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Block of the Month II

December - 12" Block

 Christmas Star I

Fabric

The Christmas Star I Block uses three different fabrics.

 Fabric - A

 Fabric - B

 One background fabric


Cutting the fabric

This Block requires:

 one 4-1/2" square of fabric B
 four 1-1/2" x 4-1/2" rectangles of fabric A
 eight 2-1/2" squares of background fabric
 eight 2-1/2" x 4-1/2" rectangles of background fabric
 sixteen 2-1/2" squares of fabric A
 eight 1-1/2" x 2-1/2" rectangles of background fabric
 sixteen 1-1/2" squares of fabric A


 Piecing the Block

Note: The diagrams showing Steps 1 to 5 are not drawn to scale. The diagrams have been enlarged to better show the construction of the Block units.

 1) On the wrong side of the sixteen 1-1/2" squares of fabric A, lightly mark a diagonal line as shown.
 2) Take one of the 1-1/2" x 2-1/2" rectangles of background fabric and one of the 1-1/2" squares of fabric A and place them right sides together with the marked diagonal line placed as shown. Sew on the marked line. Repeat with the seven remaining 1-1/2" x 2-1/2" rectangles of background fabric and seven more 1-1/2" squares of fabric A.
 3) Trim 1/4" away from the sewn line and press the seam allowance toward fabric A.
 4) Take one of units completed in Step 3 and one of the remaining 1-1/2" squares of fabric A 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 3 units and seven remaining 1-1/2" squares of fabric A.
 5) Trim 1/4" away from the sewn line and press the seam allowance toward the fabric A. The completed rectangular units should measure 1-1/2" x 2-1/2".
 6) Take two of the units completed in Step 5 and join them together as shown. Repeat with the six remaining Step 5 units. Press the seam allowances in either direction.
 7) Take one of the units completed in Step 6 and one of the four 1-1/2" x 4-1/2" rectangles of fabric A and join together as shown. Repeat with the three remaining Step 6 units and the three remaining 1-1/2" x 4-1/2" rectangles of fabric A. Press the seam allowances toward the 1-1/2" x 4-1/2" rectangles of fabric A. This completed units should measure 2-1/2" x 4-1/2".
 8) On the wrong side of the sixteen 2-1/2" squares of fabric A, lightly mark a diagonal line as shown.
 9) Take one of the 2-1/2" x 4-1/2" rectangles of background fabric and one of the 2-1/2" squares of fabric A and place them right sides together with the marked diagonal line placed as shown. Sew on the marked line. Repeat with the seven remaining 2-1/2" x 4-1/2" rectangles of background fabric and seven more 2-1/2" squares of fabric A.
 10) Trim 1/4" away from the sewn line and press the seam allowance toward fabric A.
 11) Take one of units completed in Step 10 and one of the remaining 2-1/2" squares of fabric A 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 10 units and seven remaining 2-1/2" squares of fabric A.
 12) Trim 1/4" away from the sewn line and press the seam allowance toward the fabric A. The completed rectangular units should measure 2-1/2" x 4-1/2".
 13) Take the 4-1/2" square of fabric B and two of the units completed in Step 7 and piece together as shown. Press the seam allowances toward the 4-1/2" square of fabric B.
 14) Take one of the remaining Step 7 units and two of the 2-1/2" squares of background fabric amd piece together as shown. Repeat with the remaining Step 7 unit and 2-1/2" squares of background fabric. Press the seam alowances toward the background fabric squares.
 15) Take the unit completed in Step 13 and the two units completed in Step 14 and piece together as shown. Press the seam allowances toward the Step 14 units. The completed units should measure 8-1/2" square.
 16) Take two of the units completed in Step 12 and piece together as shown. Repeat with the six remaining Step 12 units. Press seam allowances in either direction.
 17) Take the unit completed in Step 15 and two of the units completed in Step 16 and piece together as shown to complete the middle row of the quilt Block. Press the seam allowances toward the Step 15 unit. The completed row should measure 8-1/2" x 12-1/2".
 18) Take one of the remaining Step 16 units and two of the 2-1/2" squares of background fabric and piece together as shown. Repeat with the remaining Step 16 unit and 2-1/2" squares of background fabric. This completes the top and bottom row of the Block. Press seam allowances toward the 2-1/2" squares of background fabric. These completed rows should measure 2-1/2" x 12-1/2".
 19) Piece together the rows completed in Steps 17 and 18 as shown to completed the Christmas Star I quilt Block. Press the seam allowances toward the center 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 Christmas Star 1 Block

© Susan E Traudt 1998
 World Wide Quilting Page * Block of the Month II