Holy hot dogs! It’s July 4th weekend already! 3 day weekends…they’re like manna from heaven. A whole extra day to camp, grill, splash, clean out our garage (goodie), and set off not set off firecrackers because they’re illegal in our city. Hehe. And I suppose sew, for those of you who are keeping busy with the needle and thread and want to get your new Sugar Block stitched up ASAP! Well, here you go- a brand new block. Stitch it up quick (or just wait til next week), then get out and soak up some bug spray and campfire smoke- it’s Independence day in the US of A!
This month I chose the Mariner’s Compass as my classic patchwork inspiration. These star shapes date back to 15th century sailing maps, and, according to Barbara Brackman, are one of the oldest named quilt designs in America. Typically they have either 16 or 32 star points…my star is simpler, with only 8 points, but the shape and placement of the points do still mimic a true Mariner’s Compass, and I’ve added in a secondary background shape in a fun text print, as well as inverted star points at each corner.
This block gets REALLY pretty when put in repeat. Without sashing between the blocks, the corners meet and make up stars of their own, and this really beautiful overall design develops. So in honor of America’s Independence Day this weekend, I decided to play with that concept, and came up with a really patriotic quilt for you! It’s called Lady Liberty (like the block) and measures 60” x 60” – a great throw size, or as a stunning large wall hanging! You can purchase the pattern for the Lady Liberty quilt HERE.
And for those of you joining in our BOM, here are your block instructions!
Paper Pieced Lady Liberty Block
Finished Size: 12” square
Fabric Requirements:
1/4 yard of white
1/4 yard text print or other low volume neutral
1/4 yard of dark teal
1/4 yard of medium teal
1/4 yard of dark pink
1/4 yard of medium pink
Cutting:
- White: (8) 5” x 4” rectangles (patches A1 and B1)
- Text Print: (8) 4 3/4” x 3 1/2 rectangles (patches A3 and B3)
- Dark Teal: (4) 6” x 2” rectangles (patch B5)
- Medium Teal: (4) 6” x 2” rectangles (patch A5)
- Dark Pink: (8) 4 1/2” x 1 1/2” rectangles (patches A2 and B4)
- Medium Pink: (8) 4 1/2” x 1 1/2” rectangles (patches A4 and B2)
Templates:
You’ll find the templates for this block HERE. Print four copies.
NOTE- It’s important to make sure that your printer settings are on “actual size” and not “shrink to fit,” so that your pieces will turn out the right size. To double check that the template printed correctly, measure the 1” marking on the template page with a ruler, and if it’s precisely 1”, then you’re good to go.
Construction:
1. If you’re comfortable paper piecing these, then print your templates and jump right in! If not, please refer to THIS photo tutorial of a similar block, or revisit the Craftsy BOM October lesson for a video demo. Piece all eight units using this method, then press with starch, trim, and remove the paper.
2. Stitch each A unit to a B unit along the longest side, and press the seam open (Figure 1).
Figure 1
3. Stitch the four square units together first in rows of two, press seams to the side, then join the rows, pinning at seam intersections (Figure 2). Square (trim) block to 12 1/2” as needed.
Figure 2
And that’s all there is to it! See why I love paper piecing? It’s a great change of pace, and in my opinion, the easiest way to get crisp, impressive-looking intricate angles.
PS- Looking for the other block patterns from this year’s club? Look HERE.
PPS– Want a super printer-friendly PDF download of this pattern? Sign up for a Premium Sugar Block Club membership and receive all 12 months of block and full quilt patterns for a flat $19.99. You’ll get 24 patterns (12 blocks and 12 full quilts), complete with step by step diagrams, tips, photos, and many in multiple-size options- for just $.83 per pattern! You can sign up to be a premium member HERE.
Have a lovely July everyone, and thanks for stopping by! Happy 4th!
What a stunning quilt! Thanks for the block pattern. :)
I can’t sew this up quite yet (I only just finished June because we moved and my craft room is only just now functional even though it’s not done) but I’ve already picked my fabrics in my head!
Love the block and the precision of paper piecing. Now to figure out my colors. Thanks for all your effort.
Oh I love this one, and the fabrics/colors you used are awesome! Thank you!
This is a stunning block! LOVE IT!!! Thanks a lot for sharing. Greetings from Canada, hope, you”ll have a great July 4th!
Oh, this is my favorite block so far! I’m going to give it a shot this weekend! Thanks very much!
Such a stunnning block!
FYI; I am a Sugar Block Club subscriber and for the past two months I have not been receiving my monthly block club emails. I have had to wait for them to be posted on your website. I just wanted you to be aware that if mine are not being received then there is a chance others may be experiencing the same. I am a loyal fan and would hunt your blocks down, just not sure if others would go the extra mile or just give up. Thought you would like to know. BTW loved this block! :) <3
Same thing with us! Glad to see that the block was on the website. We so look forward to these each month!
I haven’t received an email in the last two months either.
I also have not received the e-mails
I’ve not either :(
Hi Amy,
I have been a Sugar Block subscriber since day 1 and avidly look forward to your monthly postings!! But I too have had trouble getting the blocks in the past two months – have had to track them down on your site online.
Love all the blocks and don’t want to miss any. Happy Independence Day, here in Canada we celebrated on July 1st.
Oh, Amy, how pretty! Looking forward to making this one!
I made one quarter to f the block and my width and height measurements vary by 1/2″. This isn’t going to make a square block. Any suggestions?
I ran into that, too, which I couldn’t figure out because the paper pattern measures correctly. I was able to ease the mismatched sides so that they stitched up to almost the same length, and the final block is only 1/8″ of an inch off after final trimming. I can live with that.
I haven’t been receiving the Sugar Block Club monthly block either. Hadn’t read the comments til today & now I know others are having the same experience. Love ’em though! Hope things get back on track. :-)
I have always disliked doing paper piecing but this block worked out great after I checking out the tutorial you suggested – who knows I might even start enjoying pp or at least not disliking it so much
Jeanie in IA with MS
I love that I can get this subscription here in Australia as I know then I have something none of my friends have and they are so in awe of Amy’s work. Can’t wait for my cookbook to arrive down under.
Love this block. Can’t wait to make it. Made my first sampler quilt following you on Craftsy a few years ago. Am now hooked on “samplers”. Admire all the projects you take on.
I love receiving my blocks each month and signing up to the Premium Sugar Block Club has been one of my smarted Quilty related decisions this year.
Is there any possibility of receiving a copy of the ‘repeated block quilt’ as an outline in black and white? I’d love this so that I could use it as a template to assist me with my colour choices i.e. I could colour in each segment to give myself an idea of how my chosen colours will work when this block is repeated. I hope you are able to understand what I mean as I wasn’t sure of how to word it.
Thank you :-)
I too haven’t received any emails from you in more than 2 months!
I started this block: but the 5″ x 4″ white rectangles are too short to fit for A1 and B1 – I checked the marking on the template page with a ruler and it is exactly 1″ – has anyone else experienced this? I made them half an inch longer (which fit then) and the complete block turned out exactyl 12″…
Amy…I also have not received the Sugar Block Club emails for June and July. Everything was good until then.
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