Stretched Stars Sampler

Turn a collection of precut 2½" strips into a sparkling star with this stellar beauty.

SKILL LEVEL

Intermediate

FINISHED SIZES

Quilt Size: 80" x 96" Block Size: 8" x 8" Number of Blocks: 80

MATERIALS

• 4 yards white solid

• 45 precut (21/2" x WOF) strips

assorted blues

• 25/ 8 yards blue tonal

• Backing to size

• Batting to size

• Thread

• Ruler with 45- degree line

• Basic sewing tools and supplies

PROJECT NOTES

Read all instructions before beginning this project.

Stitch right sides together using a ¼" seam allowance unless otherwise specified.

Arrows in Figures indicate direction to press seams.

Materials and cutting lists assume 40" of usable fabric width for yardage. WOF – width of fabric

HST – half-square triangle

QST – quarter-square triangle

CUTTING

From white solid cut:

• 236 (21/2") A squares

• 52 (21/2" x 41/2") D rectangles

• 28 (21/2" x 61/2") E rectangles

• 32 (41/2") J squares

• 44 (41/2" x 51/4") H rectangles

• 8 (21/2" x WOF) K/L strips, stitch short ends to short ends, then subcut into:

2 (21/2" x 801/2") K border strips and

2 (21/2" x 681/2") L border strips

From assorted blue 21/2" strips cut:

• 276 (21/2") B squares

• 28 (21/2" x 41/2") C rectangles • 88 (21/2" x 51/4") I rectangles • 28 (21/2" x 61/2") F rectangles • 20 (21/2" x 81/2") G rectangles

From blue tonal cut:

• 2 (61/2" x 841/2") M border strips along

lengthwise grain

• 2 (61/2" x 801/2") N border strips along

lengthwise grain

• 4 (21/2" x 91") binding strips cut along

lengthwise grain

COMPLETING THE BLOCKS

Log Cabin

1. Pair a B square and an A square. Sew together as shown in Figure 1.

2. Referring to Figure 2 and Log Cabin block diagram, add C–G rectangles as shown.

3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 to make a total of 12 Log Cabin blocks.

Stretched Stars A, B & C

1. Mark a diagonal line from corner to corner on the wrong side of 88 A squares.

2. Pair a marked A square and a B square as shown in Figure 3. Sew on the drawn line and trim ¼" away from the sewn line. If necessary, trim to 2½" square. Make 88 HST units.

3. Lay out two HST units and two A squares as shown in Figure 4. Sew units and squares together. Make 32 A units.

4. Lay out one each HST unit, A square and D rectangle as shown in Figure 5. Sew units together. Make 24 B units.

5. Sew two different-color I rectangles together along the long side as shown in Figure 6, to make one I-I unit. Measure to ensure unit is 4½" x 5¼". Adjust seam allowance if necessary. Make 44 I-I units.

6. Referring to Figure 7, mark two diagonal lines, ½" apart on the wrong side of all the H rectangles, as shown, drawing line from corner to ½" away from opposite corner using the 45-degree angle on a ruler.

7. Pair one H and one I-I unit as shown in Figure 8. Sew just inside drawn lines, and then cut apart between the stitching lines. Make 88 H-I units.

8. To make one Stretched Star A block, lay out one A unit, two H-I units and one J square as shown in Figure 10. Sew units and square together. Make eight blocks.

9. To make one Stretched Star B block, lay out one B unit, two H-I units and one J square as shown in Figure 11. Sew units and square together. Make 24 blocks.

10. To make one Stretched Star C block, lay out two each A units and H-I units as shown in Figure 12. Sew units together,. Make 12 blocks.

Pixilated Squares

1. Referring to Figure 13, arrange one A square, one each D and E rectangles and 10 B squares as shown.