Dec 2007 BOM

QAF Block of the Month

December 2007

Starry Ohio Star

9 1/2" (unfinished), 9" (finished)

Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays!

The ever-popular Ohio Star is 'starring' again this December. We last did this star in December 2005, but this time, the fabrics used give it a softer, romantic look. You will need just a little bit of (4) different fabrics. We are calling for a light cream for the background, a soft golden yellow square for the center, a coordinating pastel of any color for the 'halo' and the star points will be a creamy star fabric. If you have trouble finding a creamy star fabric, you could use a fabric with small dots. Make this fabric be just a shade or two darker than the background, up to say, a muslin color, which should be really light and pretty low contrast. We are going for an overall light pastel effect here.

The colors are up to you, but keep them light, pastel, dreamy. Look at the pictures here for inspiration on how it should 'feel'. I think you will really like these stars, and finding just the right fabrics will be only part of the fun!

And P.S., yes, it is o.k. to use metallics this time!!

Be sure to ask any question you might have about the fabrics or anything else about the BOM, on the forum.

Cut for each block:

(4) 3 1/2" squares
(1) 4 1/4" square

PASTEL YELLOW center:

To Assemble Block:

Quarter Square Triangles (QST)- make these first. Layer a Star point square RST with the 'Halo' square and draw a diagonal line on the back of the lighter fabric from corner to corner in both directions. Sew a scant 1/4" on both sides of ONE of those diagonal lines. The drawn lines are your cutting lines. Carefully cut apart, cutting FIRST on the line you didn't stitch beside, then cut apart on that drawn line. You will have 4 units. Press to the star point fabric.

Repeat the above by layering a Star point square RST with the cream background 4 1/4" square.

Once you have these (8) patches made, arrange them as per the picture above, and stitch the two halves of each QST together, nestling that center seam together for nice intersecting seams. Take care to not stretch this seam, you are dealing with some small bias edges here. Square up each of the resulting (4) QST to 3 1/2". This will take off all the little 'bunny ears', and if you took SCANT 1/4" seams, you will probably have little to trim, and they will measure correctly. You are practically finished at this point.

Now, take all the plain 3 1/2" squares AND all the QST and lay them out in rows of 3, so that they are oriented as in the block picture above. Sew as usual, in rows of 3, pressing to the plain squares as you go, then sew the rows together. Press your final block and using your square-up ruler, make sure it measures 9 1/2" square. You are DONE!!

We hope you will make several of these wonderful stars for the block of the month drawing, and for yourselves too.