August 2021 NZP Block of the Month: Combination Star
Introducing the eighth of 12 FREE! Quilt Block Tutorials in our NEW! 2021 Nancy Zieman Productions Free! Block of the Month Mystery Quilt Series! The “Combination Star” Block. Earlier this year, Team NZP introduced our NEW! 2021 Nancy Zieman Productions Free! Block of the Month Mystery Quilt Series. Visit our January 2 Blog Posting to review the Basic Supplies & Tools Listing.
Our NEW! 2021 Nancy Zieman Productions Free! Block of the Month Mystery Quilt Series is a great way to finish a quilt in manageable monthly installments. One block at a time is an easy approach to creating a quilt. Whether you’re a beginner quilter or seasoned quilter, Team NZP’s block of the month series is a great opportunity to get stitching in the new year. In 2021, The NZP Team is honored to continue Nancy Zieman’s Block of the Month series with our first Christmas-themed quilt titled, Merry Christmas All Year Round Quilt! We’ll be sharing a quilt block tutorial on the third Saturday of each month, and we’ll be keeping the finished quilt design a mystery until later in December 2021!
All blocks will feature fabrics from the NEW! Merry Little Christmas Fat Quarter Bundle, along with our New! Exclusive No-Hassle Triangles Ruler by Team NZP and Nancy’s No-Hassle Triangles Gauge by Clover. Follow along as we share step-by-step how to create the August, Combination Star quilt block.
August Combination Star Quilt Block
Keep your fabric choices sorted using this handy Fabric Planner diagram. Download the planner, make notes, and/or pin cut block elements to the planner to remind you of the fabric placements.
2021 Block of the Month Merry Christmas All Year Round August: Combination Star
This block is 15-1/2″ square; 15″ finished square – when sewn into finished quilt. Finished quilt will include the Merry Little Christmas Fabric Panel and will measure approximately 80″ x 97″ (or 70″ x 87″ – your choice).
This month we’re featuring one block design. Follow along as we demonstrate how to create the August Combination Star Quilt Block!
For the Merry Christmas All Year Round Quilt: August Combination Star Quilt Block, select the following four fat quarter fabrics from the NEW! Merry Little Christmas Quarter Bundle along with the New! Exclusive No-Hassle Triangles Ruler by Team NZP.
Merry Little Christmas Candy Red, and Merry Little Christmas Berries Cream.
Prepare your fabrics! Pre-shrink fabrics by steaming and pressing. Then, stabilize fabrics for the sewing process by pressing and starching fabrics with Quilter’s Starch Savvy.
Cut Fabrics August Combination Star Quilt Block
- Cut Ten 3-1/4″ squares from Merry Little Christmas Candy Red.
- Cut Ten 3-1/4″ squares from Merry Little Christmas Berries Cream.
- Cut Two 6-1/4″ squares from Merry Little Christmas Candy Red.
- Cut Two 6-1/4″ squares from Merry Little Christmas Berries Cream.
- Using the New! Exclusive No-Hassle Triangles Ruler by Team NZP, cut block squares above.
Construct Block
All seam allowances are scant 1/4″ unless otherwise stated.
Half-Square Triangles (HSTs)
Create Twenty 1/2-square triangle blocks:
- Align 3-1/4″ squares cut from Merry Little Christmas Candy Red and Merry Little Christmas Berries Cream, right sides together. Pin.
- Mark blocks using a Clover’s No-Hassle Triangles Gauge, and Clover’s White Marking Pen or a Frixion Marking Pen.
- The left side of the Clover’s No-Hassle Triangles Gauge is designated to create 1/2-square triangle quilt blocks. Depress button on sliding portion of the gauge, and move to 3-1/4″ half-square triangle setting.
- With squares right sides together. Place Clover’s No-Hassle Triangles Gauge on block set, corner to corner. Match corner marks of gauge with corner of block sets. Mark fabric through center die cut openings on gauge, with Clover’s White Marking Pen or a Frixion Marking Pen.
- Repeat steps, marking twenty 3-1/4″ square block sets.
