DCMQG 2016 QAL - Block 8

Block 8

I don't even know what to call this block... Double star? Works for me. The point of this block is to work with different sized HSTs in the same block. The baby quilt version is highly simplified and adds an optional snowball block instead of the center HSTs.

Cutting Instructions

Queen Sized:
Background: (4) 4.5"x4.5"
Background: (4) 5"x5"
Print 1: (4) 5"x5"
Print 1: (4) 2.5"x2.5"
Print 1: (4) 3"x3"
Print 2: (6) 3"x3"
Print 3 (or Background): (2) 3"x3"

Baby Quilt:
Background: (4) 2.5"x2.5"
Background:(4) 3"x3"
Print 1: (4) 3"x3"
Print 1: (4) 2.5"x2.5"
Print 2: (1) 4.5"x4.5"
OR
Print 1: (6) 3"x3"
Print 2: (2) 3"x3"

Piecing Instructions

Draw a line down the center of the Background 5" (3") squares and pair them up with Print 1 squares. Sew on both sides of the line, cut in half, press open and trim to 4.5" (2.5").

For the queen sized block, you will also want to do the same with the 3" squares. Draw the diagonal line on the back of the Print 2 squares, and pair (4) of them with the Print 1 squares and (2) of them with the Print 3/Background squares. Sew on both sides of the line, cut apart, press, and trim to 2.5".

For the baby quilt, you can either make 2.5" HSTs with the 3" squares of Prints 1 and 2, or create a full snowball block with the 4.5" center and the 2.5" squares. Sew first two opposing corners making sure to sew just to the outside of the diagonal line, trim and press, and then add the other two corners.

Now lay out your block and then start sewing the sections together.

I started sewing the large block by creating (4) inner squares with (1) Print 1 2.5" square, (2) Print 1/Print 2 HSTs, and (1) Print 2/Print 3 HST.

Then I sewed the larger 4-patches to make each of the four quadrants.

Finally I sewed the quadrants together into the final block. You can also sew the blocks into rows and then sew the rows together.

Here is the final block for the queen sized quilt:

And here is the baby quilt version with the snowball block in the center:

Completed Block Size:
Queen Size: 16.5"x16.5"
Baby Quilt: 8.5"x8.5"

Several other options:

• Do a snowball block in the center of the queen sized block, this makes it easier to fussy cut the fabric (like I did with the baby quilt). Snowball center should be 4.5" square, and the corners 2.5" square.
• Make flying geese blocks instead of multiple HSTs for the star points.
• Make wonky star points by cutting 4.5" and 2.5" squares or flying geese bricks (4.5"x8.5" and 2.5"x4.5") and adding points.
• Play with fabric placement, maybe replacing Print 2 with my background fabric and replacing Print 3 with Print 1 would make an interesting study in negative space.