August 2019 Block of the Month: Friendship Star Quilt Block

2019 Block of the Month—August: “Friendship Star” Quilt Block

In January, Team Nancy Zieman introduced the first of 12 blocks in the New! Summer Picnic 2019 FREE! Block of the Month Series. Find the January through July Quilt Block Tutorials under Popular Blog Posts: 2019 Block of the Month. Join the New! Summer Picnic 2019 Block of the Month Series, anytime, by viewing the supply listing in the January 5th NZP Blog Posting.

Each month, we’re featuring one quilt block design. The quilt blocks are created usingNancy Zieman’s NEW! Afternoon Picnic Fat Quarter Pack* from Riley Blake Designs (*18″ x 22″ fabric rectangles) plus background, sashing, border, and binding fabrics. Follow along as we demonstrate how to create this Month’s “Friendship Star” Quilt Block (below).

Keep your fabric choices sorted using this handy Fabric Planner diagram. Download the planner HERE. Make notes or pin swatches to remind you of the fabric placements.

2019 Block of the Month Afternoon Picnic Summer Picnic August Friendship Star PDF

Choose the Fabrics

For the New! Summer Picnic 2019 FREE! Block of the Month Series, “Friendship Star” Quilt Block, select the following fabrics from your Nancy Zieman’s NEW! Afternoon Picnic Fat Quarter Pack from Riley Blake Designs and a Nancy Zieman’s No-Hassle Triangle Gauge by Clover.

Afternoon Picnic Blue Flower and Afternoon Picnic Black Floral

“Friendship Star” Block

This streamlined star block is a great addition to our Afternoon Picnic—Summer Picnic block of the month series. Using four half-square triangles and five squares this quilt block will go together fast! This Friendship Star quilt block has movement and is reminiscent of a pinwheel.

Instructions: (Each block is a 12″ finished square. Finished quilt measures approximately 44-1/2″ x 57-1/2″)

Cut Fabric for Block

• Cut four 4-1/2″ squares of Afternoon Picnic Blue Flower.
• Cut one 4-1/2″ square of Afternoon Picnic Black Floral.
• Cut two 4-7/8″ squares of Afternoon Picnic Blue Flower.
• Cut two 4-7/8″ squares of Afternoon Picnic Black Floral.

Construct The Units

All seam allowances are scant 1/4″ unless otherwise stated.

The step-by-step photos illustrate construction of the block.

Half-Square Triangles (HSTs)

1. Create four 1/2-square triangle blocks of  Afternoon Picnic Blue Flower and Afternoon Picnic Black Floral.

• Align 4-7/8″ squares cut from Afternoon Picnic Blue Flower and Afternoon Picnic Black Floral, right sides together, to create block sets.

• Mark blocks using a No-Hassle Triangles Gauge and an erasable gel pen.
• Use a No-Hassle Triangles Gauge. The left side of the gauge is designated to create 1/2-square triangle blocks. Depress button on sliding portion of the gauge and move to size of the desired 1/2-square triangle.

The advantage of using the No-Hassle Triangle Gauge is accuracy. It’s easy to double check that the block set fits within the confines of the gauge. If the block set extends beyond or is shorter, trim or cut another block.

• With block sets right sides together, place No-Hassle Triangles Gauge corner to corner. Match corner marks of gauge with corner of block sets. Mark fabric through center of gauge with an erasable gel pen.

Stitch Blocks

• Align presser foot along one side of center mark, stitch.
• Kiss the next block set to the stitched block and chain stitch from one block to the other.

• Cut blocks apart along center markings with a rotary cutter, ruler, and mat.

• Press seams to darker fabric.

Assemble Blocks

2. Lay out Friendship Star block, rotating squares as necessary.

Join Squares

3. Stitch the Friendship Star block.

• Place squares from first column onto second column, right sides together.
• Chain stitch from one block set to the next. Clip threads between blocks.
• Press seams open, or press seams to alternate sides.

• Place squares from third column onto second column, right sides together.
• Chain stitch from one block set to the next. Clip threads between blocks.
• Press seams open, or press seams to alternate sides.

• Stitch top row to middle row, right sides together.
• Press.

• Stitch bottom row to middle row, right sides together, to create the complete Friendship Star block.
• Press.

Nancy Zieman’s No-Hassle Triangles Quilt Blocks book shows how to create 12 additional quit blocks. For best results, use the No-Hassle Triangles Gauge.

Watch No-Hassle Triangles Quilt Blocks (Part One and Part Two) on The Best of Sewing With Nancy online.

For a chance to win Nancy Zieman’s New! Afternoon Picnic Fat Quarter Pack please leave a comment below.

The randomly selected winner of of Richard Zieman’s new book, Nancy Zieman the Rest of the Story—A Memoir of Faith, Family, and Friends, is  Marilyn Dunstan.

Her comment is: What a wonderful tribute to Nancy. I’ve never met her and yet I consider her a friend. I have used many of her shows to help me with sewing projects. I still watch her shows because I always pick up an extra hint that I missed before.

Happy Quilting!

Team Nancy Zieman

Nancy Zieman Productions. LLC.

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