This week we are making the Kansas Star block. The block is made up of 9 Square in a Square units. You will be making them slightly larger so you can trim them down for accuracy.
You will need 4 colors and a background fabric.
Fabric A - Color 1
Fabric B - Color 2
Fabric C - Color 3
Fabric D - Color 4
Fabric E - Background
Cutting:
Fabric A - Cut 4 - 3 3/8" squares
Fabric B - Cut 4 - 3 3/8" squares
Fabric C - Cut 1 - 3 3/8" square
Fabric D - Cut 8 - 3" squares
Fabric E - Cut 10 - 3" squares
Sewing:
Cut all of the Fabric D and E squares on the diagonal.
You will have 16 Fabric D triangles and 20 Fabric E triangles.
We will begin with the Fabric A squares. You will need 16 of the Fabric E triangles.
Find the center of a Fabric E triangle by folding the long side in half and make a crease.
Then fold a Fabric A square in half to find the center of one side and make a crease.
Matching up the center creases, pin the Fabric E triangle to the Fabric A square.
Sew these together. Repeat for the opposite side by finding the centers of another Fabric E triangle and Fabric A square. Pin in place.
Sew this side and then press toward the Fabric E triangles.
Repeat finding the center of a Fabric E triangle and Fabric A square for the remaining sides as shown.
Press toward the Fabric E triangles.
Repeat these steps for the other 3 Fabric A squares. You will have 4 slightly oversized Square in a Square units. We will trim these up later.
We are going to repeat these same steps to create the Fabric B and Fabric D Square in a Square units.
Fold the Fabric D triangles in half to find the center of the long side.
Then find the center of a side of the Fabric B square.
Match the centers and pin in place. Sew together and repeat for the opposite side.
You will have 4 slightly oversized Fabric B and Fabric D Square in a Square units. We will trim these up later.
Our final Square in a Square unit is a Fabric C square with the remaining 4 Fabric E triangles. Repeat the steps from above.
You will have 1 slightly oversized Fabric C and D Square in a Square unit.
Now it is time to trim all of the Square in a Square units to 4 1/2" square. You are not trimming very much, you are mostly squaring up your units for accuracy.
If you have a 4 1/2" square ruler, you can easily place that ruler onto your units as shown. You want to make sure that you have your 1/4" seam all the way around so that you don't trim off any of your points.
**If you don't have a 4 1/2" square ruler, use any square ruler larger than 4 1/2" and you can trim 2 sides, then flip your unit and trim the other 2 sides.
Repeat for all 9 Square in a Square units.
Once your units are trimmed to 4 1/2", lay them out as shown.
Sew the top, center, and bottom rows together. As you sew the units together you want to make sure that your seam hits at the intersection of the square points. This will assure your points won't be cut off and they line up with the points of the other squares (or as close as possible).
Press the seams open for less fabric bulk.
Sew these rows together. Press seams open.
You have completed the Kansas Star block. Only 7 more weeks to go, we are almost there!
Don't forget to post your pictures on the Ruth's Stitchery Facebook page to be entered to win our November drawing.
