BOM July 09

July 2009

Row Six - Ribbon Star

A simple nine patch block, but a neat ribbon or chain effect when you combine them in a row. Above is a scrappy version, with each star a different color.

We'll be making our star blocks 6½ inches unfinished, to finish at 6 inches.

If you're making a 36 inch wide quilt, you'll need only six blocks.
If you're making a 60 inch wide quilt, you'll need ten star blocks.
If you're making the 72 inch wide quilt, you'll need twelve blocks.

Lots of half square triangles here! They need to finish at 2 inches, if you're making a six inch block.

I prefer to use paper which I print free off the internet. Here's one site, Quilting and Whatnot, that has the two-inch size of half square triangle paper you will need:

2 inch hst paper

Make sure your computer prints the right size. Print one, and measure that little square in the upper right corner. It should be exactly 1 inch square.

Then for the center of the block, you'll need one solid 2½ square.

You can also cut 3 inch squares, draw a diagonal, and make your half square triangles two at a time, like we did for the house block, last month.

I use this method when I'm making scrappy half square triangles.

Pair two fabrics together, sew ¼ away from that center diagonal line you drew, cut on the solid diagonal, press open and trim to 2½ square. Trimming is important, if you want accurate hst blocks.

Then lay out your patches as in the diagram above, and sew together like a nine patch.

Press, then trim your ribbon star blocks to 6½ inches square.

Now sew your blocks together into a row, and you're done!

There's my row, in green and brown batik fabrics. I cut a 1½ inch strip of brown fabric, to add a skinny row of sashing onto the top and bottom of my row. That's one single block on the right, before I connected them and added the sashing.

What will your ribbon stars look like? Below are mine, attached just above my house and tree row, with Row One under the houses.

Home