Sugarplum Table Runner Quilt-along—Week 3

Welcome to Week 3 of the Sugarplum Table Runner Quilt-along. Last week we made (2) Modern Pine Trees quilt blocks and (2) Poinsettia Flowers quilt blocks. Some of you foundation paper pieced for the first time—yay! Today, we are going to jump right back into that technique with (2) Snowflakes quilt blocks. We will also be traditionally piecing (1) Golden Star quilt block. Let’s get started!

Sugarplum Table Runner Quilt-Along—Week 3

Finished Size: 12″ x 84″
Block Size: 12″ x 12″ Finished
Number of Blocks: 7

Instructions to Make the Snowflakes Quilt Blocks

The Snowflakes quilt block is Foundation Paper Pieced. Reduce your stitch length so that the paper template will perforate easily when you are finished. I used 1.4mm stitch length on my BERNINA 770 QE.

Collect the fabric you cut for the Snowflakes quilt blocks in Week 1, as well as the (4) copies each of Snowflakes Template A and Snowflakes Template B, printed at “100%” or “Actual Size”. Be sure to check the scaling ruler on the template to ensure it printed correctly.

Let’s start with Template A:

Step 1: Select (1) 2-3/4″ x 7″ Kona Bahama Blue rectangle (Template Piece 1A) and place it right side out on the back of your template, making sure to cover the entire area of Template Space 1A. Pin or glue stick into place.

Step 2: Select (1) 3″ x 4-1/2″ White rectangle (Template Piece 2A). Place it right sides together to Template Piece 1A, which you pinned into place in Step 1. Hold your template up to the light and make sure at least 1/4″ of the white fabric overlaps into Template Space 2A. This will probably feel backwards and wrong the first few times you do it—don’t worry! Pin or hold into place.

Step 3: Sew along the seam line on the template between Template Pieces 1A and 2A. Be sure to sew a bit into the seam allowance. You may also backstitch at the beginning and end. Remove your pins.

Step 4: Trim your seam allowance to 1/4″. I do this by folding the paper away on the stitched line, and using my quilting ruler to measure 1/4″ away from the stitched line.

Step 5: Your block should now look as shown below.

Press your fabric open.

Step 6: Select your fabric cut for Template Piece 3A. Place it right side together to Template Piece 1A. Just like in Step 2, hold your template up to the light and make sure at least 1/4″ of the fabric overlaps into Template Space 1. Pin or hold into place.

Step 7: Sew along the seam line on the template, once again remembering to sew a bit into the seam allowance.

Step 8: Trim the seam allowance and press your fabric open.

Step 9: Repeat this process for Template Piece 4A.

Step 10: Once you have pieced and pressed all your Template Pieces, your block should look something like above.

Flip your block so the printer paper is face up.

Step 11:  Using a quilting ruler and rotary cutter, trim your blocks to the 1/4″ seam allowance. This seam allowance is included on your printed template, however I still like to measure 1/4″ away from the block line to ensure accuracy. (When cutting out paper piecing templates, it can be easy to accidentally cut away some of the printed seam allowance guide.)

Step 12: Repeat Steps 1 – 11 and piece (3) additional Snowflakes Template A units for a total of (4) Snowflakes Template A units. At this point, I like to remove my paper before sewing my units together. This is a personal preference. Optionally, you may remove your paper after assembling the block.

Let’s now piece with Template B.

Step 13: Following the same foundation paper piecing technique used in Steps 1 – 12, piece your (4) Snowflakes Template B units using the fabric you cut for Template B in Week 1.

** If you’ve removed your paper, change your stitch length back to it’s standard piecing size. **

Step 14: Select (2) Snowflakes Template A units, (2) Snowflakes Template B units, and (2) 3-1/2″ x 12-1/2″ White rectangles. Lay out your fabric as shown.

Step 15:  Stitch Snowflakes Template units together as shown, taking care to match the center points. Press your seams open.

Step 16:  Stitch (1) 3-1/2″ x 12-1/2″ White rectangle on the side of the Snowflakes quilt block unit. Press your seams open.

Step 17: Repeat Steps 14 – 16 to make an additional Snowflakes quilt block for a total of (2) Snowflakes quilt blocks.

 Instructions to Make the Golden Star Quilt Block

Collect the fabric you cut for the Golden Star quilt blocks in Week 1.

Step 1: Select (4) 3-1/4″ x 3-1/4″ Kona Yarrow squares and (4) 3-1/4″ x 3-1/4″ White squares. Using a marking tool, draw a diagonal line from corner to corner on the back of the Kona Yarrow squares.

Step 2: Place (1) 3-1/4″ x 3-1/4″ White square and (1) 3-1/4″ x 3-1/4″ Kona Yarrow square right sides together. Stitch 1/4″ away from each side of the marked line, as shown.

Step 3: Cut your fabric down the marked line, resulting in (2) units. Open your fabric and press towards the dark fabric. Trim your units to 2-1/2″ x 2-1/2″, using the diagonal stitched line as a guide.

Step 4: Repeat Steps 2 – 3 to piece an additional (6) Yarrow/White units for a total of (8) Yarrow/White units.

Step 5: Select (1) 4-1/2″ x 4-1/2″ Kona Buttercup square and (4) 2-1/2″ x 2-1/2″ White squares. Using a marking tool, draw a diagonal line from corner to corner on the back of the White squares.

Step 6: Place (2) White square right sides together with the Kona Buttercup square in opposite corners, as shown.

Step 7: Stitch on the marked lines, as shown.

Step 8: Trim your fabric 1/4″ away from the marked lines and press your fabric.

Step 9: Repeat Steps 6 – 8 for the remaining (2) corners.

Step 10: Repeat Steps 5 – 9 for the remaining (3) Kona Buttercup diamond in square units.

Step 11: Lay out your fabric as shown.   

Step 12: Stitch your corner Kona Yarrow 4-patch units together.

Step 13: Stitch your pieced units together into rows.

Step 14: Stitch your rows together to finish your Golden Star quilt block.

Thanks again to all who stitched along with me today! Stop by next week as we finish the table runner quilt top, baste, quilt, and trim!