TUTORIAL: Fangs Quilt Block

March 30, 2026

Welcome to Week 14 of the Shades of Gray 50-Week Quilt Block Tour!

Attention Fantasy Novel Enthusiasts

I love fantasy novels and I especially love fantasy novels with vampires in them. It could have started with me binge reading Twilight in college. But, I just love these kinds of stories where there are monsters, but these monsters turn out to not even be the real monsters (spoiler: it's actually the humans who are more of a monster than the vampires).

So when the time came for the Shades of Gray Quilt Block Tour, I knew I wanted to incorporate my love of fantasy novels with a 6" finished quilt block pattern that is an ode to vampires. There are some small pieces in this pattern so I would recommend the stitch-and-flip method (I'll discuss it later) and even decreasing your stitch length to 1.8 (or even 1.6).

If you are just now finding out about this FREE quilt block tour, make sure to visit Shades of Gray Quilt Block Tour Newsletter and sign up to receive the emails to know which quilt block pattern and designer is next!

Fangs Quilt Block Tutorial

In this step-by-step tutorial, I’ll guide you through the process of creating a vampire-inspired 6" finished quilt block. The PDF pattern can be found HERE (psst it's free) or you can follow along with this tutorial. Bring the monsters of the night to life with this quilt block.

Materials required:

Fabric A (gray): (1) 4 1/2 x 3 1/2 rectangle; (40) 3/4" squares; (4) 2 x 3" rectangles
Fabric B (white): (12) 1 1/2 x 2" rectangles; (2) 2 x 3" rectangles
Fabric C (red): (2) 2 x 3" rectangles
pen
thread
scissors
quilting ruler
rotary cutter
rotary mat
sewing machine

Quilt Block Instructions:

Piecing the Block

Snowballed corners

1. Draw (1) diagonal line on (40) ¾” Fabric A squares. If Fabric A is a dark color, use a white pen to mark the line.

2. Place (1) ¾” Fabric A square on the corner of (1) 1 ½ x 2" rectangle Fabric B right(or patterned) sides together (RST). Sew on drawn line. Press toward Fabric A. Leave all layers in tact. No cutting. This is called stitch-and-flip. Make (12). Repeat on adjacent side. Put (4) completed pieces to the side.

3. Place (1) ¾” square on (1) the bottom left corner of Step 2 Fabric B rect RST. Sew on drawn line. Press toward Fabric A. Make (8) total. Repeat on remaining corner.

Half rectangle triangles (HRTs), 2-at-a-time

4. Mark a diagonal line from top left to bottom right on WS of (1) 2 x 3” Fabric B rect and (1) 2 x 3" Fabric C rect. Mark a diagonal line from top right to bottom left on WS of (1) 2 x 3” Fabric B rect and (1) 2 x 3" Fabric C rect.

5. Place (1) 2 x 3" Fabric B rect on (1) 2 x 3" Fabric A rect RST. Turn the Fabric B rect 58° so the line extends from the opposing corners, i.e. top left drawn line to top right corner. Sew ¼” away from the line on both sides. Cut on line. Press toward Fabric A. Repeat for Fabric A and C.

6. Trim HRT to 1 x 2": align top of the seam to ¼ x ¼” crosshairs and opposite seam to ¾ x 1 ¾” (as shown in the figure to the right). Rotate unit 180° and repeat. Make (4) total, (2) Fabric A/B and (2) Fabric A/C.

7. Place (1) 1 x 2" Fabric A/B HRT on (1) 1 x 2" Fabric A/B HRT RST so that the points are touching (see figure below). Sew seam. Press open. Make (2) total. Repeat with Fabric A/C HSTs.

Assembling the Block

8. Place (1) double Fabric A/C HRT on (1) 1 x 2" Fabric A/B HRT RST so that the points are touching (see figure below). Sew seam. Press open. Make (2) total. Attach each unit to the 3 ½” side of the 4 ½ x 3 ½” rectangle. Sew seam. Press to Fabric C. Label Unit B.

9. Arrange the snowballed units from steps 2 & 3 as follows:

(1) step 2 unit with snowballed corners on bottom; (4) step 3 units; (1) step 2 unit with snowballed corners on bottom. Sew each piece together. Press open. Make (2). Label Unit A. Turn (1) strip 180° and label Unit C.

10. Sew Unit A to Unit B RST. Press seam toward Unit B.

11. Sew Unit C to Unit A/B RST. Press seam toward Unit B. Block measures 6 ½ x 6 ½”.

If you are looking for some good vampire novels to read

These are novels I have read and enjoyed that features a vampire(s):

From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L Armentrout (series)
Quicksilver by Callie Hart (series)
Twilight by Stephanie Meyer (series)
Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber (series)
The Lights of Prague by Nicole Jarvis
Bride by Ali Hazelwood

These are novels with vampires in them that I want to read (or in book-lingo, on my TBR (to be read list)):

Dracula by Bram Stoker
Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness (series)
Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning (series)
The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent (series)
The Scarlet Veil by Shelby Mahurin (series)
A Dowry of Blood by S. T. Gibson

These novels are popular vampire novels with high ratings on the social book app Goodreads (books with 4+ stars):

Interview with a Vampire by Anne Rice (series)
Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead(series)
Empire of the Vampire by Jay Kristoff (series)
Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews (series)

You'll see that some of these books are clickable. This means that I already have a Book and Quilt Block Bundle prepared for that particular book. Click on the link and add the bundle to your cart to get yours!

Also, I offer quilt block kits without the novels and I have one especially for the Fangs quilt block pattern. You can find it here.

Shades of Gray Quilt Block Tour

Here's a list (with links!) for all of the designers since Week 1 who are participating in this free quilt block tour. Click on the links below to get your free quilt block patterns!

Week 1- Tic Tac Oh! by Dragonfly's Quilting Design Studio

Week 2- Where Paths Cross by Ollie Sarah Designs

Week 3- Whoooo Loves to Read? by Ashli Montgomery

Week 4- Disappearing Nine Patch by Emerald Falls Quilts

Week 5- Kat's Mountain by Ashli Montgomery

Week 6- Flower Burst by Aurora + Holly

Week 7- Shamrock by Rona the Ribbiter

Week 8- Ladybug by Appliques Quilts and More

Week 9- Twilight Arch by Quilting Chemistry

Week 10- Citrus Squeeze by EvaPaige Quilt Designs

Week 11- Squared Chain by Emerald Falls Quilts

Week 12- Lily by Shadow Valley Quilts