Look to the Heavens

This month’s theme is “Look to the Heavens”, depictions of the skyline, the heavens, celestial bodies or the mood it engenders. The basic block is an Ohio star with a pinwheel at the center. This unit also uses Half square triangles and flying geese. This month we are going to use a different technique to make both units. Using this technique is fun and less wasteful of fabric when the units are this larger size. 

Ohio Star Variation Block

8” x 8″ finished size
Read all directions before starting

Supplies:

• Fabric for the star, sky and pinwheel. Look for good contrast between the star and sky and the pinwheel should complement the star with less contrast.
• A ruler and marker

Instructions:

1. Cut the sky fabric into: (1) 5¼”x 5¼” and (4) 2½”x 2½” squares.
2. Cut the Star fabric into: (6) 2 7/8″x 2 7/8″ squares.
3. Cut the pinwheel fabric into: (2) 2 7/8″ x 2 7/8″ squares.
4. On the six Star fabric squares, draw a line ¼” on both sides of the diagonal (fig.2).
   
   

   

   
5. Place two of the star squares on the diagonal of the large 5¼” square with the drawn  lines touching (fig. 3).
6. Sew just to the inside of both drawn diagonal lines (fig. 4).
7. Cut between the two seams and fold out the star triangle (fig. 4 & 5).
   
   

   
8. Place another star square on the sky corner with lines perpendicular to the last (fig. 6). Sew to the inside of both drawn lines. Repeat with other half.
9. Cut between the sewn lines of both halves and fold out. You now have four goose units (fig. 7). Trim “tails” and check that each unit measures 2½” X 4½”.
10. Layout the two pinwheel squares and cover with star fabric squares, right sides together.  Here again sew on the inside of the two drawn diagonal lines.

    

11. Cut between the lines, press with seam facing the darker fabric (fig. 9). Trim tails. You end up with (4) 2½” half square triangles.
12. Sew the four squares together with the triangle points all facing the center or as desired. See figures 10 and 11.
    
    

    
13. Layout your nine units into an Ohio Star and sew as you would a nine patch.
14. If making a quiltlet add a border and batting as with previous blocks.

To Make Goose Units in Different Sizes

A goose unit always has a finished width that is twice the finished height. If you need to make some geese in different sizes with this method. Take the finished height and width of the goose and:

• Cut one sky square that is 1 ¼” larger than the  finished width of the goose unit.
• Cut four star squares that are 7/8″ larger than the finished height of the goose unit. 
• This makes 4 goose units

Stretched Ohio Star Block

Here are the instruction for these crazy stars. But, of course, change as you see fit.

1. Cut (8)  2½ squares in sky fabric and one in star fabric (Or chose a different size for the squares).
2. Cut (1)  2½ squares in in star fabric and find scraps that are at least 1″ wide to make the stars. Long strips are good as you use them for several star points.
3. Sew scraps of star fabric to a corner of a sky fabric square with a diagonal seam. Fold the star fabric over and trim to the edge of the square. Trim bottom fabrics to a small seam allowance. Repeat with an adjoining side of the square and then repeat the process for three more sky squares.
4. Layout the nine patches to make a star and sew together.

Out of the Box – “Look to the Heavens”

Make a quiltlet depicting the skyline, the heavens, celestial bodies, or the mood the vastness of space engenders.