Stitch Blocks
- Insert a new Size 75 Schmetz Quilting Needle and attach 1/4″ Quilting Presser Foot to sewing machine.
- Align 1/4″ Quilting Presser Foot along one side of center mark, stitch.
- “Kiss” the next block set to the stitched block and chain stitch (stitching continually) from one block to the next.
- Rotate blocks 180 degrees, stitch along the other side of center marked lines.
- Clip threads between chain stitched blocks.
- Cut blocks apart along center marked lines with a rotary cutter, ruler, and mat.
- Press seams flat.
- Open blocks and press seams open or press towards darker fabric – using a Tailor’s Clapper to set the seams.
Repeat steps above and create Eight 6-1/4″ 1/2-square triangle blocks:
Quarter Square Triangles (QSTs)
- Meet right sides of fabric 1/2-square triangle blocks, with print opposing sides, as you match centers.
- Create 1/4-square triangle blocks from two 1/2-square triangle blocks (HST).
- Align HST made from Merry Little Christmas Candy Red and Merry Little Christmas Berries Cream, right sides together. Pin.
- Mark blocks using a No-Hassle Triangles Gauge, and Clover’s White Marking Pen or a Frixion Marking Pen.
- The right side of the No-Hassle Triangles Gauge is designated to create 1/4-square triangle quilt blocks. Depress button on sliding portion of the gauge, and move to 5-1/2″ quarter-square triangle setting.
- Align 1/4″ Quilting Presser Foot along one side of center marked line, stitch.
- “Kiss” the next block set to the stitched block and chain stitch (stitching continually) from one block to the next.
- Rotate blocks 180 degrees, stitch along the other side of center marked lines.
- Clip threads between chain stitched blocks.
- Cut blocks apart along center marked lines with a rotary cutter, ruler, and mat.
- Press seams flat.
- Open blocks and press seams open – using a Tailor’s Clapper to set the seams.
- Complete steps above and create four 5-1/2″ Merry Little Christmas Candy Red, and Merry Little Christmas Berries Cream 1/4-square triangle quilt blocks (QST).
Create Background Blocks
- Layout four 3-1/4″ half-square triangle blocks, following diagram below. Rotate blocks as necessary.
- Place blocks from Column 1 onto Column 2, right sides together, in pairs. Pin.
- Chain stitch from one block set to the next. Clip threads between.
- Press seams flat, then press open or to one side – using a Tailor’s Clapper to set the seams.
- Place Row 1 onto Row 2, right sides together. Pin.
- Stitch.
- Press seam flat, then press open or to one side – using a Tailor’s Clapper to set seam.
- Complete steps above and create five 5-1/2″ Merry Little Christmas Candy Red, and Merry Little Christmas Berries Cream block sets.
Construct Block
- Layout half-square triangle blocks, and solid 3-1/2″ blocks, following diagram. Rotate blocks as necessary.
Join Squares
- Place blocks from Column 1 onto Column 2, right sides together, in pairs. Pin.
- Chain stitch from one block set to the next. Clip threads between.
- Press seams flat, then press open or to one side – using a Tailor’s Clapper to set the seams.
- Place blocks from Column 3 onto Column 2, right sides together, in pairs. Pin.
- Chain stitch from one block set to the next. Clip threads between.
- Press seams flat, then press open or to one side – using a Tailor’s Clapper to set the seams.
- Place Row 1 onto Row 2, right sides together. Pin.
- Stitch.
- Press seam flat, then press open or to one side – using a Tailor’s Clapper to set seam.
- Place Row 3 onto Row 2, right sides together. Pin.
- Stitch.
- Press seam flat, then press open or to one side – using a Tailor’s Clapper to set seam.
Our Merry Christmas All Year Round Quilt: August Combination Star Block is complete!
Blog Bonus! If you’re following along with our 2021 Merry Little Christmas All Year Round Block of the Month Series, and you’ve purchased the Merry Little Christmas Fat Quarter Pack and Fabric Panel from Team NZP at ShopNZP.com, simply send us an email message at [email protected] titled, “2021 NZP Block of the Month”, and we’ll send you one FREE! Merry Little Christmas Candy Cream Fat Quarter! Please include your name and mailing address within your email message. Merry Christmas in July from Team NZP! Quantities are limited.
