You will be busy this month, as you need to make four blocks by following the instructions below. The position of the blocks in the quilt will only be revealed at the end of the year…
To make the May block, you need to follow the instructions given in January post for making half-square triangle units. You will find this in the instructions under the heading ‘Making the Star’ in the January post here.
Materials
For each of the four blocks you need:
a fat quarter (18 x 21″) of navy background fabric
a fat quarter (18 x 21″) of light yellow fabric
a piece 5 x 5″ of darker yellow print fabric
Cutting
For each block, cut:
four squares 4½ x 4½” and eight squares 2⅞ x 2⅞” from the navy fabric
eight squares 2⅞ x 2⅞” from the lighter yellow fabric
one square 4½ x 4½” from the darker yellow print fabric
Making the Star
1 Take one yellow and one navy 2⅞ x 2⅞” square and make two half-square triangle units by following the instructions given in the January post here
2 Repeat step 1 seven more times.
3 Join two units as shown below. Press the seam allowances open.
4 Join the other two units as shown below. Press the seam allowances open.
5 Join the piece made in step 3 with the one made in step 4, as shown below, to make an ‘arrow’ unit.
6 Repeat steps 1- 5 three more times, to make three more arrow units.
7 Make row 1 of the block: join a 4½ x 4½” navy block to an arrow block pointing downwards, then join a second 4½ x 4½” navy block
8 Make row 2 of the block: join an arrow unit (pointing to the right) to the 4½ x 4½” darker yellow print block, then join a second arrow unit (pointing to the left).
9 Make row 3 of the block: Join a 4½ x 4½” navy square to an arrow unit pointing upwards, then add a second 4½ x 4½” navy square.
10 Join row 1 to row 2, making sure that the vertical seams align. Press the seam allowance upwards.
11 Join row 2 to row 3, making sure that the vertical seams align. Press the seam allowance downwards. The block is complete.
12 Repeat steps 1 – 11 to make three more blocks. I kept the centre fabric the same, but varied the pale yellow and the navy fabrics, so each block would look a little different.)
The next instalment of ‘Watch the Stars’ will be here on Monday 6th June.
In case you have missed any of the blocks so far, January’s is ‘Watch the Stars’ quilt – January star quilt-block here, February’s is here, March’s is here and April’s is here.
Please share your blocks on Instagram with the hashtag #watchthestars
Amanda Jane Textiles offers unique fabrics for sale here, quilt patterns here, classes here and quilts for sale here
