I think I’ve had my fill of Y-seams for a long time to come. It was good practice, though, and after a few sessions of reverse sewing it got a little easier.

Here’s the row attached. We have only one more to go; I can barely believe it.

You might have been wondering why, except for these bimonthly row robin updates, it has been so quiet here. That’s because there are some big changes happening here at the casa Katinka.

After living in the States for 20 years, I have finally decided to move back to Germany. So, I’ve been busy sorting through my life, deciding what to keep and what to let go, literally as well as figuratively.

I’m pretty excited by now, my flight goes next Tuesday. First stop will be my home town, Flensburg, on the German – Danish border.

Pretty, isn’t it?

With all of those things going on, there’ll be some some changes here on my blog, too. Going bilingual, maybe? More details about that later.

See you on the “other side”!

For the third row I made a row of paper pieced 12″ flower blocks:

Attached to the first two rows and on its way to North Carolina:

Loved working with these cool blues and greens while it was so hot and sticky here in Chicago!

I received the the bottom row with farm themed blocks and added the row of chickens.

Sorry about the professional hanging job with painter’s masking tape, but my design wall is filled up with the blocks for the Space Cadet and Basket Case quilts. I’m slowly getting to finalize their setting. Coming soon!

size: 9" finished

This is the last star block of the Space Cadet series.

The star is made up of only squares and flying geese units. The more contrast there is between the star and background fabric, the lacier it will look.

Hope you enjoy making it!

Cutting

Star Fabric:

• Cut 1 strip 2.375″ x 19″. Cut the strip into 8 squares 2.375″ x 2.375″             (2.375″ = 2 3/8″)

Background Fabric:

• Cut 2 squares 4.25″ x 4.25″.
• Cut 1 strip 3.5″ x 17.5″. Cut the strip into 5 squares 3.5″ x 3.5″.

Making the Flying Geese Units

{Find detailed instructions for Flying Geese as part of Space Cadet Block 2.}

1. Draw a diagonal line across the back of the star fabric squares. Take two of these squares and place them onto two opposing corners of the 4.25″ x 4.25″ background square, right sides facing. See the photo on the left below. The drawn line of the two smaller squares should create a continuous line.

2. Sew 1/4″ to the left and 1/4″ to the right of that line. Cut between these two seams, as shown on the right photo below.

3. Press these units open. Take another star fabric square and place onto each of the background fabric corners as shown on the left photo below.

Again, sew 1/4″ to the left and 1/4″ to the right of the drawn line and cut in between the seams. It will look like the photo on the right.

4. Press your flying geese units open. Sew 2 flying geese units into a 3.5″ x 3.5″ square. Make 4 such square units.

5. Lay out the quilt block and sew together the rows. The connect the rows to finish the block.

size: 6" finished

Block 11, the penultimate in our series, has a lacy, shimmery look.

The individual half square and quarter square triangles are quite small as the block measures only 6″.

Don’t let that deter you, though, as the result is quite worth the effort!

Cutting:

Background Fabric:

• Cut 1 strip 1.5″ x 16″. Cut the strip into 4 rectangles 1.5″ x 2.5″ and 4 squares 1.5″ x 1.5″.
• Cut 2 squares 1.875″ x 1.875″ ( i.e. 1 7/8″ x 1 7/8″).
• Cut 2 squares 3.25″ x 3.25″.

Star Fabric:

• Cut 2 squares 1.875″ x 1.875″ ( i.e. 1 7/8″ x 1 7/8″).
• Cut 2 squares 3.25″ x 3.25″.
• Cut 1 square 2.5″ x 2.5″.

Making the Half Square Triangle Units

{Find detailed instructions for Half Square Triangles as part of Space Cadet Block 1.}

1. Draw a line across the diagonal on the back of the 2.5″ x 2.5″ star fabric squares. Pair each square with a same sized square of background fabric. Sew 1/4″ to the right and 1/4″ to the left of this line. Cut between the two seams and press open. Trim to 1.5″.

Making the Quarter Square Triangle Units

{Find detailed instructions for making Quarter Square Triangles as part of Space Cadet Block 3.}

2. Place one 3.25″ square of star fabric and background fabric right sides together. Draw a line across the diagonal of the lighter square. Sew 1/4 inch to the right and to the left of the drawn line.

3. Cut along the diagonal, along the previously marked line. Press open and trim to 2.875″ (2 7/8″). You made half square triangles as in step 1.

