LAUREL RIDGE -- MONTH 10

Laurel Ridge is the 2025 Block of the Month quilt designed by Lynn Wilder exclusively for The Quilt Show.  Star Members have FREE access to the patterns starting January 1, 2025. Made in two colorways, the complete patterns are excellent. You will love making this quilt. Lynn supports the pattern instructions with Videos too. 

Moving right along to Month 10. Now we make the Plaid Star blocks. There are only 8 of those and they are easy.  By now, you have made this star many times. Having only one square of fabric for the center makes this the fastest star yet:                                                                                     

                                                            

The only change I make to patterns that make "Four Flying Geese at Once" is to cut bigger squares, the equivalent of 4 smaller squares, to speed up the process of drawing the lines on the back of each square.

The Star Points are part of the Flying Geese units. Each block requires four Flying Geese units so making four at once is smart and efficient.

The pattern calls for 32 squares, each 2.25". Instead I cut 8 squares, 4.5". On the back of each of the 8 squares I draw diagonal lines in both directions. Now it is a simple matter to cut the 4.5" square in half, in both directions, think North/South and East/West. In less time than it takes me to describe this, you have the needed pencil lines drawn. I sew with a 1/4" presser foot so I only have to draw one line, sewing 1/4" away from the line.

(If you prefer to draw the sewing lines, it is still fast and easy to draw two lines on the larger square, 1/4" away from the center--that makes the lines 1/2" apart.)  

Then cut it into 4 smaller squares:

I used a Pigma pen so you can see it. My go-to is a mechanical pencil for fine lines

Cut apart from the center in both directions--now you have 4 squares, each 2.25" with the line drawn on each

See my post for making Flying Geese from way back in MONTH 1.  You will find my detailed instructions there. While I said back then I planned to enlarge the square to 4.75", if found that was not necessary and stuck with 4.5" squares.

I also have a TUTORIAL on making Four Flying Geese at Once that has a chart for a variety of sizes. Find it HERE.

As always, I strongly recommend you watch Lynn's Video for Month 10. It is 7 minutes of good instruction and clear images of the process of making four flying geese at once. The measurements are oversized so you will "TRIM TO PERFECTION", making each unit 1.75" x 3", including seam allowances. They finish at 1.25" x 2.5" when sewn into the quilt. 

Good News! Next month, on November 1, BOTH Months 11 and 12 will be released so you can finish your quilt. My top is at the longarmer and I hope to have it to show you then.

Let's quilt.

Barbara