Tips for constructing the Star Puzzle block that we will be drawing for at the August meeting.
From the background fabric cut eight 3½" squares, and four 4¼" squares.
From the navy fabric cut four 3½ by 6½" rectangle, and four 4¼" squares.
Cut each of the 4¼" squares in half diagonally.
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Start by making 8 half-square triangles (HST's) using the navy and background triangles. Don't forget to chain-piece, set the seam with your iron, then finger press, then press. Press the seams to the navy triangle.
Trim each of the HST's to measure exactly 3½" square.
Next we'll make the rectangle units. Start by drawing a diagonal line on the wrong side of each of the 3½" squares.
Pin the square on top of the rectangle as shown. Ideally you should stitch just a thread to the inside of the seam - that is just a thread to the side that will be trimmed off in the next step.
DON'T TRIM YET!
You'll get much better results if you press first, and then trim the seam allowance.
To press this type of unit correctly do not just push your iron over the seam. Instead match the corner of the background square to the corner of the navy rectangle. While holding the corner in place, use your iron to press straight down. By doing it this way you won't get the distortion that often happens with this piecing technique.
After you press, then trim the seam allowance to a quarter of an inch.
Now position a square at the other end of the rectangle. Be sure the diagonal line is going the SAME direction as the first square.
Stitch just a little tiny bit towards the part that will be trimmed off. Press and then trim.
Now we can arrange the HST's and rectangle units to make the Star Puzzle block.
Just like last month, the block is made up of four identical squares. Let's look at one of the squares.
Start by sewing the two HST's together. Flip the right square over the left square and sew along the right edge. Press to the navy triangle. Then sew the top half to the bottom half.
These four squares make up the block.
Flip the right square over the left square and sew along the right edge.
Finally, sew the top half to the bottom half. Release the vertical stitches at the center seam and spin the seam intersection.
And voila a beautiful Star Puzzle block.
Here are a couple of layout ideas.
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