Stars of the City: December Blocks

Hello Friends and Welcome Back!

A new month is upon us and with it comes the next set of blocks for the Stars of the City BoM pattern!

This quilt along alternates between star blocks and Drunkard's Path units each month. October had us make the Square in a Star and Harbour at Dawn blocks, and in November we made Drunkard's Path and Pseudo Drunkard's units, so for the month of December we are back to making star blocks!

So let's get started on our next blocks; Birds of the Night and Farmer's Star!

Pattern Notes

To make your blocks neatly and accurately, keep these few notes in mind while piecing:

Seam allowance should measure ¼” unless otherwise specified
Press each seam before sewing the next and before trimming

December Blocks

The Birds of the Night block features a new technique, one which will be used several more times throughout this quilt along, two at a time half rectangle triangles.

The other block, Farmer’s Star, also uses two at a time half rectangle triangles, as well as the stitch and flip flying geese and two at a time half square triangles introduced in previous months.

To make either throw sized quilt, make one of each block (two blocks total).

To make an XL twin sized quilt, make one of each block, then select your favourite block and make a second one (three blocks total).

To make a queen sized quilt, make two of each block (four blocks total).

Birds of the Night

Cutting Instructions

To make one block, cut the following:

Fabric B: 2 squares at 2½”

Fabric C: 2 rectangles at 3" x 6"

4 squares at 2½”

Fabric D: 2 rectangles at 3" x 6"

2 squares at 2½”

Fabric E: 2 rectangles at 3" x 6"

4 squares at 2½”

Fabric F: 2 squares at 2½”

Fabric G: 2 rectangles at 3" x 6"

Fabric H: 1 rectangle at 2½” x 4½”

Piecing Instructions

Select one 3" x 6" rectangle of fabric C and one 3" x 6" rectangle of fabric D. Draw a diagonal line on the back of the lighter fabric as shown.

Place the rectangles right sides together so the edges are offset, but the corners with the drawn line align as shown, then sew ¼” to either side of the drawn line. Carefully cut along the drawn line to yield two half rectangle triangle units.

Trim to 2½” x 4½” to complete the half rectangle triangles, set aside.

Repeat with another 3" x 6" rectangle of fabric C and 3" x 6" rectangle of fabric D with the diagonal line drawn in the opposite direction as shown below:

Trim to 2½” x 4½” to complete the half rectangle triangles, set aside.

Using two 3" x 6" rectangles of fabric E and two 3" x 6" rectangles of fabric G, repeat the steps above to make two sets of half rectangle triangles of opposite orientation as shown:

Trim to 2½” x 4½” to complete the half rectangle triangles.

Using two E/G half rectangle triangles, one of each orientation, assemble a triangle in a square unit as shown:

Trim to 4½” square to complete the triangle in a square unit. Set aside triangle in a square unit and remaining two half rectangle triangle units.

Select one 2½” square of fabric D, two 2½” squares of fabric E, and one 2½” square of fabric F. Assemble them into a four patch unit with the two fabric E squares in opposite corners as shown:

Trim to 4½” square to complete the corner unit.

Make two.

Using the two four patch units, one triangle in a square, two remaining E/G half rectangle triangles, and one 2½” x 4½” rectangle of fabric H, assemble the block centre as shown:

Using the remaining half rectangle triangle units and 2½” squares of fabrics B and C, complete the block as shown:

Trim to 16½” x 8½” to complete the Birds of the Night block.

Farmer's Star

Cutting Instructions

To make one block, cut the following:

Fabric B: 2 squares at 2½”

Fabric C: 2 rectangles at 3" x 6"

1 square at 3"

2 rectangles at 2½” x 4½”

4 squares at 2½”

Fabric D: 2 rectangles at 3" x 6"

1 square at 3”

1 rectangle at 2½” x 4½”

Fabric E: 1 square at 3"

1 rectangle at 2½” x 4½”

2 squares at 2½”

Fabric F: 2 squares at 3”

1 rectangle at 2½” x 4½”

Fabric G: 1 square at 3"

2 squares at 2½”

Fabric H: 1 rectangle at 2½” x 4½”

Piecing Instructions

Select one 3" x 6" rectangle of fabric C and one 3" x 6" rectangle of fabric D. Draw a diagonal line on the back of the lighter fabric as shown.

Trim to 2½” x 4½” to complete the half rectangle triangles, set aside.

Repeat with another 3" x 6" rectangle of fabric C and 3" x 6" rectangle of fabric D with the diagonal line drawn in the opposite direction as shown below:

Trim to 2½” x 4½” to complete the half rectangle triangles, set aside.

Select one 3" square of fabric C and one 3" square of fabric D. Draw a diagonal line on the back of the lighter square. Place the squares right sides together and sew ¼” to either side of the drawn line. Carefully cut along the drawn line to yield two half square triangle units.

