The Tunnels quilt block is a great block. When you create a quilt with this block, a secondary diamond pattern shows up where the blocks join together. Let’s get sewing!
Fabric Requirements for a 12″ Finished Tunnels Quilt Block:
- Light/White: 2- 5″ squares, 4 – 2.5″ x 4.5″ rectangles, and 4 – 2.5″ squares
- Medium/Yellow Print: 4 – 2.5″ x 4.5″ rectangles
- Medium/Yellow Tonal: 2 – 5″ squares, and 8 – 2.5″ squares
- Medium/Blue Daisy: 1 – 4.5″ square
- Dark/Blue: 12 – 2.5″ squares
Sewing Directions:
Flying Geese Units:
Step 1:
Using the Light/White 2.5″ x 4.5″ rectangles and the Medium/Yellow Tonal 2.5″ squares, sew together four Flying Geese patches as shown in the picture below. You will find my tutorial for making a basic Flying Geese block at https://quiltembroiderypdf.com/how-to-sew-a-basic-flying-geese-block
Step 2:
Repeat Step 1 only use the Yellow/Print 2.5″ x 4.5″ rectangles and eight of the Dark/Blue 2.5″ squares instead of the white and yellow tonal fabrics. (See picture below)
Step 3:
Match up one Step 1 patch and one Step 2 patch and sew together as shown in the picture below. Press the seam allowance toward the white/yellow tonal Flying Geese patch.
Step 4:
Repeat Step 3 for a total of four Flying Geese units.
Corner Units:
Step 5:
Using the Light/White 5″ squares and the Medium/Yellow Tonal 5″ squares, sew together four Half Square Triangle units as shown in the picture below. The tutorial for making a basic Half Square Triangle block can be found at https://quiltembroiderypdf.com/how-to-sew-a-basic-half-square-triangle-block
Step 6:
In the picture below you can see the steps I took to make a Corner unit (from left to right, top to bottom).
First – mark and diagonal line from corner to corner on the back of a Dark/Blue 2.5″ square and sew to the Step 5 patch as shown.
Second – Fold the Dark/Blue 2.5″ square, matching corners, and press.
Third – Unfold the Dark/Blue 2.5″ square and trim the seam allowance to about 1/4″.
Fourth – Refold and the Corner unit is complete!
Step 7:
Repeat Step 6 for a total of four Corner units.
Center Unit:
Step 8:
Using the Medium/Blue Daisy 4.5″ square and four Light/White 2.5″ squares, make a Square in a Square patch like the one shown in the picture below. You can find the tutorial for making a basic Square in a Square block (also known as a Diamond in a Square block) at https://quiltembroiderypdf.com/how-to-sew-a-basic-square-in-a-square-block
Putting It All Together:
Step 9:
Now you can lay out the Center unit, the Flying Geese units, and the Corner units as shown in the picture below. From here the Tunnel block goes together like a basic Nine Patch block.
Step 10:
First you sew the patches into three rows as shown below.
Step 11:
And press the seam allowances away from the Flying Geese units as shown in the picture below.
Step 12:
Then you can sew the three rows together…
Step 13:
And press the seam allowances toward the center of the block as shown in the picture below. You’re done!
