Hello! Thanks so much for joining me for the third installment of the Star Quilt Block of the Month Tutorial series. I'm really excited about this month's block, Shadow Star.
The Shadow Star block features a Log Cabin style center, and it doesn't stop there. The block is divided diagonally into a light half and a shadow half. This means you can use this block in any Log Cabin style setting!
Here's just a few examples. Above, a Log Cabin Star quilt.
A simple, but effective quilt setting.
Alternating Bars/Furrows setting.
Zig Zag/Chevron setting.
Inspired yet? Let's learn how to sew the Shadow Star Block.
I used nine different fabrics for this block. It is important to get a good contrast between darks and lights when choosing your fabrics. This is what I used, Dark Purple, Light Pink, Lilac, Darkest Brown, Dark Brown, Medium Brown, Medium Brown #2, Rose Pink, and Red Wine. This block will be 12-1/2" and features all 1/4" seam allowances.
Cutting:
Purple: Cut 1 ea. 3-1/2" square A
Cut 2 ea. 3-1/2" x 6-1/2" strips B
Cut 1 ea. 3-7/8" square C
Light Pink: Cut 1 ea. 3-1/2" square A
Cut 2 ea. 3-1/2" x 6-1/2" strips B
Cut 1 ea. 3-7/8" square C
Cut 1 ea. 1-1/2" x 6-1/2" strip D
Cut 1 ea. 1-1/2" x 4-1/2" strip E
Lilac: Cut 4 ea. 3-1/2" squares A
Cut 1 ea. 1-1/2" x 4-1/2" strip E
Darkest Brown: Cut 4 ea. 3-1/2" squares A
Dark Brown: Cut 2 ea. 1-1/2" x 5-1/2" strips F
Medium Brown: Cut 1 ea. 1-1/2" x 3-1/2" strip G
Rose Pink: Cut 1 ea. 1-1/2" x 2-1/2" strip H
Red Wine: Cut 1 ea. 2-1/2" square I
Sewing the Block
To make the Log Cabin center we will be sewing from the center out. Start by sewing the Rose Pink 1-1/2" x 2-1/2" strip H to one side of the Red Wine 2 1/2" square I.
Next, position the unit with the Rose Pink strip on the top and sew the Medium Brown #2, 1-1/2" x 3-1/2" strip G onto the right hand side.
Turn the unit once again, so the Medium Brown #2 strip is now in the top position and sew the Medium Brown 1-1/2" x 3-1/2" strip G to the right hand side. (I seem to be missing that photo - sorry!) Continue turning the block and adding the next strip to the right hand side in this manner until the Log Cabin unit is complete. The remaining strips should be sewn on in this order: Lilac 1-1/2" x 4-1/2"strip E.
Light Pink 1-1/2" x 4-1/2" strip E
Dark Brown 1-1/2" x 5-1/2" strip F
Dark Brown 1-1/2" x 5-1/2" strip F
Light Pink 1-1/2" x 6-1/2" strip D
The Log Cabin unit should measure 6-1/2" square.
Step 2:
Draw a diagonal line from corner to corner on the reverse side of the Lilac 3-1/2" squares A.
Lay one Lilac 3-1/2" square A on one Light Pink 3-1/2" x 6-1/2" strip B, right sides together with top, bottom, and right edges aligned. The drawn line should run from the top left center to the lower right corner of the unit.
Sew on the drawn line, from edge to edge.
Flip the Lilac fabric open, press, and trim away the two layers of backing fabric, leaving an approximate 1/4" seam allowance. Save the cut away triangles for a future project.
Your unit should resemble the above photo.
Lay a second Lilac 3-1/2" square A face down on the unit, with top, bottom, and left edges aligned. The drawn line should run from the top right center to the lower left corner of the unit. Sew on the drawn line, from edge to edge.
Flip, press, and trim as before.
The unit should measure 3-1/2" x 6-1/2".
Repeat to sew a total of two Lilac/Light Pink Flying Geese units.
Use the Darkest Brown 3-1/2" squares A and the Purple 3-1/2" x 6-1/2" strips B to sew two more Flying Geese units in the same manner.
Step 3:
Draw a diagonal line from corner to corner on the reverse side of the Purple 3-7/8" square C.
Pair the Purple 3-7/8" square C right sides together with the Light Pink 3-7/8" square C. Sew 1/4" away from the drawn line on both sides.
Cut on the drawn line.
Open out and press to make two 3-1/2" triangle square units.
Step 4:
Lay out the entire block, being careful to orient the Log Cabin Unit so the two light sides will be adjacent to the two light sides of the star points.
Sew the units into three rows.
Sew the three rows together to complete your block.
Smile!
Thanks for reading my blog today. If you sew a Shadow Star block (or a quilt) from this tutorial, I would love to see it.
Get Creative!
Jennifer Schifano Thomas