Trim to 2½” to complete the half square triangles, set aside.

Repeat with a 3" square of fabric E and a 3" square of fabric F.

Trim to 2½” to complete the half square triangles, set aside.

Repeat once more with a 3" square of fabric F and a 3" square of fabric G.

Trim to 2½” to complete the half square triangles, set aside.

Select one 2½” x 4½” rectangle of fabric D and two 2½” squares of fabric C. Draw a diagonal line on the back of both fabric C squares.

Place one fabric C square on one end of the fabric D rectangle with the drawn line oriented as shown below. Sew directly along the drawn line then trim excess fabric, leaving ¼” for seam allowance.

Repeat in the opposite corner with the other fabric D square.

Trim to 2½” x 4½” to complete the flying goose unit, set aside.

Repeat the steps above using one 2½” x 4½” rectangle of fabric F and two 2½” squares of fabric G.

Trim to 2½” x 4½” to complete the flying goose unit, set aside.

Select one 2½” square of fabric B, one 2½” square of fabric C, and one 2½” x 4½” rectangle of fabric C. Assemble them into a corner unit as shown:

Trim to 4½” square to complete the corner unit.

Make two, set aside.

Using the fabric F flying goose unit, two E/F half square triangles, two F/G half square triangles, and one 2½” x 4½” rectangle of fabric H, assemble the block centre as shown:

Using the remaining units, and squares and rectangles of fabric E, complete the block as shown:

Trim to 16½” x 8½” to complete the Farmer’s Star block.

Full PDF instructions for both blocks, with additional tips, can be downloaded here:

If you know someone who would love to try this pattern for themselves, please send them here to find the instructions too!

Stars of the City Sample Blocks

As mentioned previously, the colour scheme for the original Stars of the City quilt is based on the sunset sky, which ties into the celestial, starry theme of the pieced blocks!

The Birds of the Night block is one of my favourites in this quilt! The central motif is based on the traditional Birds of Paradise block, to which I added a half rectangle triangle border.

I've wanted to make a Birds of Paradise block for some time, but before working on last year's CQA members' mystery quilt, The $3.31 Quilt designed by John MacPhail, I had never made a half rectangle triangle. After making that quilt, I gained a lot of confidence and wanted to share the technique with all of you by featuring it in this year's BoM project!

I used those units again for the Farmer's Star block!

Like many of the blocks in this quilt, Farmer's Star is centred around the traditional Sawtooth Star block. To that, I added a border of differently shaped triangle units to create an interesting outer shape. This shape reminded me of a gambrel roof line, commonly used on barns, which is what gave the block its name!

From looking at these pictures, you can probably tell that I'm not done quilting the original sample version of the Stars of the City quilt, but I'm still working on it! I've been doing a lot of background quilting recently, so haven't quilted Farmer's Star just yet, but I'm looking forward to seeing it get there soon!

Stars of the Lily Pond Blocks

My second version of this quilt, which I'm piecing alongside all of you, is progressing nicely as well! However, I have chosen to deviate from the pattern a bit with these!

If using my water lily colour scheme as originally planned, these two blocks would turn out roughly like this:

There's nothing wrong with either of these blocks, but the very square edges of the pink sections feel geometric and unnatural, not at all reminiscent of a water lily.

To remedy this, I changed some of the pale green pieces to a dark pink and some of the pink squares to half square triangles. I also wanted to try making some quarter rectangle triangle units, which I've never made before, so I incorporated some into the Birds of the Night block.

After making those changes, my blocks turned out like this!

Birds of the Night, which started out as a big pink square, now looks much more floral! I also really love the pale green diamond detail created by the quarter rectangle triangle unit! A huge improvement!

Farmer's Star didn't change quite as much, but shifting the colours ever so slightly has vastly improved the overall feeling of the block! I love how they've both turned out!

And I'm not the only one who's allowed to make changes to this pattern! I would like to remind all of you that the quilt you are making is your own and you should never feel any pressure to adhere directly to the pattern instructions. If you see notice anything you want to change about any of your own blocks or units, feel free to make those changes!

If you notice anyone else deviating from the pattern instructions, don't be too quick to correct them. Instead, ask about their thought process! It may have been an honest mistake or it could be a meaningful change!

Friends, I have been having so much fun putting this quilt together with you all! Seeing your unique colour schemes and hearing about your plans is so exciting and inspirational!

As you continue to work on your Stars of the City quilts, please share photos and stories in the comments section below, directly with me via email, or on social media using #starsofthecitybom! If you have any questions, comments, or concerns while making your blocks, please reach out, I'm always happy to help!

We have another whole month to work on the Birds of the Night and Farmer's Star blocks, so take your time and enjoy the process! If you fall a little behind, the pattern instructions will be waiting for you here! And if you happen to finish quickly, you have the next set of block instructions to look forward to on 02 January 2024!