Midnight Circus: January Star Blocks
- vafibrearts
- 2 days ago
- 7 min read
Hello Friends and Welcome 2026!
With the start of a new year, I'm reminded of all the new possibilities that are out there in the world. I can't wait to embrace all the new adventures, experiments, and projects to come, and to share them all with you!
I'm also working on a resolution to get better at social media!
As an introvert, it's not intuitive for me to think about sharing updates on my progress all the time, and it feels difficult to reach out to other creatives online, even when I really want to. But I'm hoping to make more of a habit of photographing my work as I go, and taking the time to acknowledge the skills and efforts that others have put into their own projects!
I hope all of you can find something fulfilling to work towards in the new year too!
And welcoming a new year means we are also stepping into a new month, which means it's time for a new instalment of the Midnight Circus quilt along! Let's take a look!
January Units
For the month of January, we'll be making Three Quarter Square units, also known as Half Hourglass units, and assembling those into our first quilt blocks!
The Three Quarter Square units will be made mostly of fabric F with a small triangle of fabric E on one side.
Looking at the unit in the picture, you may notice the longest seam runs from the top right corner, to the bottom left, like a forward slash. Depending on the construction method you choose, some units may have the seam running left to right, like a back slash, which is also totally fine! When you take a step back, you won't notice which way the seam runs!
And speaking of construction methods, this unit has three to choose from; patchwork piecing using templates, stitch and flip, and four at a time! Test each method on scrap fabric to decide which works best for you, or pick an old favourite that you're already familiar with!
Once your units have been pieced, they'll be combined with a few plain squares to make the full Star block!
There is only one method provided for Star block assembly, but the squares can be cut using quilting rulers or the printable templates found in the pattern notes.
Pattern Notes
pattern assumes 44" usable width of fabric (WoF)
sew all seams using a ¼” seam allowance
press each seam before sewing the next and before trimming units
read all pattern instructions and notes before beginning to piece
optional printable templates can be downloaded here:
Patchwork Pieced Three Quarter Square Units
This method makes one unit at a time using smaller pieces, accommodating the use of fabric scraps and remnants.
Pieces are cut using printable templates.
Cutting Instructions
Cut the pieces that correspond to your chosen quilt size.
Single Three Quarter Square Unit:
Fabric E - 1 medium triangle
Fabric F - 1 large triangle
1 medium triangle
Small Quilt:
Fabric E - 4 medium triangles
Fabric F - 4 large triangles
4 medium triangles
Medium Quilt:
Fabric E - 20 medium triangles
Fabric F - 20 large triangles
20 medium triangles
Large Quilt:
Fabric E - 52 medium triangles
Fabric F - 52 large triangles
52 medium triangles
Piecing Instructions
Select one medium triangle each of fabrics E and F.
Place them right sides together and sew along one short side to make a large pieced triangle.
Place the pieced triangle on the medium fabric F triangle with the right sides together. Sew along the long side.
Trim the finished Three Quarter Square unit to 4½” square.
For a small quilt, make 4.
For a medium quilt, make 20.
For a large quilt, make 52.
Proceed to Star block assembly.
Stitch and Flip Three Quarter Square Unit
This method makes one unit at a time using smaller pieces, accommodating the use of fabric scraps and remnants, but does produce some fabric waste.
Pieces are cut using quilting rulers.
Cutting Instructions
Cut the pieces that correspond to your chosen quilt size.
Single Three Quarter Square Unit:
Fabric E - 1 rectangle at 4½” x 2½”
Fabric F - 1 rectangle at 4½” x 2½”
1 square at 4½”
Small Quilt:
Fabric E - 4 rectangles at 4½” x 2½”
Fabric F - 4 rectangles at 4½” x 2½”
4 squares at 4½”
Medium Quilt:
Fabric E - 20 rectangles at 4½” x 2½”
Fabric F - 20 rectangles at 4½” x 2½”
20 squares at 4½”
Large Quilt:
Fabric E - 52 rectangles at 4½” x 2½”
Fabric F - 52 rectangles at 4½” x 2½”
52 squares at 4½”
Piecing Instructions
Select one rectangle each of fabrics E and F.
Draw a 45° diagonal line on the back of one of the rectangles, starting in one corner and touching the middle of the opposite long side.
Place the two rectangles right sides together with the drawn line facing up. Sew along the drawn line.
Trim the excess fabric from the corner, leaving ¼” for seam allowance.
Draw a 45° diagonal line on the back of the pieced corner unit, running from the fabric E corner to the fabric F corner.
