Finished Size: 72" X 84"

Two different 11" star blocks and a pieced border combine to make up "Stars Abound." The placement of the stars creates an Irish Chain corner to corner, for a striking secondary design. Follow Charlotte's placement of all 33 prints that make up the entire HEARTLAND collection, designed by Jeanne Poore.

1. Each of the nine sections of the block measure 4-1/8" before sewing the block together. The nine sections will be constructed and then the sections will be sewn together to make the 11" block.
2. Center section and the four corners are 4-1/8" squares with the center block fussy cut to show design in center. Study the design of the whole quilt. The corner of this block is the same fabric as the corner of the second block that joins to it. So when the two blocks are joined the corners of the four joined blocks are the same fabric with the chain going diagonal through it. Two different fabrics make up the four corners of this block. Likewise the center triangle in the outside center of this block is a third fabric that will match the triangle block of the second star block. The double friendship star is made up of a variety of green and red fabrics from the "Heartland" collection.
3. Making the double star sections: (4) Cut all green, red and cream strips for this block 4-7/8". Cut all the green blocks by cutting 4-7/8" squares and cut diagonal from corner to corner to create a triangle. Lay aside. Cut the red & cream blocks in 4-7/8" squares. On the lighter colored block draw a diagonal line from corner to corner. With red and cream blocks right side together sew 1/4" on each side of the diagonal line. Cut on the drawn line. You now have two blocks that are 1/2 triangles of red and cream. Cut diagonal from center of red block to center point of cream block. With right sides together sew a green triangle and a red/white triangle on the long side of the triangle together. The green block will be larger, but can be trimmed to make an exact fit. Press the center seam toward the green. These sections can be sewn in a chain to make all the blocks and cut your sewing time. The placement of the colors must be in the same location on each section to make the star points lay in the correct direction. Trim all blocks to 4-1/8" square and press.
4. Lay all blocks out as a nine patch. Double check the color, points and fabric placement. Sew three sections together in strips; sew strips together to create the block. Make 15.

5. The block is a variation of the Ohio Star, made up of 5 - four patch blocks and 4 - point sections to create the nine patch type constructed block. The center four patches are the same floral fabrics of taupe and blue. All four patch corner blocks are cream and red or blue. These cream fabrics must match the corners of block one to have the secondary design appear in this quilt.
6. Making the four patch sections --- Cut all strips for four patch blocks 2-3/8". Sew two strips together, press toward darker color then cut the two stripes in 2 3/8" sections, cutting across the two strips. Lay sections right sides together and sew into four patch blocks. Press and make sure all sections measure 4 1/8".
7. Making the star point sections - A paper piece section has been provided to make construction of this section easier. Be sure that your pattern is 4 1/8" square. Cut the center cream fabric 4 7/8" square (matches the center triangle of block 1). Cut the strips of taupe for points 2 3/4" by 5 1/2". I liked each taupe star having the same fabric in one block, but it can be made as you wish. The center star point section should measure 4 1/8" when complete. Press, trim and remove paper pattern. Lay out the nine patch blocks and sew in the same manner as in the first block. Press.
8. Lay out the blocks in an alternating pattern with all chain blocks going diagonal across the quilt and all backgrounds matching the four blocks meeting at their corners. Sew blocks together 5 blocks across and 6 blocks down. Quilt should measure 55" X 66" when these blocks are sewn together.

finished block 7" X 7"

9. The sides of the first border are cut 2-1/2" wide and the top and bottom are cut 2" wide. **Note: If you do not make this border a different size on top/bottom and sides, the pieced outside border blocks will not fit.
   
   Second border: 7" blocks make up the outside border. The shading of the blocks is important. The farthest outside should be dark, the inside cream, and middle point is half cream and half taupe. The templates are provided for you. You may print them and glue them to template Mylar, or just use the paper templates. Cut the dark and lighter fabric strips for the darker and the lightest fabric 4" wide and 7 7/8" on the longest edge of the triangle. Use template to cut the 60 degree angles. For the narrow two part point triangles, cut strips 2-1/2" wide of cream and taupe fabric. Use the template to cut the triangles. The longest edge of the triangle is 8 7/8" and the angles are 30 degrees.
   
   These blocks each have two - four point closures to put them together. First sew the center seam of the 4" triangle by sewing the 1/4" seam by starting and stopping 1/4" from each end. Press seam open. Second sew the taupe and cream triangles together by seaming the longest edge with a 1/4" seam. With darkest of the 4"wide triangles on the upper side and the light on the lower edge, the lightest cream triangle is sewn into the open triangle on the right edge. Put the needle down in the center of the cream triangle 1/4" from edge, joining it to the point where the stitching stopped on the 4" triangles. Sew one 1/4" seam to the end point of the triangle and repeat for the other side of the cream triangle. The taupe side of this triangle will be sewn in the same manner to the left edge of the next 4" triangle. Continue in this manner until you have constructed the four sides of the border.

10. Templates have been provided for you to construct the corners. Refer to the picture of the quilt. The corner also had two - four point closures. Don't let these four point closures scare you off they are not hard to do, but they do have to be exact to keep from creating little tucks at the corners.
11. Adding the border to the quilt: Sew all of the four borders together at the corners, and pin to the edges of the quilt then carefully sew the border on the proper edges. Select a batting and backing and quilt in your favorite method.