Over on our sister site – chrisandbarbara – we try to publish a series of EQ doodles each month together with a brief blogpost and a colouring sheet to download. We had the sudden bright idea that you might actually want to know how to make some of these blocks – what sizes to cut, or templates provided. So . . . we’re going to try to do it each month here on the Meadowside blog.
The March doodles are based on a block called Birds and Star – essentially an 8-pointed star on point with half-square triangles (HSTs) around it (like Birds in the Air – hence its name, probably).
We’ve done instructions for a 12 inch block and if you would like templates then you can download them here.
For rotary cutting you need:-
2 and 7/8 inch squares for the corner HSTs – cut each in half to give two triangles, or quick-piece using your preferred method (see the Tutorials page for guidance).
2 and 1/4 inch strips for the diamonds – cut light ones from left to right; dark ones from right to left (or place the fabrics right sides together and cut both at once) using the 45 degree line on your ruler. Cut at 2 and 1/4 inch intervals.
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The corner squares for the 8-pointed star are cut at 3 inches.
The set-in triangles are cut from 3 and 3/8 inch squares – cut each square in half diagonally to give two triangles.
Make the 8-pointed star block first, taking care with those Y seams when setting in the corner squares and setting triangles.
Stitch the corner HST units according to your colourings (which will probably be very different from ours). Stitch these smaller units into the larger triangles.
Stitch these larger triangles to the sides of the 8-pointed star. Stitch opposite sides first, press and then stitch the other two sides.