Place the pieced corner unit on the remaining fabric F square with the drawn line facing up.
Sew along the drawn line.
Trim the excess fabric from the incomplete corner, leaving ¼” for seam allowance.
Trim the finished Three Quarter Square unit to 4½” square.
For a small quilt, make 4.
For a medium quilt, make 20.
For a large quilt, make 52.
Proceed to Star block assembly.
Four at a Time Three Quarter Square Unit
This method makes multiple units at a time using large squares of fabric, requires yardage or large fabric remnants.
Pieces are cut using quilting rulers.
Cutting Instructions
Cut the pieces that correspond to your chosen quilt size.
Four Three Quarter Square Units:
Fabric E - 1 square at 5½”
Fabric F - 1 square at 5½”
2 square at 5"
Small Quilt:
Fabric E - 1 squares at 5½”
Fabric F - 1 squares at 5½”
2 squares at 5"
Medium Quilt:
Fabric E - 5 squares at 5½”
Fabric F - 5 squares at 5½”
10 squares at 5"
Large Quilt:
Fabric E - 13 squares at 5½”
Fabric F - 13 squares at 5½”
26 squares at 5"
Piecing Instructions
Select one large square each of fabrics E and F. Draw a 45° diagonal line on the back of one of the squares, running from corner to corner.
Place the two squares right sides together with the drawn line facing up. Sew ¼” to either side of the line.
Cut along the drawn line to separate into two half square triangles.
Trim to 5" square.
Draw a 45° diagonal line on the back of one half square triangle, running from the fabric E corner to the fabric F corner.
Place the half square triangle on one of the small fabric F squares with the drawn line facing up.
Sew ¼” to either side of the line.
Cut along the drawn line to separate into two units.
Repeat with the remaining half square triangle and small fabric F square.
Trim the finished Three Quarter Square units to 4½” square.
For a small quilt, make 4.
For a medium quilt, make 20.
For a large quilt, make 52.
Proceed to Star block assembly.
Star Block
Star blocks are made one at a time using a mix of cut squares and Three Quarter Square units.
Pieces can be cut using quilting rulers or printable templates.
Cutting Instructions
Cut the pieces that correspond to your chosen quilt size.
Single Star Block:
Fabric E - 4 squares at 4½” OR 4 large squares
Fabric F - 1 square at 4½” OR 1 large square
Units - 4 Three Quarter Squares
Small Quilt:
Fabric E - 4 squares at 4½” OR 4 large squares
Fabric F - 1 square at 4½” OR 1 large square
Units - 4 Three Quarter Squares
Medium Quilt:
Fabric E - 20 squares at 4½” OR 20 large squares
Fabric F - 5 squares at 4½” OR 5 large squares
Units - 20 Three Quarter Squares
Large Quilt:
Fabric E - 52 squares at 4½” OR 52 large squares
Fabric F - 13 square2 at 4½” OR 13 large squares
Units - 52 Three Quarter Squares
Piecing Instructions
Select two squares of fabric E and one Three Quarter Square unit.
Sew the squares to the two opposite fabric F sides of the Three Quarter Square unit.
Repeat with the two remaining fabric E squares, and one Three Quarter Square to create two matching outer rows.
Select one square of fabric F and two Three Quarter Square units.
Sew the Three Quarter Square units to opposite sides of the fabric F square, with the fabric E triangles facing outwards to create the inner row.
Sew the the outer rows to opposite long sides of the inner row, with the seams aligned and the fabric E triangles facing outwards.
Trim the finished Star block to 12½” square.
For a small quilt, make 1.
For a medium quilt, make 5.
For a large quilt, make 13.
Instructions for all three methods of Three Quarter Square unit assembly, as well as Star block assembly, can be downloaded here:
Midnight Circus Sample Quilt
Though we've had another month pass, I haven't made any new progress on my Midnight Circus sample quilt.
While it would be nice to be able to show off a whole bunch of beautiful new stitching, sometimes, quilting progresses slowly. Perhaps now that I'm settling into a new year, I'll find some more time for quilting?
Friends, thank you all so much for joining me on another visit to the Midnight Circus this month!
I can't wait to see your units continue to come together, and to see how your Star blocks turn out!
Feel free share your updates in the comments below, via email, or elsewhere on social media! Please remember to use #midnightcircusquilt so I can find them!
I look forward to seeing you all again on 03 February for the next unit!
Until Next Time Friends, Happy Quilting!
~VA
Midnight Circus Instructions
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