Notes from the designer: “In an attempt to make it more
interesting, I have designed this quilt with many fun possibilities. If
you take your time and follow directions carefully, cut accurately and sew
precisely you can be successful, even with a minimum of experience. I
tried to put a new twist on some old blocks, but if you choose to use the
more common version, feel free to do that. (Read through the complete
instructions first to see which methods you might prefer to use.) This
series uses fat quarters of each of the fabrics in the Old Sturbridge
Village II Collection, with additional yardage for the border. This
collection of blocks can be expanded to make a quilt of any dimension that
you wish. We will start with the center of the quilt and work to the
bottom and then back up to the top and the last month we will add the
border and the finishing touches. Thanks to Judy Rothermel for designing
such an exciting and beautiful group of fabrics to work with. When you
finish yours, take a picture and email it to us as we would love to see
your creation. Email: char@fmtc.com |
YOU’LL NEED:
(for the complete series)
All seams are ¼” |
Pink and Blue Collection - One Fat
Quarter of each design in color way.
Additional blocks - One Fat Quarter of the other color ways of your
choice. You will need one of each of all color ways for the entire quilt. |
Instructions: |
| This section measures 18” high by 30”
across. Remember we have borders to add.
Sturbridge Star – 16” X 16” finished block or 16
½” X 16 ½” as an unfinished block.
This star has a fussy cut center to give a the floral
wreath in the center. All star points are the same block template for this
block. |
Fussy Cut
I made a template of clear vinyl. I looked at
how I thought I wanted the layout of the flower then traced the flower
outline on my template. I traced around the template before I cut with my
rotary cutter and ruler. The next block, I centered the template over
another flower and repeated ins the same manner to get eight (8) exact
blocks. For those of you who do stack n’ whack, this works well, but
with only a fat quarter, I did not have enough fabric. Go ahead BUY MORE!
Cut the rest of the star points with the same template, but just forget
about the flower that you drew for the outside points. Be careful with the
pieces as they will stretch easily. If you spray a little spray starch on
them and press in an up and down motion, it will help to hold the shape.
Cut all of the pieces for the squares using the templates provided. I have
given you a diagram of the star that shows which template to use (Star
Block 1). Lay out the blocks as they would look in the finished block as
you go. This makes it easier to follow the design. |
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Sewing the blocks |
| Start with the center fussy cut star. I sew
two diamonds together by starting in ¼” from the edge of the widest
part of the diamond and sew to the point and stop ¼” from the center. I
repeat this process two more times. To make four points of the star. Press
after each seam. I press the seams open on this part of my star. Lay aside
and sew the other four points together in the same manner to create the
other half of your star. Sew the two sections of four together being sure
to leave the ¼” at the beginning and the end of the seam. We will use
this technique throughout this block. Press your star and spray just a tad
of spray starch on it. Make sure that it lays flat. If the star is not
exact, it only gets worse as you go out to the outer edges. The degree of
error seems to magnify as you work your way out. Trim every other center
seam at the point. This trim will help it lay flat as well. Your center
eight pointed star is complete. This process can be used in any size to
make beautiful star blocks.
On with the star! Using the squares, fit one side of the
star to one side of the square. Again leave the ¼” at each end of the
seam. Now fit the square to the next star point and seam. Now the square
fills in between two star points. If you have sewn ¼” seams and left ¼”
at each end of each seam, the squares should nearly fall into place. If
you have a slight bobble at the corner joining the inside point of the
star, fix it now before you go on. Remember the iron can do wonders to
help fit pieces together and shrink them a little into place if need be.
We call it “creative pressing.” Continue around the star sewing a
block between the star points, eight in all. Make sure that it still lays
flat and let’s move on.
More star points. I used three colors to make my star
show up. This time make sections of three in the same manner we did the
ones in the center. Don’t forget to leave the ¼” at the start and
finish of each seam. When the three point sections are complete, sew them
into the “V” between each square in the same manner as you did with
the blocks. There is more bulk at the point, so carefully trim out some of
the excess. Make sure that your points all come together in the same
place. Sew all of these three sectioned points to the squares then sew
each three piece section together. Make sure that it lays flat again. Does
it? Great!!! See this is really fun. Grandma use to do this all by hand!
Now for the row of half squares. They are sewn in
exactly as the inside squares were. Does it lay flat?? Good. Now you get a
break, the four half square triangles are straight seams and no funny
stuff. Sew them together and put them on the corners of the square to make
your perfect star. Press all seams and make sure that it lays flat. I
pinned my star to a piece of butcher paper so that it would not stretch
out while I was making my other blocks.
There is a numbered diagram named “Star Block 1 Assembly Order” that
you can follow to help you fit them together in the order that I did them. |
Flying geese |
 now
I really am going to give you a break from making all of the corners. The
flying geese template is enclosed for you to use as a foundation paper
pattern if you wish (Flying Goose foundation). If not, make them any way
that you wish. They must end up as 6” wide by 4 ½” high. If you need
more instructions on flying geese, the internet is a good source or
magazines and books. If you truly get stuck, you are welcome to contact me
at the above email address. For the flying geese, I used all of the color
ways and different fabrics of each one. |
Pinwheel Square |
 These
are simple also. To cut the center fabric with the beautiful vase of
flowers, I did it exactly as I did the center of the star. Draw the design
on the clear template fabric. I also cut the dark and light squares to go
around each fussy cut square the same size as the center square. Make sure
to put the vase standing from corner to corner as this square is on point.
Cut one dark and one light square from each color way to accent the center
vase of flowers.
Center the light square on top of the dark square. With
a soft lead pencil draw a line from one point to the point on the other
side on a diagonal. Now sew ¼” away on each side of the line from point
to point. Cut the block on the line and you will now have two squares of
half triangles. With your ruler and rotary cutter cut from the corner of
one color to the corner of the other color and you will now have a
triangle of two colors called a quarter triangle. Now lay out your fussy
cut square and lay out a quarter triangle on each straight edge of the
square. Sew in place and trim to 6 1/2” square. Now you have three
square blocks, a large star and four flying geese. |
For instructions on making quarter triangles the way I do, see the
following diagrams. |
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| At the third step cut diagonal across the
block from top right corner to bottom left corner and you have the corners
for your block. |
Setting our blocks together |
| Sew the row of flying geese together in any
pleasing combination. Press & lay aside. Now sew the squares together
in a row, one on top of the other. Press & lay aside.
Cut a strip of fabric of your choice for the top of the
star block. This will be 2 ½” by about 20” or just across the fat
quarter. We will trim it up later. Now cut another 2 ½” strip across
another fat quarter for the side of the star next to the flying geese.
Attach the strip to the side of the star block being careful not to
stretch either the star or the strip. Now sew the strip to the top of the
star block and across the top of the strip that you just finished sewing.
I know that my choice of fabric does not look good at this point, but it
will all come together before we are finished.
Carefully pin in a couple places the flying geese blocks
(I prefer going south) to the strip on the side of the star block. Sew
into place. Now the three square blocks in a row can be carefully pinned
to the flying geese, going south, being careful to keep our vase of
flowers pointing north and sew into place. |
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