My Patchwork Quilt: BLOCK 9: MORNING HAS BROKEN SQUARE BLOCK

Wednesday, March 9, 2022

BLOCK 9: MORNING HAS BROKEN SQUARE BLOCK

This easy quilt block pattern I’m sharing today is a variable of a Star variation. I also saw the pattern online labeled as a Farmer’s Wife - Evening Star. I had already drawn the pattern off from an old magazine my aunt had. I decided to make the block but use a “focal print” as I call it. My focal print can be a “scene” or just a print that is very visual and stands out. I loved this scene with all the birds and flowers, etc.

I have already referred to the pattern as an easy one and quick and easy it is. Imagine a beautiful block that is made from one 6.5” square, four 3.5” squares, and eight HST (half square triangles). That’s all it takes. The 6.5” square can show a “scene” or just some pretty colorful flowers, etc. The four smaller squares and HST are made using two different fabrics. I chose a darkest blue for the “points” of the star (the sun) and a yellow/gold for the light from the star/sun. I called it “Morning Has Broken” because all the birds come out when the sun comes out.

HOW TO MAKE A VARIABLE OF A STAR VARIATION (all seams are ¼” using two prints and a focal print)

CUT a 6.5” square from a focal print or large print

CUT four 3.5” square from print #1

CUT four 4” squares from print #1 and print #2 (to make 8 HST)

On your design wall, PLACE the center square with the four smaller squares.

MAKE four pairs using one of each color with the 4” squares right sides facing. DRAW a diagonal line on the lighter color back. SEW ¼” on each side of the drawn line.

I did this using a method called chain piecing. It saves time and thread if that is important to you. CUT the threads separating the HST

and CUT along the drawn line. Each 4” square pair will make 2 HST. PRESS the seam open toward the darker print.

When I make HST, I cut the squares a full 1 inch bigger than the finished size instead of ⅞” bigger as most directions will say. I do this for two reasons. It’s easier to compute and it also allows me to square-up the block and trim it down more perfectly to the 3.5” square. The more accurate it is, the more lightly the diagonal seams will meet up. To square-up the HST, line up the diagonal seam with the diagonal line on a square ruler (5“6 or a 6.5”) . Place it so that you have a little bit all the way around over the 3.5” measurement.

As you finish each HST, PLACE each in its place on the design board in the pattern.

I moved the four corner squares away from the pattern so you can see what comes next.

It doesn’t really matter the order that you sew each HST pair. I had you press the HST toward the darker print. This will allow you to “nest” or “butt” the two seams so they will look like this after you sew the two HSTs together.

Just repress the two HSTs that won’t “nest” because they are pressed the same way. Just choose one of the HST and press the seam toward the light print.

Pin it down so that you make sure the fabrics don’t move when you sew

it.

Once you have all HSTs sewed, you will SEW the corners on either the top and bottom HSTs or the side ones. I chose to sew them to the top and bottom.

Once the four corners are attached, PRESS the seams toward the corners. SEW the sides to the large center matching the ends of the large square securing the strip with pins.

PRESS the seams toward the center square.

Returning to the design wall and its location in the pattern, the next step is to sew the top and bottom strips on.

This time you will need to “nest” the seams with the corner block and the seam for the sides and center square. MATCH them first and then the center HST seam to the side of the center square. Pin.