Mississippi Star

The Mississippi Star block is a beautiful, but challenging block. Many years ago I attempted my first template pieced block with little to no instruction on how to do so. I tried to figure out how to make the template pieces fit strips cut at the ¼ inch and many more mistakes.

Years later I learned how to use templates and picked up a few tips and tricks to make it easier. Now template piecing doesn't scare me and in fact there are times I prefer it to other methods. For those of you who are new to using templates, find some good tutorials to start with, then tackle this block. It's worth it to add another skill.

Pieces are best from templates while others can use squares and quarter square triangles. Also, there are some "Y" seams that can be difficult to sew well. A downloadable template is available for an 8 inch block. Be sure to print at 100% for proper sizing.

You'll need the following...

Fabric 1 (light yellow)

• 4 squares (piece A)
• 8 quarter square triangles (piece B)
• 2 long diamonds (piece C)

Fabric 2 (light orange)

• 8 quarter square triangles (piece B)
• 2 long diamonds (piece C)

Fabric 3 (medium orange)

• 4 borders (piece E)

Fabric 4 (burgundy)

• 4 flat triangles (piece D)

Instructions

1. Cut out all template pieces including the ¼ inch seam allowance.
2. Cut out the fabric pieces from the templates as listed above.
3. Begin sewing the long diamond (C) pieces together with a ¼ inch seam as shown in the diagram; press seams to one side.
4. Sew flat rectangles (D) into each crook of long diamonds using a ¼ inch seam, sewing first one side stopping ¼ inch before end of fabric and then turning to sew second seam with ¼ inch seam. This is a "Y" seam. Press seams to one side.
5. Next, sew border (E) pieces to work so far using a ¼ inch seam, starting and stopping ¼ inch from edges (this is another "Y" seam to make mitered corners). Sew border pieces to each other using a ¼ inch seam, stopping ¼ inch from previous seams. Press seams to one side.
6. Sew quarter square triangle pieces (B) together with a ¼ inch seam, half yellow/orange and the other half orange/yellow; press seams to one side.
7. Sew the quarter square triangle pairs to adjacent sides of square pieces (A) with a ¼ inch seam; press seams to one side.
8. Finally sew triangle units to each side of previous sewn work with a ¼ inch seam; press seams to one side.

Now you have a Mississippi Star block that would be great as a medallion to a larger quilt or on it's own as a table top/wall hanging quilt.

Happy Quilting, 

Jeanne

Kansas Troubles Quilt

In my previous 3 posts I showed different versions of a Kansas Troubles quilt block. Here I've put them together in a quilt. The original Kansas Troubles block in the middle with the other 2 variations around it.

Kansas Troubles III

Here is yet another variation of the Kansas Troubles quilt block. In this version you'll again use squares, half square triangles and quarter square triangles to make this block. To calculate what size the finished pieces should be choose a quilt block size that is easily divisible by 8 and follow the formulas below. All triangle seam allowances are for triangles cut from strips using triangle rulers or templates.

squares and small half square trianlges and small quarter square triangles = (block size ÷ 8) + ½ inch seam allowance.
medium half square triangles and large quarter square triangles = (block size ÷ 4) + ½ inch seam allowance.

fabric 1 (light): 4 squares, 16 small half square triangles, 8 small quarter square triangles
fabric 2 (light green): 16 small half square triangles and 4 medium half square triangles
fabric 3 (green): 4 large quarter square triangles
fabric 4 (purple): 4 large quarter square triangles

Sew block together as shown below using a ¼ inch seam.

Happy quilting, 

Jeanne

Kansas Troubles II

In my previous post, I described the Kansas Troubles quilt block. Today is the same named block in a different variation. In this block there are squares, half square triangles and quarter square triangles. Choose a finished block size that is again easily divisible by 8.

Kansas Troubles I

The Kansas Troubles quilt block was first seen in about the 1850's but it wasn't seen in print until 1890 with the name. See civilwarquilts.blogspot.com for more details about this quilt block.

Different sized half square triangles and squares make up the pieces of this quilt block. To make this version, decide how large you want the block to be choosing sizes that are easily divisible by 8.