Brought to you by the WWQP

Block of the Month II

February 1999 - 12" Block

 Star

Fabric

The Star Block uses two different fabrics.

 One focus fabric

 One background fabric


Cutting the fabric

This Block requires:

 five 3-1/2" squares of focus fabric
 sixteen 2" squares of background fabric
 sixteen 2" squares of focus fabric
 eight 2" x 3-1/2" rectangles of background fabric
 four 2" x 6-1/2" rectangles of focus fabrics
 one 2-3/8" x 4-3/4" rectangle of focus fabric
 one 2-3/8" x 4-3/4" rectangle of background fabric


 Piecing the Block

 1) On the wrong side of the 2-3/8" x 4-3/4" background fabric, lightly mark a line 2-3/8" from one of the shorter sides. This should divide the rectangle into two 2-3/8" squares. Then mark a diagonal line through the center of the squares as shown.
 2) Place the marked rectangle of background fabric, right sides together, with the 2-3/8" x 4-3/4" rectangle of focus fabric, making sure that all of the edges are even. Sew 1/4" away from the marked diagonal lines as shown.
 3) With the rotary cutter, carefully cut the sewn rectangles apart on the marked lines as shown. Press the seam allowance toward the focus fabric. This should yield four 2" half-square triangles.
 4) On the wrong side of the sixteen 2" squares of focus fabric, lightly mark a diagonal line as shown.
 5) Take one of the 2" x 3-1/2" rectangles of background fabric and one of the 2" squares of focus fabric and place them right sides together with the marked diagonal line placed as shown. Sew on the marked line. Repeat with the seven remaining 2" x 3-1/2" background fabric rectangles and seven more of the marked 2" squares of focus fabric.
 6) Trim 1/4" away from the sewn line and press the seam allowance toward the focus fabric.
 7) Take one of the units completed in Step 6 and one of the 2" squares of focus fabric and place them right sides together with the marked diagonal line placed as shown. Sew on the marked line. Repeat with the seven remaining Step 6 units and the seven remaining marked 2" squares of focus fabric.
 8) Trim 1/4" away from the sewn line and press the seam allowance toward the focus fabric. The completed units should measure 2" x 3-1/2".
 9) Take two of the units completed in Step 8 and one of the 3-1/2" squares of focus fabric and piece together as shown. Press the seam allowances toward the focus fabric square.
 10) Take one of the units completed in Step 8 and two of the half square triangles completed in Step 3 and piece together as shown. Repeat with one more Step eight unit and the two remaining half square triangles units from Step 3. Press the seam allowances toward the half square triangle units.
 11) Take the unit completed in Step 9 and the two units completed in Step 10 and piece together as shown to completed the center unit of the Star Block. Press the seam allowances toward the center and the Step 8 unit. The completed center of the Block should measure 6-1/2" square.
 12) On the wrong side of eight of the 2" squares of background fabric, lightly mark a diagonal line as shown.
 13) Take one of the 2" x 6-1/2" rectangles of focus fabric and one of the marked 2" squares of background fabric and place them right sides together with the marked diagonal line placed as shown. Sew on the marked line. Repeat with the three remaining 2" x 6-1/2" focus fabric rectangles and three more of the marked 2" squares of background fabric.
 14) Trim 1/4" away from the sewn line and press the seam allowance toward the background fabric.
 15) Take one of the units completed in Step 14 and one of the remaining marked 2" squares of background fabric and place them right sides together with the marked diagonal line placed as shown. Sew on the marked line. Repeat with the three remaining Step 14 rectangles and three remaining marked 2" squares of background fabric.
 16)Trim 1/4" away from the sewn line and press the seam allowance toward the background fabric. The completed rectangle units should measure 2" x 6-1/2".
 17) Take two of the remaining 2" squares of background fabric and one of the units completed in Step 8 and join together as shown. Repeat with the three remaining Step 8 units and 2" background fabric squares. Press the seam allowances toward the background fabric squares.
 18) Take one of the units completed in Step 16 and one of the units completed in Step 17 and piece together as shown. Repeat with the remaining Step 16 and Step 17 units. Press the seam allowances toward the Step 17 units. The completed units should measure 3-1/2" x 6-1/2".
 19) Take two of the units completed in Step 18 and join to the Block center that was completed in Step 11 as shown to completed the middle row of the Star quilt Block. Press the seam allowances toward the center of the row. This completed row should measure 6-1/2" x 12-1/2".
 20) Take one of the remaining Step 18 units as piece together with two of the 3-1/2" squares of focus fabric as shown to completed the top row of the quilt Block. Repeat with the final Step 18 unit and 3-1/2" focus fabric squares to create the bottom row of the Block. Press the seam allowances toward the focus fabric squares. The two completed Block rows should measure 3-1/2" x 12-1/2".
 21) Take the center row completed in Step 19 and the top and bottom rows completed in Step 20 and piece together as shown to completed the Star quilt Block. Press the seam allowances away from the center row of the Block. The completed quilt Block should measure 12-1/2" square which includes a 1/4" seam allowance on all sides.

WWQP Quilt Coloring Book page for the Star Block

© Susan E Traudt 1999
 World Wide Quilting Page * Block of the Month II