Blackwork Roads: February Chunk

Hello Friends and Happy February!

With another new month upon us, I'm excited to share the next chunk of the Blackwork Roads pattern!

Last month, we pieced together the second corner unit of the quilt while assembling the January chunk. This month, we are working on the bottom edge of the quilt, and once finished we'll have about two thirds of the project pieced!

Such an exciting thing to look forward to, so let's get started!

February Chunk

As with all four of our side chunks, February's will be a large triangle featuring the traditional Morning Star block. Once again, we'll be rearranging the colour placement to turn this traditional design into something new!

On the left is the block as we made it in October, in the centre is December, and the new layout for February is shown on the right. Though we've only rearranged the colours, each version of the block creates a totally different effect!

After making a several blocks, we can tile them together to create the larger February chunk. Here's how it turns out:

Like the October chunk, this month's finishes as a large triangle with two long, bias edges. I recommend sewing a stay stitch around the outside of the finished chunk to help it keep its shape until we put the full quilt top together!

Pattern Notes

sew all seams using a ¼” seam allowance
press each seam before sewing the next and before trimming units
to cut diagonally one, yielding two triangles should look like this:
to cut diagonally twice, yielding four triangles should look like this:
read all pattern instructions and notes before beginning to piece

Cutting Instructions

Cut the pieces that correspond to your chosen quilt size and sort them based on the units they will be used in as labelled.

Small Quilt

BG: 2 squares at 6⅞”, cut in half diagonally once to yield two triangles each

(for finishing)

2 squares at 6½” (for finishing)

14 bars at 2¼”x 1½” (for STs)

6 squares at 1⅞” (for half STs)

Acc: 10 squares at 3¼” (for QSTs)

Lt.2: 1 bar at 3¼”x 2½” (for STs)

5 squares at 3¼” (4 for QSTs, 1 for half STs)

2 squares at 2⅞”, cut in half diagonally once to yield two triangles each

(for finishing)

2 squares at 1⅞” (for half STs)

2 squares at 1½” (for STs)

Md.2: 5 bars at 3¼”x2½” (for STs)

4 squares at 3¼” (3 for QSTs, 1 for half STs)

2 squares at 2½” (for finishing)

2 squares at 1⅞” (for half STs)

10 squares at 1½” (for STs)

Dk.2: 1 bar at 3¼”x2½” (for STs)

4 squares at 3¼” (3 for QSTs, 1 for half STs)

1 square at 2⅞”, cut in half diagonally once to yield two triangles each

(for finishing)

2 squares at 1⅞” (for half STs)

2 squares at 1½” (for STs)

Medium Quilt

BG: 2 squares at 9⅞”, cut in half diagonally once to yield two triangles each

(for finishing)

2 squares at 9½” (for finishing)

14 bars at 2¾”x 2” (for STs)

6 squares at 2⅜” (for half STs)

Acc: 10 squares at 4¼” (for QSTs)

Lt.2: 1 bar at 4¼”x 3½” (for STs)

5 squares at 4¼” (4 for QSTs, 1 for half STs)

2 squares at 3⅞”, cut in half diagonally once to yield two triangles each

(for finishing)

2 squares at 2⅜” (for half STs)

2 squares at 2” (for STs)

Md.2: 5 bars at 4¼”x 3½” (for STs)

4 squares at 4¼” (3 for QSTs, 1 for half STs)

2 squares at 3½” (for finishing)

2 squares at 2⅜” (for half STs)

10 squares at 2” (for STs)

Dk.2: 1 bar at 4¼”x3½” (for STs)

4 squares at 4¼” (3 for QSTs, 1 for half STs)

1 square at 3⅞”, cut in half diagonally once to yield two triangles each

(for finishing)

2 squares at 2⅜” (for half STs)

2 squares at 2” (for STs)

Large Quilt

BG: 2 squares at 12⅞”, cut in half diagonally once to yield two triangles each

(for finishing)

2 squares at 12½” (for finishing)

14 bars at 3¼”x 2½” (for STs)

6 squares at 2⅞” (for half STs)

Acc: 10 squares at 6¼” (for QSTs)

Lt.2: 1 bar at 5¼”x 4½” (for STs)

5 squares at 6¼” (4 for QSTs, 1 for half STs)

2 squares at 4⅞”, cut in half diagonally once to yield two triangles each

(for finishing)

2 squares at 2⅞” (for half STs)

2 squares at 2½” (for STs)

Md.2: 5 bars at 5¼”x4½” (for STs)

4 squares at 6¼” (3 for QSTs, 1 for half STs)

2 squares at 4½” (for finishing)

2 squares at 2⅞” (for half STs)

10 squares at 2½” (for STs)

Dk.2: 1 bar at 5¼”x4½” (for STs)

4 squares at 6¼” (3 for QSTs, 1 for half STs)

1 square at 4⅞”, cut in half diagonally once to yield two triangles each

(for finishing)

2 squares at 2⅞” (for half STs)

2 squares at 2½” (for STs)

Unit Piecing Instructions

Two at a Time Quarter Square Triangles (QSTs):

Select two Acc squares and two Lt.2 squares. Draw a diagonal line on the back of the two Lt.2 squares.

Place a Lt.2 square on an Acc square and sew ¼” to either side of the drawn line.

Cut along the drawn line to separate into two units.

Draw a diagonal line that crosses the seam on the back of one Lt.2/Acc unit.

Place the Lt.2/Acc unit with the drawn line on the Lt.2/Acc unit without. Arrange them with the seams aligned and the two Lt.2 sections on opposite sides. Sew ¼” to either side of the drawn line.