4. Repeat step 2 with these 2 half square triangle units and you’ll have 2 quarter square units. Trim to 2.5″ square.

5. Repeat with the other pair of 3.25″ x 3.25″ squares to get a total of 4 2.5″ square quarter square triangle units.

Making the Corner Square Units

6. Sew one half square triangle unit to a 1.5″ x 1.5″ background square. Sew a background rectangle to this. Make 4 corner square units.

Finish the Block

7. Lay out the block. Sew the horizontal rows. Join the rows to complete the block.

size: 5" finished

{You can find detailed instructions on how to make templates, mark your fabric, cut, and sew accurate seams as part of Basket Case Block 1.}

Block 12 – the last block in this series!

Piecing this block is a bit of a challenge as it consists of mostly triangles. Therefore, be careful not to stretch the seams when sewing. Otherwise you’ll end up with a diamond shaped block!

Instructions

1. Make your templates and prepare your fabric pieces. Download the block template here.

2. Sew triangles into square units, then sew the squares into rows. You can follow the pictures below, but it doesn’t matter in which order you proceed.It doesn’t matter in which order you proceed.

3. Combine your larger units into the finished block.

size: 8" finished

click to enlarge

Welcome to the tenth star block!

This star with its three bars in the center is especially suitable for friendship quilts.

If you click on the left you’ll get a bigger picture.

Cutting:

Star Fabric A:

• Cut 1 strip 2.875″ x 17.25″. Cut strip into 6 squares 2.875″ x 2.875″. (0.875 = 7/8)

Background Fabric B:

• Cut 1 rectangle 4.5″ x 2″.
• Cut 1 square 5.25″ x 5.25″.
• Cut 2 squares 2.875″ x 2.875″.

Center Bar Fabric C:

• Cut 2 rectangles 4.5″ x 1.75″.

Making the Flying Geese Star Tips

{Find detailed instructions for Flying Geese as part of Space Cadet Block 2.}

1. Draw a diagonal line across the back of 4 star fabric A squares. Take two of these squares and place them onto two opposing corners of the 3.25″ x 3.25″ background square, right sides facing. See the photo on the left below.

The drawn line of the two smaller squares should create a continuous line. Sew 1/4″ to the left and 1/4″ to the right of that line. Cut between these two seams, as shown on the right photo below.

2.Press these units open and place another fabric A square on the free fabric B corner as shown in the photo below right. Again, sew 1/4″ to the left and 1/4″ to the right of the drawn line. Cut apart between the seams and you have flying geese units.

Making the Half Square Triangle Corners

{Find detailed instructions for Half Square Triangles as part of Space Cadet Block 1.}

3. Draw a line across the diagonal on the back of 2 Fabric A squares. Pair each square with a same sized square of fabric B. Sew 1/4″ to the right and 1/4″ to the left of this line. Cut between the two seams and press open. Trim to 2.5″.

4. Sew a flying geese unit to the top and one to the bottom of your center unit.

5. Sew a half square triangle unit to the top and to the bottom of the remaining 2 flying geese units.

6. Sew the side units to the center. All done!

size: finished 8"

{You can find detailed instructions on how to make templates, mark your fabric, cut, and sew accurate seams as part of Basket Case Block 1.}

Block # 11 – it’s already our penultimate block!

Have fun stitching!

Instructions

1. Make your templates and prepare your fabric pieces. Download the block template here.

2. Applique handle B to triangle A. You can find a detailed tutorial for needle turn applique as part of the instructions for Basket Case Block 4.

3. Lay out the bottom half of the block.

4. Sew triangles C to squares F in rows to make the basket body.

5. Sew units G and GR to the sides of the basket body.

6. Sew D to E. Sew the ED unit to the basket body. You can find a tutorial for sewing Y-seams as part of Basket Case Block 5.

7. Sew the handle unit and the body unit together to finish your block.

If you need a reminder on how to make these segments, just follow the links from the instructions for this block to the star blocks that contain the tutorials for them.

Cutting:

Star Fabric A:

• Cut one square 3.25″ x 3.25″.
• Cut 1 strip 2.5″ x 6″. Cut the strip into 4 rectangles, 2.5″ x 1.5″.

Star Fabric B:

• Cut one strip 1.875″ x 7.75″. Cut the strip into 4 squares, 1.875″ x 1.875″           (i.e. 1 7/8″ x 1 7/8″).
• Cut 1 square 3.25″ x 3.25″.

Background Fabric:

• Cut 1 strip 2.5″ x 10″. Cut the strip into 4 squares, 2.5″ x 2.5″.
• Cut 1 square 3.25″ x 3.25″.

Making the Quarter Square Triangle Center

{Find detailed instructions for making Quarter Square Triangles as part of Space Cadet Block 3.}

1. Place the 3.25″ squares of fabric A and B right sides together. Draw a line across the diagonal of the lighter square. Sew 1/4 inch to the right and to the left of the drawn line.

