Welcome to Blockheads 6 – Block 10: “What a Lark!” by Janet Clare!

Welcome back, Blockheads! We’re excited to introduce Block 10 in the Blockheads 6 series: What a Lark!, designed by the ever-talented Janet Clare.

This week’s block brings a fun mix of techniques—some familiar and some that might be new to you. But don’t worry, Moda’s friend and quilter Sarah Huechteman is here with a video tutorial that walks you through the entire process, step by step. If you’ve been hesitant to try foundation paper piecing, this is a perfect chance to give it a go!

You can find this week’s pattern here: BH6 – Block 10 – What a Lark! by Janet Clare

Follow along with Janet!

Instagram: @janeteclare
https://www.janetclare.co.uk

If you’re new to Blockheads, here are a couple of quick things to know:

• This is a free quilt-along. No sign-ups are required. Just download the pattern and you’re ready to sew!
• The PDF patterns will be posted on the Moda blog and in the official Facebook group every Wednesday by 8:00 AM CDT.
• You can also bookmark this page: Blockheads 6 main page to find a convenient list of all the patterns as they are released.
• If you’d like to sign up for our blog newsletter to get blog posts delivered to your inbox, you can sign up here: Blog Newsletter Sign-Up 
• If you want to sew along with a virtual Blockheads community, head over to Facebook and join our official Moda Blockheads Facebook group. Our group is an active and vibrant community of 81,000 quilters and counting! It’s a great place to be inspired and share pictures of your Blockheads progress.
• If Instagram is where you prefer to hang out, be sure to follow us (@modafabrics) and the hashtags #modablockheads and #modablockheads6 to see the latest blocks from our designers and other Blockheads.

(Looking for a little more information about Blockheads? You can check out the Blockheads 6 archive HERE.)

 

Scroll down to watch Sarah’s full video tutorial right in this post!

Two Techniques, One Gorgeous Block

What a Lark! combines two key piecing methods:

• Foundation Paper Piecing (FPP), used to create the striking Peaky and Spike-style units
• Half-Square Triangles, the tried-and-true classic we all love

Whether you’re brand new to paper piecing or just brushing up on the basics, Sarah breaks it all down clearly and offers helpful tips for every step—from printing your pattern at the correct scale to trimming your block to perfection.

Getting Started with Foundation Paper Piecing

Sarah walks you through how to prepare your printed templates (make sure to print at 100% and double-check with the 1" scale marker). You’ll learn:

• Why it’s okay to use regular copy paper
• How to use a light board, pins, or a glue stick to get fabric placement just right
• Tips for trimming with precision using an Add-A-Quarter or Add-An-Eighth ruler (plus a clever use for an old bookmark!)
• The importance of shortening your stitch length (1.5–1.8 is ideal) to make tearing the paper easier later

Once you complete four foundation pieced units, you’re ready to move on.

Half-Square Triangles (and a Little Seam-Spinning Magic)

Next up: 16 half-square triangles, sewn two at a time. You can draw a diagonal line on your squares or use diagonal seam tape—whichever method you prefer.

Sarah also demonstrates how to nest your seams and use a clever “spinning” technique at the center of each four-patch to help reduce bulk. It’s a small detail with a big impact on your finished block!

Assembling the Center and Final Block

The center unit is a simple cross, and once that’s stitched up, it’s time to lay out all your units and assemble your nine-patch block.

Sarah walks you through removing the foundation papers (yes, now’s a great time!), and shares pressing suggestions to help your rows nest together beautifully. In the end, you’ll have a finished block that’s sharp, flat, and oh-so-satisfying.

A Big Thanks to Janet Clare

We’re so grateful to Janet Clare for this creative and skill-building block. It’s a beautiful design and a wonderful opportunity to try something new—whether it’s your first time with foundation paper piecing or your fiftieth.

Join the Fun!

Be sure to:

• Download the free pattern for Block 10: What a Lark!
• Watch the video tutorial below for step-by-step guidance
• Share your blocks in the Blockheads Facebook group—we can’t wait to see what you create!

Ready to sew your own What a Lark! block? Follow along with Sarah in this week’s video tutorial!

Happy sewing, and we’ll see you next week for Block 11!

— The Moda Team