-degree line of my[ long ruler](https://www.amazon.com/shop/scrapdash/list/1O20JIIZGJAKA) along the edge of the unit so that the line I am drawing is at an exact 45-degree angle. ### Here is the Creative Grid Cat’s Cradle Ruler ![How to Use the Large Cat's Cradle Ruler by Creative Grid](https://scrapdash.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/CGRDH1XL.jpg)I am going to show both how to use your long ruler and how to use this cat’s cradle ruler. If you are using the [Creative Grid Cat’s Cradle ](https://www.amazon.com/shop/scrapdash/list/3JDO2TJLE9ZT9)ruler, just place the ruler on the Multi-Color block seam lines as shown above. Then you can draw one of your sewing lines. (picture below) ![Quilt Tutorial: How to Make a Cats Cradle Quilt Block](https://scrapdash.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/using-the-cc-ruler.jpg) Turn the block around so you can draw the second line from the lower-left corner at a 45-degree angle. It should just touch the edge of the right Multi-Color square. Note that it will not end at the other corner. These two lines will probably be 3/4″ apart. Notice that I placed the 45-degree line of my [long ruler ](https://www.amazon.com/shop/scrapdash/list/1O20JIIZGJAKA)along the edge of the unit so that the line I am drawing is at an exact 45-degree angle. (picture below) ![Quilt Tutorial: How to Make a Cat's Cradle Quilt Block](https://scrapdash.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/cutting-the-block-oppositge.jpg) If you are using the [Creative Grid Cat’s Cradle ](https://www.amazon.com/shop/scrapdash/list/3JDO2TJLE9ZT9)ruler, just place the ruler on the Multi-Color block seam lines as shown above. Then you can draw the other sewing line. ![Quilt Tutorial: How to Make a Cats Cradle Quilt Block](https://scrapdash.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/using-the-cc-ruler2-745x800.jpg) Place the 7-1/2″ × 8-1/2″ Multi-Colored rectangle right sides together with this unit. Sew on the lines you drew. Cut this unit apart. You may want to trim your seams to 1/4″. (picture below) ![Quilt Tutorial: Sewing the Shaded Four Patch Quilt Block](https://scrapdash.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/sewing-the-two-matchstick-men.jpg) ### Making the Fin of the Fish Draw a diagonal line on the back of the 4″ blue square. Place it over the Multi-Colored square corner so the line intersects both edges. This line will be your stitching line. (picture below) ![Making the Fish Tail for the Follow Me Fish Block](https://scrapdash.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/fish-tail-1.jpg) Stitch on the line and flip the square up so it meets the corner. If it is perfect, you can trim the underside. Press your blocks to the large triangle and [square up to 6-1/2](https://www.amazon.com/shop/scrapdash?listId=1C55T3COAAWG2)“. (picture below) **Please note:** I cheated a little here. I used larger sizes because they would photograph better. Your block should finish at 6-1/2″ square, not 8-1/2″. Use a[ 6-1/2″ Square-Up ruler. ](https://www.amazon.com/shop/scrapdash/list/1C55T3COAAWG2) ![Quilt Tutorial: How to Make a Cats Cradle Quilt Block](https://scrapdash.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/square-up-the-block-798x800.jpg) And here is the final Follow Me Fish block! Put four of them together to make the 12″ block shown at the top of this page. (picture below) This is not the only method of making a Cat’s Cradle or Shaded Four Patch Block. [You can find more information here. ](https://scrapdash.com/shaded-four-patch/) ![Follow Me Fish Quilt Block](https://scrapdash.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/final-cc-block-789x800.jpg) ## The Cat’s Cradle Creative Grid Ruler Please add moc.hsadparcsobfsctd-2b5563@sirk to your contacts list to make sure you get the confirmation message. Drag the confirmation message from the Promotion tab to the Primary tab if you use Gmail. If you are already a subscriber, it’s okay to fill out this form. You won’t be put on the mailing list twice.