2. Cut along the diagonal, along the previously marked line. Press open and trim to 2.875″ (2 7/8″).

3. Repeat step 2 with these 2 half square triangle units and you’ll have 2 quarter square units. We actually need only one for the center. Trim to 2.5″ square.

Making the Flying Geese Star Tips

{Find detailed instructions for Flying Geese as part of Space Cadet Block 2.}

4. Draw a diagonal line across the back of the 4 small star fabric B squares. Take two of these squares and place them onto two opposing corners of the 3.25″ x 3.25″ background square, right sides facing. See the photo on the left below.

The drawn line of the two smaller squares should create a continuous line. Sew 1/4″ to the left and 1/4″ to the right of that line. Cut between these two seams, as shown on the right photo below.

5. Press these units open. Take the other small Fabric B squares and place one onto each of the background fabric corners as shown on the left photo below.

Again, sew 1/4″ to the left and 1/4″ to the right of the drawn line and cut in between the seams. It will look like the photo on the right.

6. Press your flying geese units open. Sew a star fabric A rectangle to each of the 4 flying geese units.

7. Lay out your block and sew together 3 rows.

8. Sew the rows together to finish the block.

size: 6" finished

{You can find detailed instructions on how to make templates, mark your fabric, cut, and sew accurate seams as part of Basket Case Block 1.}

Welcome to another Tuesday and basket block 10! I hope you like this little guy. It’s quite stylish with its envelope style body and perky little handle.

Instructions

1. Make your templates and prepare your fabric pieces. Download the block template here.

2. Sew triangles A into squares according to the template. Sew these squares into 2 rows of 4 each.

3. Sew together triangles C.

4. Sew one row of 4 triangle squares to the top of the C triangle unit. Then sew square A to the other row of triangle squares.

5. Sew this row to the left side of the larger unit.

6. Make the side units by sewing E to R and ER to DR, respectively. Sew B to D and to DR.

7. Sew the side units to the main block unit.

8. Sew triangle F to the block and you are finished!

size: 10" finished

Even though today’s block only has two fabrics it has a lot of energy and movement because of its strong diagonal lines.

These lines are very easily made up with half square triangles and by now we are all total HST pros!

Hope you like it!

Cutting:

Background Fabric:

• Cut 1 strip 2.5″ x 20″. Cut this strip into 8 squares 2.5″ x 2.5″.
• Cut 1 strip 2.875″ x 11.5″  (i.e. 2 7/8″ x 11.5″). Cut this strip into 4 squares 2.875″ x 2.875″.

Star Fabric:

• Cut 1 strip 2.5″ x 22.5″. Cut this strip into 9 squares 2.5″ x 2.5″.
• Cut 1 strip 2.875″ x 11.5″  (i.e. 2 7/8″ x 11.5″). Cut this strip into 4 squares 2.875″ x 2.875″.

Making the 9-patch center:

1. Take 4 of the 2.5″ background fabric squares and 5 of the star fabric squares. Lay out the center checker pattern. Sew three rows of three squares. Then join the 3 rows into the center 9-patch unit.

Making the half square triangles:

{Find detailed instructions for making Half Square Triangles as part of Space Cadet Block 1.}

2. Draw a diagonal line across the wrong side of each of the 2.875″ background fabric squares. Pair each of these squares with one 2.875″ star fabric squares. Right sides together, sew 1/4″ to the right and left of this line.

3. Cut across the diagonal between the two seams. Press open and trim the V-shaped “dog ears”.

You should now have 8 quarter square triangles measuring 2.5″ x 2.5″.

4. Assemble the block:

5. Lay out the star on your table according to the picture of the finished star.

Sew the three center squares of the top row and the bottom row together, i.e. 2 half square triangles and 1  2.5″ star fabric square for each row.

6. Sew these units to the top and bottom of the center 9-patch unit.

7. Sew the squares on the right and on the left, respectively, into rows.

8. Sew the rows to your center unit to complete the star block!

size: 4" finished

{You can find detailed instructions on how to make templates, mark your fabric, cut, and sew accurate seams as part of Basket Case Block 1.}

I hope you like block 9.

It is more abstract than our previous ones and would make a great geometric quilt with lots of movement if one plays with color placement.

Instructions

1. Make your templates and prepare your fabric pieces. Download the block template here.

2. Make the handle unit by sewing piece B to A and then C to the AB unit.

3. Make the body unit by sewing the pieces D, E, F and G together.

4. Sew together the handle and the body units for another finished basket.