HIVE 1 October Tutorial - Bat Block for Jai

 

 

Fall is here, and with it come cooler nights, candy overload, and all sorts of spooky crawlers. Why not add a handmade bat to the mix?

This month we are stitching up the Bat Block from the Mystery Bats & Boos Quilt Along by the Fat Quarter Shop. Instead of a variety of blocks, we are focusing on one block, using multiple fabrics to bring out its personality. Picture it standing on point, with the bat flying up toward the moon.

These blocks are designed to capture fall’s fun and fright: candy, crawlers, goblins, and ghouls. Whether you are calm and cozy with solid fall shades or a bit mischievous with bold seasonal prints (Halloween monsters, candy bars, bonfires, leaves, or sunsets), this block works either way

 

Pattern and Video

·         Original Pattern: Week One – Bat Block

·         Video Tutorial: Mystery Halloween Quilt – The Bat Block

 

Fabric Choices

I challenged myself with thrifted Halloween fabric scraps that came in a mystery bundle. You can do the same with scraps or dip into your stash. 

 

·         Colors: Stick to fall shades, with clear differences in tone. (Skip religious or unrelated holiday fabrics.)

·         Moon (cornerstone): Think of any color that has ever been associated with the moon. This could be visual events like a glowing golden moon, a shining silver moon, or a dramatic red blood moon. It could be calendar events like a rare blue moon. Or it could be story-time moons like the old tale of the moon being made of green cheese. Any of these work, as long as your moon fabric contrasts with the background and does not blend into it.

·         Background: Candy corn vibes with orange, yellow, and white as the main color. Prints are fine as long as they read in those shades.

·         Bat body and wings: Darker than the moon or background. Body and wings should be distinct shades from each other, but which is darker is your choice.

 

Bat Tip! Scrappy is fine. If you mix fabrics, just make sure your bat does not vanish into the night sky.

 

Helpful Rulers (optional) 

·         2.5", 3.5", 4.5" squares

·         10.5"+ square

·         12" straight edge

 

Notes Before You Cut 

·         The original pattern is for four blocks. We are making one.

·         Measurements are very exact. Add at least ¼" to all sides and trim down later for sanity’s sake.

·         If you notice my pictures do not quite line up at the end… yes, I messed up and did not realize until the second to last step. Learn from my chaos.

Spooky Shortcut! If your cuts feel cursed, oversize and trim later. It keeps the crooked spirits away.

 

Cutting Guide

Fabric	ID	Qty	Size (add ¼" if you like)
Background	A	2	3.5" × 4.5" rectangles
	B	2	3.5" squares
	C	1	3" square
	D	1	2.5" square
	E	4	1.5" squares
Moon (cornerstone)	F	1	3.5" square
Bat Wing	G	2	3.5" × 4.5" rectangles
	H	2	3.5" squares
	I	1	3" square
Bat Body	J	1	3.5" square
	K	1	2.5" square

 

Assembly Steps

Step 1: Make Half-Square Triangles

·         Fabric: C and I

·         Press to: I

·         Trim to: 2.5" × 2.5"

·         Result: Two half-square triangles (HSTs)

·         Instructions: Draw a diagonal line on the back of fabric C. With right sides facing, stitch ¼" from each side of the drawn line. Cut along the line, press open, and trim to size.

Bat Tip! Think of this as the bat’s ears forming—sharp and spooky.

Step 2: Partial Bat Head 

·         Fabric: D, K, and both HSTs from Step 1

·         Press to: Top row toward D, bottom row toward HSTs, then press to the bottom row

·         Trim to: 4.5" × 4.5"

·         Result: Partial bat head

·         Instructions: Sew D to one HST. Sew the second HST to K. Join the two rows together.

Spooky Shortcut! If your seams do not nest perfectly, that is just your bat showing a mischievous grin.

 

Step 3: Relocate Cat 

·         Result: An empty cutting surface

·         Instructions: Remove the cat from your fabric. Bribery with treats may be necessary.

Step 4: Bat Head Unit 

·         Fabric: A, F, and the partial bat head from Step 2

·         Press to: Top row toward F, bottom row toward A, then press to the top row

·         Trim to: 7.5" × 7.5"

·         Result: Bat head unit

·         Instructions: Sew F to A, then A to the partial bat head. Join rows together.

Bat Tip! This is the bat finally getting its spooky noggin—witch-stitched and goblin-approved.

Step 5: Prep Diagonals 

·         Fabric: Both B squares and all four E squares

·         Result: Marked corner pieces

·         Instructions: Draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of fabrics B and E.

Step 6: Partial Right Wing 

·         Fabric: G (1), B (1), E (2)

·         Press to: Corner pieces

·         Trim to: 3.5" × 4.5"

·         Result: Partial right wing

·         Instructions: Place G face up with shorter sides on top and bottom. Position B in the top right, sew along diagonal, trim ¼" away from seam, and press. Repeat with E in the bottom right corner.

Step 7: Corner Square Unit 

·         Fabric: H (1), E (1)

·         Press to: Corner piece

·         Trim to: 3.5" × 3.5"

·         Result: Corner square unit

·         Instructions: Place E on the bottom right of H, sew along diagonal, trim ¼" away from seam, and press.

 

Step 8: Right Wing Unit 

·         Fabric: Partial right wing (Step 6) and corner square (Step 7)

·         Press to: Corner square unit

·         Trim to: 3.5" × 7.5"

·         Result: Right wing unit

·         Instructions: Sew the corner square to the partial right wing.

Bat Tip! Your bat is starting to stretch one wing. Watch out for a midnight takeoff.

Step 9: Left Wing Unit 

·         Fabric: G (1), B (1), E (2), H (1), E (1)

·         Press to: Corner pieces

·         Trim to: 3.5" × 7.5"

·         Result: Left wing unit

·         Instructions: Repeat Steps 6 through 8, but place G face up with the long sides on top and bottom.

Step 10: Final Assembly 

·         Fabric: Bat head unit, right wing unit, left wing unit, J

·         Press to: Top row toward right wing, bottom row toward left wing, then press to bottom row

·         Trim to: 10.5" × 10.5"

·         Result: Completed bat block

·         Instructions: Sew the right wing to the bat head. Sew the left wing to square J. Join rows together.

Spooky Shortcut! If your bat looks like it is flying sideways, do not worry. Even goblins cannot fly in a straight line after too much candy. 

Final Thoughts

 I stitched up three samples to show how fabric shade can change the mood. Seasonal, scrappy, or even non-seasonal all work. Whatever you choose, your bat will have its own personality.

 

Happy sewing, and may your bats fly straight to the moon.

Jai