Sampler Quilt Virginia Star

For some reason my other blog is not cooperating at all...I've lost posts midway through and must have to ask for my password ever other time I log on! So I am posting some directions for the Fairford Quilters here until I get it figured out.

This is the 6-th 12-inch block in our sampler Quilt. The blocks are starting to have multiple shapes in them so it is good to begin breaking them down to the sub-components. For instance in this block we have 1 squre-in-a-square in the center which is surrounded by 4 flying geese. When you construct the block you will make the similar subcomponents at the same time then put the final block together.

Fabrics: This block uses three fabrics. The center square (roses) is 6-1/2. The b fabric has eight 3-1/2 squares. The background or light fabric is a bit more complicated: four 3-1/2 inch squares, four 3-1/2 by 6-1/2 inch rectangles, and four 3-1/2 inch squares.

Start with the center square in a square. Place the 6-1/2 inch square and one of the 3-1/2 inch background squares right sides together with the corners aligned. Draw a diagonal line like in the photo. This is your sewing line. Repeat on the opposite diagonal corner. Trim 1/4 inch then press with the seams towards the center.

Repeat with the reamaining two corners. (note: I immediately take the halfsquare triangles that are cut off the corners and sew them together. This will give you four 2-1/2 inch squares that you can use later in the scrap basket or pine tree block.)

Next construct the flying geese. You will need a 3-1/2 by 6-1/2 inch rectangle from the background fabric and two 3-1/2 squares of fabric C (here brown fabric) Place the fabrics right sides together and draw a diagonal line on the C fabric square. Sew on that line. Cut 1/4 of an inch from the seam.

Press then repeat on other corner on the same long side of the fabric. Press.

Finally, we lay out the block. In addition to the subcomponants we have already made you will need the four 3-1/2 inch squares of the background fabric. Sew the blocks together one row at a time. Remember to alternate the direction you press the seams so that they will nest together.