‘Watch the Stars’ mystery quilt – assemble the top

assembling the 'Watch the Stars' quilt top

The moment has arrived! The mystery of the ‘Watch the Stars’ quilt is revealed.

2022 Mystery Quilt (background stars from a photo by Guille Pozzi on Unsplash, star blocks by Amanda Jane Textiles)

The story so far

The description of the mystery quilt project is here

The January block is here

The February block is here

The March block is here

The April block is here

The May block is here

The June block is here

The July block is here

The August block is here

The September block is here

The October block is here

The November block is here

This post tells you how to join all the quilt blocks together. (Next week there will be a post on how to layer up, quilt and bind your quilt. The fabric requirements for backing, wadding and binding will be included.)

This is quite a long post as the assembly is broken down into small steps, each with a photo. To make the instructions simpler, I have divided up the quilt top into two sections which need to be joined at the end.

Materials

A piece of navy-blue solid fabric 14 x 7″.

From this, cut two 6½ x 6½” squares. You need these as ‘fillers’ in the quilt top, as described below.

Assemble the upper section of the quilt top

A quarter-inch seam is used throughout. Pin the pieces together carefully before stitching, aligning vertical seams and ensuring that seam allowances face in opposite directions wherever possible at those points.

1 Join the eight January blocks together in a row.

'Watch the Stars' quilt top assembly step 1

2 Join two of the May blocks together to make a row. Join the remaining two May blocks to make a row. Join the rows.

'Watch the Stars' quilt top assembly step 2

3 Join the October block to the left of the August block.

'Watch the Stars' quilt top assembly step 3

4 Join three of the February blocks together, end to end.

'Watch the Stars' quilt top assembly step 5

5 Stitch the piece made in step 4 (with the arrows pointing downwards) to the left of the April block.

'Watch the Stars' quilt top assembly step 5

6 Join three more February blocks together, end to end, with the arrows pointing left. Add a 6½ x 6½” square to the right of them. Then join this piece at the bottom of the piece made in step 2.

'Watch the Stars' quilt top assembly step 6

7 Join the piece made in step 3 above the one made in step 5.

'Watch the Stars' quilt top assembly step 7

8 Join the piece made in step 6 to the right of the piece made in step 7.

'Watch the Stars' quilt top assembly step 8

9 Stitch the piece made in step 1 along the top of the piece made in step 8.

'Watch the Stars' quilt top assembly step 9

The upper part of the quilt top is complete. Press and set aside.

Assemble the lower section of the quilt top

10 Join another set of three February blocks with the arrows pointing to the right. Add a navy-blue block to the left of these.

'Watch the Stars' quilt top assembly step 10

11 Sew the two November blocks together to make a row. Sew the remaining two November blocks to make a row. Sew the two rows together.

'Watch the Stars' quilt top assembly step 11

12 Add the piece made in step 10 above the piece made in step 11.

'Watch the Stars' quilt top assembly step 12

13 Stitch the last three February blocks together in a row with the arrows pointing upwards. Join this piece to the right of the March block.

'Watch the Stars' quilt top assembly step 13

14 Join the July block to the left of the June block.

'Watch the Stars' quilt top assembly step 14

15 Join the piece made in step 14 under the piece made in step 13.

'Watch the Stars' quilt top assembly step 15

16 Join the piece made in step 15 to the right of the one in step 13.

'Watch the Stars' quilt top assembly step 16

17 Join the eight August blocks in a row and add them below the piece made in step 16.

'Watch the Stars' quilt top assembly step 17

The lower section of the quilt top is complete. Press.

Joining the two sections

18 Pin the top section to the bottom section and sew them together. The quilt top is complete.

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This bag is designed to carry an A4 cutting mat, rotary cutter and a ruler – just right for going to a quilt group or class. It is a fun project and it would make a great gift for a quilting friend. Get the pattern here

Quilters-Bag pattern by Amanda Jane Textiles
‘Quilter’s Bag’ pattern by Amanda Jane Textiles

Published by Amanda Jane Textiles

Artist, designer, maker and teacher

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