Made in USA By Dawn Cavanaugh APQS Natinal Educ atin and Service Directr Celebrate summer with this bright, patritic quilt! Use yur favrite methd t secure the stars t lng strips f blue fabric t speed up piecing time. Learn a fast blck cnstructin methd using a sewn tube t create the stripe blcks, r use traditinal paper piecing methds. The pattern makes a generus queen-size quilt but yu can easily adjust the number f rws r blcks t get the size that suits yu! The sample uses just three slid clr fabrics, but yu culd use a variety f red, white and blue fabrics t make it especially interesting! Finished Size: 95 x 95 Fabric Requirements Nte: If using fusible web adhesive t secure stars, prewash all fabric but d NOT use fabric sftener. Navy Blue Fabric White Fabric 4 ⅞ yards (assumes cutting the strips alng the lengthwise grain t reduce stretch) 2 yards fr blcks sub cut int 24 strips, each 2 ⅝ wide by width f fabric (WOF) 3 yards (depending n hw clsely yu place the stars, sme fabric will be left ver Red Fabric 2 yards fr blcks sub cut int 24 strips, each 2 ⅝ wide by WOF 2 ⅓ yards fr brders (assumes cutting strips alng the lengthwise grain) Cut 5 strips alng lengthwise grain, each 9 ½ inches by 81½ inches Cut 4 squares fr brder crners, each 7 ½ square Sub cut brder fabric int 4 strips, each 7 ½ by 81 ½ Binding Fabric (yur clr chice) ¾ yard
Supplies 6 yards Paper-backed Fusible Adhesive IF using t secure stars t fabric (I used Heat n Bnd Lite) Matching thread fr star appliques OR Invisible thread Large square rtary cutting ruler (at least 10 square), rtary cutter and mat Masking r painter s tape Instructins Step 1: Trace 45 large stars and 4 small stars n t paper side f fusible webbing. Fllw manufacturer s instructins t fuse the LARGE stars n the wrng side f the white fabric with adhesive facing dwn. Cut ut each shape n the traced line. Fuse the small stars t the 7-1/2 blue squares fr the brder. HINT: If yu are using scraps f white fabric and must cut the traced stars apart befre irning the adhesive t the fabric, be sure t cut utside f yur drawn line t separate them. Yu will cut n the drawn line after fusing Step 2: Evenly place 9 stars alng the length f each f the 5 lng blue strips. Be sure t leave enugh rm at the tp and bttm f the strips fr a seam allwance. Fuse in place accrding t manufacturer s instructins. Stitch arund each applique star t secure the edges. HINT: I used a narrw zig zag stitch and invisible thread in the tp and bbbin t secure the star edges. I als switched t a size 60/8 needle t leave a smaller penetratin hle in the fused fabric. When using invisible thread in a hme sewing machine, wind the bbbin nly half full, and wind it n medium r slw speed if pssible. Yu may als need t lsen bth tp and bbbin tensin. If yur thread breaks (r if it is very curly after pulling a length thrugh the needle r ut f the bbbin case) then the tensin is t tight. Step 3: Make 36 striped blcks. Here s a great way t speed up the prcess using tube cnstructin. (If yu aren t cmfrtable with this methd yu can als strip piece the units and cut squares frm that.) It s imprtant that yu use a scant ¼-inch seam allwance, and that yu handle the blcks carefully when cmplete since yu will have all bias edges with this technique. Sew tw red strips t each side f a white strip. Press seams t dark fabric. Make 8 f these sectins. Sew tw white strips t each side f a red strip. Press seams t dark fabric. Make 8 f these sectins.
Take ne strip set frm each f the tw different piles and align them with right sides tgether as shwn. Sew alng the TOP and BOTTOM f each set, creating a fabric tube. Be sure t use a scant ¼ seam! Nw use the masking tape t mark yur ruler fr a cutting guide. Place ne lng edge f the tape acrss the crner f yur ruler s that the ends tuch the marks that represent 9-1/2 inches frm the crner. This will eventually be the edge f yur striped blck. Nw align the edge f yur tape with the SEAM LINE alng the bttm f a strip as shwn belw. The tip f the ruler shuld be at the ppsite end f the strip set. (If yur tip hangs past the end, check that yu are
pressing crrectly and that yu are using a scant ¼-inch seam when assembling the rws. Cut acrss the tp edges f the ruler. Nw rtate the ruler 180 degrees and put the tape edge alng the ppsite seam line, and cut as shwn belw. Repeat this acrss each strip set, cutting n alternating sides f the strip until yu have 36 units. Yu will have just a few stitches at the tip f every unit that yu will need t remve. Yu may be able t gently tug n the sectins t release the threads. Open up the unit and press the remaining seam t the dark fabric. Step 4: Step 5: Assemble the striped blcks int fur rws, each with 9 blcks. Refer t the pht fr each blck s rientatin (r experiment with yur wn variatin!) Be sure t handle the blcks carefully as yu assemble them since all the edges will be bias. T help retain their shape, use a prduct such as Mary Ellen s Best Press r spray starch n each square. Sew the navy fabric strips t the pieced blcks as shwn in the pht. Use pins t help prevent distrtin.
Step 6: Add ne lng red brder strip t the left and right sides f the quilt. Sew ne f the fur 7-1/2 blue squares with smaller stars t each narrw end f the tw remaining brder strips. Add the brder strips t the tp and bttm f the quilt, using pins t help ease in fullness and t align the brder crner blck edges with the quilt s edge.
Large Star Make 45 Small Star Make 4