June 2016 Star Gazing BOM

Star Gazing BOM

June’s blocks, Hidden Star, Hope of Hartford and Pinwheel Star, bring home all the skills you’ve been mastering this year.  In the Hidden Star block you are combining square in a square with half square triangles when placed around a center square will create a star.  Play with color and value to create a look appealing to you.  The Hope of Hartford block introduces partial piecing to attach your outer blocks to a smaller center square.  This block isn’t as complicated as it looks.  Have fun with this block.  In the Pinwheel Star block you will be using flying geese, half square triangles and 3 patch quarter square triangles.  The mastery you have acquired in precise cutting and piecing will be put to the task in this block as there are 32 pieces in a 12” finished block!  Give yourself a pat on the back for a block well pieced!

This concludes our BOM for 2015-2016.  We hope you have enjoyed the journey.  Now it is time for you to consider layout designs to create a quilt that is appealing to you.  You may want to break up your blocks into several small finished pieces.  There are no rules here.  Need ideas, go to the internet.  Check out Pinterest, YouTube or just type in Quilt Layout in you browser’s search window.

We would like to have a Show & Tell of our quilts at the December Social.  We would also like you to consider showing your quilts in the 2017 quilt show in a special exhibit for MVQU.  Remember there are no rules for your project.  You don’t have to make all the different blocks.  Maybe there is one design that is your favorite that you want to make over and over.  Your finished quilt/project can be a pocket on tote, a placemat, a pillow, a wall hanging, a lap quilt etc.  Just have fun!

To print the pattern, click on the pattern name, then click on the printer icon.

Hidden Star

Hope of Hartford

Pinwheel Star

May 2016 Star Gazing BOM

Star Gazing BOM

May’s block, Dandy Quilt Block introduces cropping corners from a block which is sometimes called “snowballing”.  Have you ever thought about designing your own block?  To change the look of a traditional block consider snowballing a corner or two. 

To print the pattern, click on the pattern name, then click on the printer icon.

Dandy Quilt Block

April 2016 Star Gazing BOM

Star Gazing BOM

April’s block, April Star, introduces the 3 patch quarter square triangle.  This is a very versatile block and worth your time to master.  The variations also continue building your skills using color and value.  In the variation block, No Name Star, you learn how simply cropping a corner can add a strong design element to your block.

To print the patterns, click on the pattern name then, click on the printer icon.

April Star

No Name Star

March 2016 Star Gazing BOM

Star Gazing BOM

March’s block, Shooting Star, introduces creating a parallelogram from squares and rectangles.  The variation, Clay’s Choice, demonstrates the affect color placement plays in the overall look of a design.

To print the patterns, click on the pattern name then, click on the printer icon

Shooting Star

Clay's Choice

February 2016 Star Gazing BOM

Star Gazing BOM

February’s block, Floating Eight Pointed Star, introduces “Peaky & Spike” block simplified.  The variation Grandma’s Star, the Peaky & Spike units are made in the traditional manner and combined with a four patch for an interesting design.

To print the patterns, click on the pattern name then, click on the printer icon

Floating Eight Pointed Star

Grandma's Star

January 2016 Star Gazing BOM

Star Gazing BOM

January’s block, Sawtooth Star, is another simple block using half square triangles.  In the 6 ½ version the flying geese unit is introduced, which is another basic building block to master.  It would not be difficult to change the 12 ½ inch block to use the flying geese unit vs the half square triangle unit to make the star points.  Making this change teaches the concept that a pattern can often be tweaked to accomplish the same end result.  Find the method you most enjoy making to piece these blocks.  

We have also included patterns for Hunter Star and Nancy’s Star.  The Hunter Star is just like the Sawtooth Star but with a pinwheel in the middle instead of a four patch.  This simple change gives you a very different looking star.  In the Nancy’s Star block you will be introduced to the Parallelogram unit.  This shape is so versatile.  It can be used alone to make a whole quilt or combined with other shapes to make an interesting block.  As always fabric choices play a key part in the finished look of your block.  

Now that you have mastered the Parallelogram, take a close look at the Hunter Star block pattern.  Do you see where you can substitute the Parallelogram unit when piecing this block?

Sawtooth Star

6 1/2 inch Sawtooth Star

Hunter Star

Nancy's Star

December 2015 BOM Star Gazing

Star Gazing BOM

December's block, Ann's New Years Eve Star, introduces the chisel shape and adding a simple four patch to a design.  These designs continue to build accuracy in piecing to accomplish a pleasing finished block.

Click on the link below to print the pattern

Ann's New Years Eve Star

November 2015 BOM Star Gazing

  

Star Gazing BOM

November’s block, Ohio Star, introduces quarter square triangles.  This is another basic block from which many block designs build.  Variations to this block demonstrate how small changes in color placement or the addition of another color can make a great impact in the overall look of the design.  Two of the variations had a small pieced block to the center of the star for even more visual impact.  This month there are many patterns, with instructions for alternate sizes.  Chose to make one or chose to make them all.  Have fun! 

To print November Patterns just click on the name of the pattern name: 

Ohio Star

Ohio Star Variation

Mosaic PW#1

Star of Hope

Swamp Angel

Swam Angel Too

Dolley Madison’s Star

Pinwheel Star

Alternate Sizes

October 2015 Star Gazing BOM

October’s blocks, Eccentric Star or Perpetual Motion, continues building those same skills introduced in September of accurate cutting, piecing and playing with color placement and color value.

Click HERE to print the pattern for Eccentric Star

Click HERE to print the pattern for Perpetual Motion

Click HERE to print instructions for Perpetual Motion many sizes

BOM 2015-2016 Star Gazing

Clink on the links below to print the September BOM patterns

Friendship Star

Next Door Neighbor

Ribbon Quilt

Friendship Star Many Sizes