Playing With Blocks: Easy 3D Quilts – A Review
October 22, 2025
Hi!
I recently took a quick course on how to make a 3D tumbling block quilt Marci Baker’s way, and I have to say – with easy strip piecing, and no “Y” seams, this one’s a winner!
Marci’s course is called “Playing with Blocks: Easy 3D Quilts”, and is on the Creative Spark Platform. It’s just under an hour in length, but includes the pattern for Marci’s quilt, and the course covers the ‘how to’s, with some extra troubleshooting tips along the way.
Marci explains in some detail how best to choose fabrics based on the light / medium / dark values you need to successfully piece these blocks for the 3D effect.
Once the colour sets are sorted, they are cut and strip pieced before some clever cross cutting to make these blocks so you can sew without any “Y” seams or tricky piecing.
Marci demonstrates how to cut the strips then. This is the only slightly tricky bit, as the angle of the cuts varies between the two halves of these blocks, but it is clearly demonstrated, and Marci shares several good tips to keep you on the right track.
With the cutting done, it’s great to see just how easily you can make these blocks!
And as soon as you add some different coloured sets, the design really comes alive.
Marci suggests you layout your whole quilt before piecing anything together. You can play with the arrangement of your blocks as you like.
She demonstrates then how to sew your quilt in vertical rows, before piecing it all together, and although this sample quilt is lovely, the large finished quilt to the left in Kaffe fabrics is something special.
This is a quick and easy course that explains some great tips on how to piece these 3D Tumbling Blocks to great effect. If you fall in love with this style of piecing, then Marci has a book and other resources available from her website.
In the meantime, One lucky reader will be able to take this class for free, courtesy of Creative Spark and Marci Baker. For your chance to win, please comment below and let me know why you’d like to give this technique a try. I’ll draw one name at random on Tuesday 4th November, and that person will win free access to this class.
Good luck, and you can also check it out at: Playing With Blocks: Easy 3D Quilts .
40 responses to “Playing With Blocks: Easy 3D Quilts – A Review”
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I still don’t understand how this could work. But I love easy, especially lately. I like things that look difficult but are not.
Since I have had no luck with y-seams, no matter how much the demonstrator tries to explain how to do it, this seems to be a method that might work for me. I would like to give it a try.
This looks amazing! Thank you for sharing.
I have always wanted to make a quilt with this pattern! Would love to try this method. Thanks for the chance to win!
I always wanted to try a 3D tumbling block quilt, but I was put off by Y-seams. I try to learn something new with every project I tackle.
At the moment I am wrestling with hexagons. I know I won’t repeat that challenge!
I have always wanted to make a 3 D quilt! I love the way they look.
Looking at the pictures, I can see the strips, but I still can’t see how they are put together without Y seams. I love the 3D block look and would really like to learn to do this.
Always love to learn new ways that make the impossible looking very doable!
This technique looks very promising and would make it much easier to actually finish a tumbling blocks quilt.
Thanks for sharing it with us!
This would be a step up for me. I’ve always been intrigued with this pattern. Would be fun to try.
This method sounds fascinating and I would love to try it. Love easy designs.
I made a quilt with intertwining stars, and making sure not to cut off any of those star points was a real challenge. I’m up for anything now! And I’d love to try the tumbling blocks this way.
I have wanted to try this pattern but never have. This looks doable, I’ll give it a try
This is something I have often thought about trying but have not as yet done so. Maybe this is the time!
I like the idea of working with different colors. I find these quit blocks to be quite magical when pieced together. I have yet to master sewing Y seams, but I’m willing to learn more.
I’ve always wanted to try this and the prospect of no y seams is very interesting.
I like to extend my quilting knowledge.
Something I’ve always wanted to try but never brave enough
This looks like a do-able solution for someone like me who hates Y seams. Fingers crossed I may find out how to do this. I’ve always wanted to do one of these quilts.
I have always wanted to do this quilt block. It fascinates me and I have Moda’s 50th Anniversary fabrics that would be wonderful for this project. Thanks for the giveaway!
Hi Jody
I think this would be an amazing advantage to learn the technique.
I do love the look of tumbling blocks quilting but all the “y” seams have me terrified and I have never made one.
Toni
This looks so intriguing. I love things that look 3D, but really aren’t! And choosing colours has always been my downfall. So that would be most welcome.
I have had 3D tumbling blocks on my to do list for a few years now. This method looks like I could actually do it
3D blocks have fascinated me for a long time however I have never been brave enough to try. This course would get me over that hump.
I love the 3D look but haven’t tackled it because I can’t decide on how to get the correct colors to achieve the 3D affect.
I have a penchant for using simple methods to create a wonderful result! This looks intriguing to me, and the opportunity to win this instruction process is too good to pass up.
Thank you for sharing your experience.
tumbling blocks have always fascinated me and terrified me at the same time. To be able to do them without y seams would be a great advantage.
Would love to see how it is done without the Y seam. Does the block have a seam down the diagonal of each block?
… but I can’t see a seam line
Thankyou for the opportunity to win the free class
Fascinated by your technique. Would love to try. Blessings
I have always wanted to make this pattern. I want to make several small pieces that my cats could then sit on. I don’t know about your kitty but all I have to do is mention fabrics and that is exactly where my kitties want to be!
Awesome colorplay technique. Am inspired to try it!
I am interested in trying to learn the 3D tumbling quilt
3D quilts are so much fun. I would love to learn how to make it without Y seams.
Over 20 years ago, while living in Australia, I made a small hot pad for the table with a tumbling block pattern. It took me DAYS of redoing the seams to get it right. I’ve spent less time on throw quilts with difficult patterns! I would love to take this class and finally master this technique!
I have been quilting for 65 years and have done so many quilts I couldn’t count a #. All for my family, friends, wedding gifts and charities gallor. I now only try to do quilt that will challenge me and this looks like a winner I would love.
Thanks
Janet
Wow, no Y-seams. Now that’s a game changer. I’d definitely like to give this tutorial a try.
I love strip piecing. This would be a great pattern to try out. I made a tumbling block quilt with the English paper piecing method, but this technique would be so much easier.
This looks amazing! It’s on my bucket list of quilts to make.
I would like to take the class to learn new techniques. My grandchildren should love the blocks!
I just can’t seem to see how this one works but if it eliminates y seams that will be amazing!
The top diamond shape of the 3 that make the ‘block’ is actually 2 triangles, so you can join the block in two halves with some clever strip piecing and cutting.