Quick and Easy Christmas Quilt: Block 2
Welcome back! If you are just joining in, check out Block 1 of the Quick and Easy Christmas Quilt. It covers much of what we’ll be talking about here today.
Now onto block 2! Half Square Triangle Star.
For this block, we will be using the same method for creating HSTs as we did in Block 1.
For each of these 24″ blocks, we need 24 HSTs. Each block uses 8 red HSTs and 16 green ones, so we will need more green than red. We need a total of 72. As before, we are going to make 8 at a time and if you’re accurate in your cutting and your piecing, you won’t even need to trim them down.
I kept track of my colors and what I needed to cut by drawing out the block and writing in what I needed. (Clearly I was drinking coffee to stay focused as evidenced by the stain…)
Once again, to make 8 at a time HSTs, figure out what size FINISHED HSTs you need. For this block, they are 4″ finished. Add 7/8″ to your 4″ measurement. That’s 4 and 7/8″. Multiply your total by two. That equals 9 and 3/4″. So we need to cut 9 and 3/4″ squares to get 8 4 and 1/2″ HSTs (with seam allowance).
Cut 9 and 3/4″ squares as follows:
- Red – 3
- Green – 6
- Background – 9
You’ll also need to cut the following:
- 3 Red Centers – 8.5″
- 12 Grey Cornerstones – 4.5″
- 12 Black Corner stones – 4.5″
Piece your HSTs as shows in Tutorial 1.
Put on your Patchwork foot #97D with seam guide. Make sure your needle position back to 0.
Lay out your block. You can use the same method of stacking the blocks on one another to chain piece them if you are so inclined (see Block 1).
Starting on the left and right of the center stars, piece the HSTs together and press the seams in opposite directions.
Nest your seams and piece these two pieces together.
Do the same for the other side and attached to the center of the star.
Now piece each row.
Press the seams in opposite directions as in the last tutorial so we can next them together.
Piece the top rows together and bottom rows together.
Add them to the center section.
Make all three blocks. You are almost done with your blocks!
