Spinning Stars

The perfect study in color gradation.

CUTTING

From dark blue print A: • Cut 1 (41/2" x 20") strip. Subcut strip into 4 (21/2" x 41/2") AY rectangles. From medium/dark blue print B: • Cut 1 (41/2" x 20") strip. Subcut strip into 8 (21/2" x 41/2") BY rectangles. From dark brown solid A: • Cut 1 (27/ 8" x 20") strip. Subcut strip into 2 (27/ 8") AW squares. From cream print G: • Cut 1 (41/2" x 20") strip. Subcut strip into 4 (21/2" x 41/2")

GY rectangles. From light tan solid F/G: • Cut 2 (27/ 8" x 20") strips. Subcut strips into 12 (27/ 8")

F/GW squares. From light brown solid D: • Cut 2 (27/ 8" by fabric width) strips.

Subcut strips into 22 (27/ 8") DW squares. From tan solid E: • Cut 2 (27/ 8" by fabric width) strips.

Subcut strips into 18 (27/ 8") EW squares. From medium brown solid B/C: • Cut 2 (27/ 8" by fabric width) strips. Subcut strips into 18 (27/ 8")

B/CW squares. From medium blue print C: • Cut 2 (41/2" by fabric width) strips. Subcut strips into 28 (21/2" x 41/2")

CY rectangles. From cream/beige print F: • Cut 2 (41/2" by fabric width) strips. Subcut strips into 20 (21/2" x 41/2")

FY rectangles. From light blue print D: • Cut 3 (41/2" by fabric width) strips. Subcut strips into 44 (21/2" x 41/2")

DY rectangles. From cream/brown print E: • Cut 3 (41/2" by fabric width) strips. Subcut strips into 36 (21/2" x 41/2")

EY rectangles. From navy solid: • Cut 6 (21/4" by fabric width) binding strips. From white solid: • Cut 6 (27/ 8" by fabric width) strips.

Subcut strips into 72 (27/ 8") X squares. • Cut 18 (21/2" by fabric width) strips.

Subcut strips into 288 (21/2") Z squares.

COMPLETING THE BLOCKS

1. Draw a diagonal line from corner to corner on the wrong side of each X square and 144 Z squares. 2. Referring to Figure 1, place an X square right sides together with an AW square and stitch 1/4" on each side of the marked line. Cut apart on the marked line to make two AW-X units. Repeat to make a total of four AW-X units.

When I designed this quilt I wanted an easy-to-piece star. I also wanted something I could cut with my AccuQuilt cutting system. This pattern can easily translate from traditional cutting methods to using an AccuQuilt GO! Qube 8" Block for the cutting. Blues and neutrals are my favorite color combination. I wanted to make an easy quilt that used color to set it apart from other star quilts.” —Debra Clutter

3. Repeat step 2 with all X and W squares to make a total of 144 W-X units as shown

in Figure 2. Note: For the AW-X units, A represents the block color and W-X represents the pieced unit. Double letters such as B/C indicate that the units are used in both B and C blocks.

4. Referring to Figure 3, place a marked Z square on one end of an AY rectangle and stitch on the marked line. Trim seam allowance to 1/4" and press Z to the right side to complete an AY-Z unit. Repeat to make a total of four AY-Z units. 5.

Repeat step 4 with all Y and marked Z pieces to make a total of 144 Y-Z units as shown in Figure 4. 6. To complete one Spinning Star A block, select four each Z squares, AW-X units and AY-Z units. 7. Sew Z to one side of the AW-X unit to make a row as shown in Figure 5; press.

8. Sew the row to the AY-Z unit to make an A block quarter as shown in Figure 6; press. 9. Repeat steps 7 and 8 to complete a total of four A block quarters. 10. Join two block quarters to make an A half-block as shown in Figure 7; press. Repeat to make a second A half-block.

11. Join the two A half-blocks to complete one Spinning Star A block as shown in Figure 8; press.

12. Repeat steps 6–11 to complete a total of two Spinning Star B blocks, seven C blocks, 11 D blocks, nine E blocks, five F blocks and one G block, again referring to Figure 8.

COMPLETING THE QUILT

Refer to the Assembly Diagram for construction steps.

1. Arrange the blocks in six rows of six blocks each, starting row 1 in the upper left corner with the one G block and adding two each F and E blocks, and one D block at the end referring to Figure 9 for block placement; press.

2. Repeat step 1 with remaining five rows referring to Figure 10 for color placement.

3. Join the rows to complete the quilt top; press.

4. Create a quilt sandwich referring to Quilting Basics on page 102. Note: The sample quilt has a double layer of batting to provide extra loft. 5. Quilt as desired. 6. Bind edges referring to Quilting Basics on page 102 to finish. QW