WINDMILL STAR BLOCK

                   

 

 

The Windmill Star is a pretty quilt block.  You can make it using Half Square Triangles on a Roll and then cutting the triangles using a 60 degree diamond template to form diamond shapes.  It's an efficient and accurate method.  Any size Triangles on a Roll can be used, but for the purposes of this pattern, instructions were written using the 2 inch finished size.

 

1.      Select two contrasting fabrics and make six half square triangles using Triangles on a Roll 2 inch finished size, following the instructions on the paper.  Press the seams toward the dark fabric. Place one half square on your cutting mat diagonally.  Align the 60 degree diamond template with the center line along the center seam of the half square. Use a rotary cutter to trim the top two sides.  Rotate the piece and trim the remaining sides to form a diamond.

 

 

 

   

 

2.      Sew the diamonds together in the order shown.  Press all the seams toward the darker fabric.  Start stitching about a quarter inch from the edge, so that the background pieces will fit nicely.  Refer to any basic quilt making book if you are not familiar with this skill (it is important).

 

 

3.      The background pieces are cut from strips of fabric so that the sides of the block will be on the straight of the grain.  Cut a strip 1 3/4 inch wide of the background fabric.  Use the 60 degree template to cut the required angle on the top and bottom pieces.  You will need mirror images, see the below diagram.

 

 

4.      The side pieces are cut from a 1 1/2 inch strip of background fabric.  Place the template as shown and cut 2 half diamonds.  Refer to the book,  It's Playtime, to see how to measure for cuts when other sizes of Triangles on a Roll are used.

 

 

 

5.      Cut strips of background fabric and add to the side of the piece to make it square.