Watch Stitch it! Sisters No-Hassle Triangles in Quilts Program 118 with Deanna Springer
Shop Give Thanks Cotton Fabrics at ShopNZP.com
Shop Wild At Heart Cotton Fabrics at ShopNZP.com
Shop How the Grinch Stole Christmas Cotton Fabrics at ShopNZP.com
Shop Merry Little Christmas Cotton Fabrics at ShopNZP.com
Shop Green Bay Packers and Wisconsin Badgers Cotton Fabrics at ShopNZP.com
Shop Rainbowfruit Cotton Fabrics at ShopNZP.com
Shop Land of Liberty Cotton Fabrics at ShopNZP.com
NEW! Stitch it! Sisters Hearth Ceramic Mugs with Lid at ShopNZP.com
NEW! “Nancy Zieman Sewing Studio” coming soon to the fine arts district in downtown Beaver Dam, Wisconsin! Sign up for E-news updates, today at NancyZieman.com/blog/enews!
Team NZP and the Stitch it! Sisters are excited to announce the opening our NEW! Nancy Zieman Sewing Studio, later this fall, in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. The NEW! Nancy Zieman Sewing Studio will feature Sewing Classes, Fabrics, Sewing Notions, Sewing Patterns, bernette Sewing Machines, and more!
Sign up for E-newsletter with exciting updates, photos, and more about the NEW! “Nancy Zieman Sewing Studio”, today at NancyZieman.com/blog/enews!
For a chance to be the random winner of a Stitch it! Sisters 5″ Fabric Short Stack with S!S button & sticker, please leave a comment below sharing your thoughts about the NEW! 2021 Nancy Zieman Productions Free! Block of the Month Mystery Quilt Series.
Nancy Zieman Productions will give away one Stitch it! Sisters 5″ Fabric Short Stack to one US resident in the 48 contiguous states. Winner must reply within 30 days to the official giveaway announcement email message – sent from Nancy Zieman Productions.
Happy Quilting!
Team Nancy Zieman
Nancy Zieman Productions. LLC.
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Patty
This has been so much fun! The blocks are easily made (none of those tiny little pieces that I absolutely abhor). I can not wait to see how this top comes together! And the fabric choice was spot on.
Stephanie
I’m so excited to start this block! I’ve learned so much from the past tutorials and I’m excited to see the next four.
Thanks!
Sharon
Back in January, I saw your first email announcement and jumped right in! Love the mix of various block patterns that all flow together into the same color palette. Would love a sneak peek, or even a hint or two, at how this will come together!
Rita
I love block of the month quilts. I can’t wait to start this.
Shirl
I always enjoy participating in the block of the month, and especially this one since it is a mystery quilt.
Doreen Kuster
I love mystery quilts! This has been so much fun to sew. Plus looking forward to learning more about the sewing studio.
Mary Silverman
Looks like a fun block to try.
Dixie OBryan
Enjoyed making the blocks so far. Can’t wait to make this one.
Susan
The block of the month is a great way to try different quilt block designs.
Lori S
This is my first block of month and I’ve had so much fun but I’m very confused with this block. It’s 1″ smaller than the other blocks. What did I do wrong? the 3-1/4 blocks are to small. It ended up being 5″ unfinished/4-1/2″ finished. Instead of cutting 3-1/4 blocks should I cut 3-1/2″ blocks?
Chasity Moorehead
What was your reply to Lori S comment? My square was also about an inch too small. What are the correct measurements
Joan G
It’s now 2023, and I’m making this block for the first time. I believe the pattern has an error. The small half-square triangles should measure 3” unfinished. When you put the four HSTs together, the block will measure 5 1/2”, the same size as the hourglass block (called the quarter-square triangle block in this pattern). Whenever possible, I cut my pieces slightly larger than the pattern directions and then trim to correct size.