Halo Star Medallion--Month 12

This is the Block of the Month 2017 from The Quilt Show.

Normally, the current year  2017 Block of the Month patterns are available free to Star members of The Quilt Show.com until December 31, 2017. The great news for those of you who are behind, or haven't started yet: the Halo Star Medallion Block of the Month patterns will be available until December 31, 2018. There is a beautiful Kit you might want to consider--what a wonderful Christmas/Hanukkah gift, don't you think?

As an added bonus, purchase of the Kit includes a one-year membership, how great is that?  Purchase the kit here.

NOTE: Here is a link to Sue Garman telling us how we can change the size of a quilt from this size to an either larger or smaller quilt. She gave this information for the 2009 Block of the Month quilt, which fiinished at 85" square, very similar to our 86" quilt this year. What a treat to hear and see Sue and learn from her still. Check it out here. I provided this link on the Forum BOM 2017 way back in the beginning. It's still good information.

We made it to the end of the year. The only thing left are the four Cornerstone blocks, very simple Ohio Stars.

Sue designed these stars to be paper pieced so the pattern is printed that way. Sue loved to paper piece and did it whenever a block could easily be done like that. I made the first one that way, using the December 1 pattern. While it worked fine, I prefer to piece these simple blocks in the regular manner--it's faster for me.  That's why there is chocolate AND vanilla, you get to decide which method you prefer.

For paper piecing tips and reminders, you will find some help here  Month 1, the Paper Piecing Primer.

To piece these blocks in the regular quilt-making method, let's review simple quilters' math:

6" Block
9-Patch design
Each unit is 2" finished, so will be 2.5" before you sew the block together

The "Cut First" Method, exact measurements:

Background squares for the four corners:  cut 2.5"

Background Quarter square triangles (QST) for the 8 light triangles: cut TWO squares 3.25", carefully cut in quarters by cutting on BOTH diagonals

Star Points, QST, cut TWO 3.25" squares, cut into 8 QST by cutting on BOTH diagonals

Center square: cut one 2.5"

Two light 3.25" squares are stacked on top of dark blue 3.25" squares, then cut in quarters

 Lay out all the pieces, carefully sew the four  Star Point units from 4 triangles each, checking to be sure that each unit measures 2.5":

Sew the block together in rows; each row should be 6.5" when sewn:

Join the 3 rows to create a 6.5" star block, which will be 6" finished when you sew it in your quilt:

The "Sew First" Method, oversize measurements:

Background squares for the four corners:  cut 2.5"
Star Point units--cut two squares 3.5" of the dark star point fabric
                            cut two squares 3.5" of light fabrics for the 8 light triangles
Center Square--cut 2.5"

Place dark and light squares in pairs, right sides together, draw a pencil line down the center diagonal of light square, sew 1/4" seam on both sides of the drawn line:

 Cut apart on the drawn line, press toward the dark fabric, stack the blue/light half square triangles on top of each other, right sides together, with blue fabrics on opposite sides. Draw a new pencil line, sew 1/4" seam on both sides of the drawn line, then cut apart and press as you wish, to one side, open, or "twirl" the center:

"Trim to Perfection". Place the 1.25" mark on the center of the block, carefully line up the diagonal line on the ruler with the diagonal of the block and carefully trim away the excess fabric:

Turn the unit around 180 degrees, trim the other two sides and you have a perfect 2.5" Star point unit:

Use the steps above to sew the units into a star.

It doesn't matter which method you use, or how you get there, as long as you get a 6.5" unfinished Cornerstone star, it's all good.

Just a reminder, I did a different outer border:

I plan to quilt this myself on my Bernina Q20 sit down longarm machine. Unless I chicken out...

And excitement is growing for the 2018 Block of the Month, the Patchwork Barn Quilt, designed by Eydta Sitar:

There is a Kit for this one too, and it also comes with a one year free membership. Find that info here.

I'll be back in 2018 with tips and tricks and a few alternatives if you are interested. The Sunday Sew and Sews are all ready to go--I hope you'll join us!

Let's Quilt!

Barbara