Epic Halloween QAL, Week 9: Barn Bats

This block is based on a traditional block called “Barn Bats.” The bats are typically stacked on top of one another (as in this mini quilt), but this tutorial is for individual bats with one bat per 6 1/2″ block. You’ll want to make 6 blocks for your quilt.

Start by cutting your fabrics. From the background fabric, cut:

1 strip 2 1/2″ x 17″
1 strip 1 1/2″ x 15″

From the main bat fabric cut:

1 strip 2 1/2″ x 12″

Starting with the background fabric, fold your strips in half lengthwise.

Take your wider 2 1/2″ strip, and, starting at the raw ends, line up your ruler’s 60-degree line with the top of the strip and trim.

Line up the edge that you just cut with the 3 1/2″ line on your ruler and cut. (I rotated my fabric for easier cutting.)

Then, cut 2 1/2″ pieces in the same way.

Next, take your 1 1/2″ strip and trim the ends to 60 degrees as before.

From this strip, cut two 2″ pieces.

And two 3 1/2″ pieces.

Next, take your bat fabric strip, and fold it in half also.

Make a 60-degree cut as before:

Then, cut two 2 1/2″ pieces:

And two 1 1/2″ pieces:

This is how your bat will fit together. The narrow (1 1/2″) short pieces go above and the wide (2 1/2″) short pieces go below the bat:

Sew your strips together. In order for the edges to line up when sewing 60 degree angles, the corners should overhang slightly. The inside corners formed from the overlap of the two patches should line up with your seam line.

Press seams towards the bat, except on one of the narrow strips. This will let you nest the seams and line up the center strips nicely. Sew the two narrow center strips together.