STARBURST

Big, bold Half-square Triangles contrast against an improv-pieced centre star in this deliciously bright design

Big, bold Half-square Triangles contrast against an improv pieced star in this bright quilt design

NOTES

■ Seam allowances are ¼in, unless otherwise noted.

■ Press seams open, unless otherwise instructed.

■ RST = right sides together.

■ WOF = width of fabric.

■ HST = Half-square Triangle.

■ Fabrics supplied by Robert Kaufman (robertkaufman.com)

FABRICS USED

All fabrics are from the Blueberry Park collection by Karen Lewis Textiles for Robert Kaufman.

CUTTING OUT

1

From the pink fabrics cut:

■ Four (4) 5½in squares.

■ Eight (8) 4½in x 8½in rectangles.

2

From the orange fabrics cut:

■ Four (4) 5½in squares.

■ Twelve (12) 6in squares.

3

From the yellow fabrics cut:

■ Eight (8) 6in squares.

4

From the red fabrics cut:

■ Twenty four (24) 5½in squares.

■ Sixteen (16) 6in squares.

5

From the background fabric cut:

■ Thirty six (36) 6in squares.

■ Twenty four (24) 5½in squares.

■ Four (4) 10½in x 6in rectangles.

■ Eight (8) 10½in x 2¾in rectangles.

6

From the binding fabric cut:

■ Seven (7) 2½in x WOF strips.

PIECING THE CENTRE BLOCKS

7

With one pink 5½in square facing wrong side up, mark ¼in from each side of the bottom right corner. Trim a diagonal line, lining up your ruler with each mark to remove the corner (Fig 1).

8

Draw two lines on the wrong side of each of these squares, from the middle of the trimmed corner out to the top and left sides of the square (Fig 2). Varying the angle of these lines, which will be your stitching lines, will create a more improv look.

QUILT LINES RADIATE ACROSS THE DESIGN FROM THE TOP CORNER, LIKE RAYS OF SUNSHINE

9

Take one 4½in x 8½in pink fabric rectangle and place RST with one of your marked squares. Arrange one long raw edge so it overlaps the drawn line by approximately ¼in. Sew along the drawn line. Trim the seam allowance and press open. Trim to 5½in square (Fig 3).

10

Repeat step 9 with a second

4½in x 8½in rectangle on the other drawn line, to complete one centre block (Fig 4). Make four centre blocks.

MAKING THE HSTs

11

Draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of each 6in background square, from corner to corner.

12

Place one orange 6in square RST with one marked background square. Sew ¼in from either side of the marked line (Fig 5). Trim along the marked line and press open to make two HSTs. Trim each HST to 5½in square.

13

Repeat step 14 to make twenty four orange HSTs, sixteen yellow HSTs and thirty two red HSTs.

PIECING THE QUILT TOP

14

Arrange the centre blocks, yellow and orange HSTs with four orange 5½in squares and sixteen background 5½in squares as shown (Fig 6). Sew the squares together in rows, then sew the rows together to complete the centre.

15

Arrange two 2¾in x 10½in background strips, one 6in x 10½in background strip, six red HSTs, two 5½in background squares and four red 5½in squares as shown (Fig 7). Sew together in pairs, then sew the units together in a row to complete one side border.

16

Repeat step 15 to make a second side border. Sew the borders to each side of the quilt centre.

17

Arrange two 2¾in x 10½in background strips, one 6in x 10½in background strip, ten red HSTs, two 5½in background squares and eight red 5½in squares as shown (Fig 8). Sew the squares together in pairs, then sew the units together in one row. This completes the top row.

18

Repeat step 17 to make the bottom row. Sew the rows to the quilt centre to complete the quilt top.

QUILTING AND FINISHING

19

Cut the backing fabric in half and sew along the long edge with a in seam. Press the quilt top well. Make a quilt sandwich with backing fabric, batting and the quilt top. Baste the layers together using your preferred method.

20

Quilt as desired. Julie quilted simple lines, radiating across the quilt from the top left corner.

21

Trim any excess batting and backing fabric and square up the quilt.

22

Join the binding strips together end-to-end using diagonal seams. Press the seams open and trim away the dog ears. Fold in half lengthwise, wrong sides together, and press.

23

Sew the binding to the front of the quilt, folding a mitre at each corner, then fold the binding over to the back of the quilt and hand stitch in place to finish.