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