I’m seeing STARS (… and STRIPES)!

I generally don’t see myself as a super “patriotic” person.  And I know I am not alone when I express massive levels of stress regarding some current state of affairs.  … in a few weeks it will be 4th of July!  That makes me think of the American Flag.  So despite the mountain we need to climb in regards to many Human Rights and eliminating the NRA, the American Flag represents this country we live in, and there are wonderful beautiful things happening worth celebrating! So lets create some fabulous MMQG patriotic blocks!  The winner of these blocks will be able to create a beautiful scrappy modern piece inspired by the American Flag.

There are TWO block options for block lotto this month:

  1. Stripes
  2. Star

Completed blocks will be 8.5”x8.5” (finished to 8” blocks once sewn together)

Each block is worth one entry.  If you make one stripe block and one star block: that is two block lotto entries.  You can choose to make all stripe blocks or all star blocks…. Or an even number of each!  Or maybe you just want to make one block (say for example one stripe block), that is cool too! Good for one block lotto entry.

Stripe Block: red fabric and white/low volume fabric

  • Red fabric: general main color is red.  Could be a solid or a pattern, but should read as a red
  • White/low volume fabric: could be a solid or a pattern in white, ivory, light cream, etc, but should read as a low volume/white-ish

For each Stripe block: cut (2) 2.5”x8.5” strips of the white and cut (2) 2.5”x8.5” strips of the red.  Sew them together using a 1/4” inseam on the 8.5” sides alternating the colors to create red & white stripes. I’m a fan of ironing seams open.  If you feel strongly against that then you do you boo. 

Star Block: blue fabric and white/low volume fabric

  • Blue fabric: general main color is blue. Could be a solid or a pattern, but should read as a blue
  • White/low volume fabric: could be a solid or a pattern in white, ivory, light cream, etc, but should read as a low volume/white-ish

For this Classic Sawtooth Star block, we’re going to follow the directions made by Rose at ThreadBare Creations.  The “white” fabric is the star.  The “blue” fabric will be the background.  Her instructions are HERE (<— click that link).  She has a neat way to create flying geese blocks (new method for me!  Works pretty good). PLEASE NOTE: the block she makes in her direction is the 6” [finished] block.  We want to make the 8” [finished] block, so please use the following guidelines when cutting for the white/blue star block:

  • white fabric: cut (1) 4.5” square and (4) 3” squares (then cut each of the 3” squares in half diagonally)
  • Blue fabric: cut (1) 5.25” square and (4) 2.5” squares (then cut the 5.25” square diagonally twice to create 4 triangles)
  • Another helpful note: you will trim your flying geese to 2.5”x4.5”

Again: use a 1/4” inseam and I like to iron open the seams but I’m not going to tell you what to do with your seams.

This are quick fun blocks. Happy Sewing! 😀