Cut along the drawn line to separate into two units.

Trim to 2½” for a small quilt.

Trim to 3½” for a medium quilt.

Trim to 4½” for a large quilt.

Make 8 Lt.2 QST units.

Make 6 Md.2 QST units.

Make 6 Dk.2 QST units.

Two at a Time Split Triangles (STs):

Select two BG bars and two small Lt.2 squares. Sew one Lt.2 square to the short side of each BG bar.

Sew the two bar units along their long sides with the Lt.2 squares facing opposite ends.

Draw two diagonal lines on the back of the pieced unit, each running from one outer corner through the corner of the nearest Lt.2 square as shown.

Place the pieced bar unit on a Lt.2 bar and sew directly along both drawn lines.

Cut halfway between the lines to separate into two units.

Trim to 2½” for a small quilt.

Trim to 3½” for a medium quilt.

Trim to 4½” for a large quilt.

Make 2 Lt.2 ST units.

Make 10 Md.2 ST units.

Make 2 Dk.2 ST units.

Four at a Time Half Split Triangles (half STs):

Select two small BG squares and two small Lt.2 squares. Assemble into a four patch unit with matching colours in opposite corners.

Select one large Lt.2 square and draw a diagonal line on the back.

Place the Lt.2 square on the four patch unit with the drawn line running across the BG squares. Sew ¼” to either side of the drawn line.

Cut halfway between the lines to separate into two units.

Trim to 2⅞” for a small quilt.

Trim to 3⅞” for a medium quilt.

Trim to 4⅞” for a large quilt.

Cut the units in half diagonally through the Lt.2 corners to yield four half units total.

Make 2 left and 2 right facing Lt.2 half ST units.

Make 2 left and 2 right facing Md.2 half ST units.

Make 2 left and 2 right facing Dk.2 half ST units.

Finishing Instructions

February Side Left:

Select one Lt.2 half ST, two Lt.2 QSTs, one Lt.2 triangle, one Md.2 half ST, and one Md.2 ST.

Assemble as shown:

Select one large BG square and one BG triangle. Join to the triangle block as shown:

February Side Right:

Repeat the steps for February Side Left, mirroring the block orientation as shown:

February Centre Left:

Select one Md.2 QST, one Dk.2 triangle, one Dk.2 QST, two Dk.2 half STs, and one Dk.2 ST.

Assemble as shown:

Select one Lt.2 ST, three Md.2 STs, one Md.2 square, two Md.2 QSTs, and two Dk.2 QSTs.

Assemble as shown on the following page:

Select one Lt.2 half ST, two Lt.2 QSTs, one Lt.2 triangle, one Md.2 half ST, and one Md.2 ST.

Assemble as shown:

Using the three blocks above and a large BG triangle, assemble the February Centre Left as shown:

February Centre Right:

Repeat the steps for February Centre Left, mirroring the block orientation as shown:

February Chunk Assembly:

Assemble the February Side Left, Centre Left, Centre Right, and Side Right into the complete February Chunk as shown:

Full PDF instructions for the February chunk, including additional notes, can be downloaded here:

Blackwork Roads Sample Quilt

After piecing our way through more than half the Blackwork Roads quilt along, I'm thrilled to say that the sample quilt is finally complete!

Though it's all in one piece in the picture, I wasn't actually done with my quilt top when it was taken.

If you take a close look at the lower left corner of the central white star, you may notice that one point is a cooler white than the others. It was difficult to tell the difference with the lighting in my sewing room, so I had mixed up the white background fabric from my Blackwork Roads quilt with a different piece of scrap fabric!

I noticed the switch while taking pictures, and last week, I took the time to replace the odd piece with the proper white fabric!

This picture was taken in the sewing room and doesn't show the difference in colour as well as the photos taken outside, so it gives you an idea of what I saw when I made the mistake.

Regardless, the sample quilt is finally finished and just waiting for the right day to take some pictures of its final form!

Request for Feedback

With my Blackwork Roads sample complete and the quilt along progressing, I'm ready to start thinking about next year's project!

A quilt along pattern isn't just made for my own enjoyment, it's important to me that all of you get the chance to make a pattern you'll enjoy too! So I like to take your thoughts into consideration while working on the pattern design and while typing the pattern instructions!

I'm happy to hear any feedback you have; both positive and negative, and regarding both the design and the accessibility of the instructions themselves, but have provided a few prompts below to get you thinking!

What level of quilter do you consider yourself? (ie. completely new, beginner, intermediate, expert, or perhaps something more complicated to explain, like a beginner who loves trying new things and doesn't mind failing as long as they've learned something)
What are your thoughts on the design of Blackwork Roads? (ie. design was too complicated or too simple, like or dislike the units scaling to larger sizes, like or dislike the medallion layout, design was too traditional or too modern)
What are your thoughts on the Blackwork Roads instructions? (ie. easy or difficult to understand, not enough or too many diagrams, not enough or too much text)
What style of quilt or quilting techniques would you like to see featured in next year's pattern? Or which would you dislike making? (ie. traditional or modern design, row by row, medallion, block of the month, mystery quilt, machine or hand piecing, paper or paperless piecing, particular units you love or hate making, scrap compatabile)

If you don't have an answer to all of the prompts, that's totally fine; please share whatever thoughts you do have! You can reach out in the comments below or by sending me an email!

It's been so exciting being able to share my finished sample quilt top, as well as a new chunk, with all of you this month!

Please share stories and photos of your progress as you put this new chunk together, and don't forget to think about what you'd like to see in next year's pattern!

And, of course, the next chunk of our quilt along will be released on 04 March, so please come back to visit me then!