Stars of the City: February Blocks

Hello Friends and Welcome Back!

With February now underway, it's time to piece together a few new blocks for the Stars of the City BoM!

Last month, we put together the second set of Drunkard's Path blocks. I hope you've all been able to enjoy the process of piecing those units and haven't gotten too tired of making the same shape. I've found that cutting and piecing the units as smaller sets can help break up the monotony of sewing the same curve over and over!

But now that a new month has arrived, we are once again switching our focus back to piecing star blocks!

For the month of February, we'll be making the Queen of the Sky and Tangled Ribbon blocks, let's check them out!

Pattern Notes

A usual, there are a few basic things to keep in mind while working on your blocks for the Stars of the City pattern;

sew all seams using a ¼” seam allowance
press each seam before sewing the next and before trimming units

February Units

For the month of February, there are two new star themed blocks to make; Queen of the Sky and Tangled Ribbon.

The first block, Queen of the Sky, reuses several units and methods introduced earlier in the Stars of the City pattern, but also introduces a new technique; four at a time flying geese units.

The Tangled Ribbon block also makes use of the four at a time method for piecing flying geese, and introduces yet another new unit; stitch and flip chevrons.

To make either throw sized quilt, make one of each block.

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).

Queen of the Sky

Cutting Instructions

To make one block, cut the following:

Fabric B: 2 squares at 2½”

Fabric C: 3 squares at 3"

5 rectangles at 2½” x 4½”

2 squares at 2½”

Fabric D: 1 square at 5½”

1 square at 3"

2 squares at 2½”

Fabric E: 3 squares at 3"

Fabric F: 1 rectangle at 2½” x 4½”

2 squares at 3"

Fabric G: 1 square at 3"

2 squares at 2½”

Fabric H: 1 rectangle at 2½” x 4½”

Piecing Instructions

Select the 5½” square of fabric D, two 3" squares of fabric C, and two 3" squares of fabric E. Draw a diagonal line on the back of both squares of fabrics C and E.

Place the two fabric C squares in opposite corners of the fabric D square with the drawn lines oriented as shown, then sew ¼” to either side of the drawn line. Carefully cut along the drawn line to yield two incomplete L-shaped units.

Place one of the fabric E squares on the fabric D corner of the L-shaped unit with the drawn line oriented as shown, then sew ¼” to either side of the drawn line. Carefully cut along the drawn line to yield two flying geese units.

Repeat with the second L-shaped unit and remaining fabric E square. Trim to 2½” x 4½” to complete the four flying geese units. Set aside.

Select one 2½” x 4½” rectangle of fabric C and two 2½” squares of fabric D. Draw a diagonal line on the backs of the fabric D squares. Place a fabric D square on one end of the fabric C 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 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 the steps above using one 3” square of fabric E and one 3” square of fabric F.

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

Repeat once again using one 3” square of fabric F and one 3” square of fabric G.

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

Select two fabric E/F half square triangles, two F/G half square triangles, the

F/G flying goose unit, and one 2½” x 4½” rectangle of fabric H. Assemble them into the block centre as shown:

Select the four fabric C/D/E flying geese units and two 2½” squares of fabric C. Add them to the block centre as shown:

Using the remaining units, fabric C rectangles, and fabric B squares, complete the block as shown:

Trim to 16½” x 8½” to complete the Queen of the Sky block.

Tangled Ribbon

Cutting Instructions

To make one block, cut the following:

Fabric B: 2 squares at 2½”

Fabric C: 4 squares at 3"

6 squares at 2½”

Fabric D: 1 square at 5½”

2 squares at 3"

1 rectangle at 2½” x 4½”

4 squares at 2½”

Fabric E: 2 squares at 3"

4 rectangles at 2½” x 4½”

2 squares at 2½”

Fabric F: 4 squares at 2½”

Fabric G: 2 squares at 2½”

Fabric H: 1 rectangle at 2½” x 4½”

Piecing Instructions

Select the 5½” square of fabric D and four 3" squares of fabric C. Draw a diagonal line on the back of the fabric C squares.

Place two of the fabric C squares in opposite corners of the fabric D square with the drawn lines oriented as shown, then sew ¼” to either side of the drawn line. Carefully cut along the drawn line to yield two incomplete L-shaped units.

Place another fabric C square on the fabric D corner of the L-shaped unit with the drawn line oriented as shown, then sew ¼” to either side of the drawn line. Carefully cut along the drawn line to yield two flying geese units.

Repeat with the second L-shaped unit and remaining fabric C square. Trim to 2½” x 4½” to complete the four flying geese units. Set aside.

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

Place one fabric G square on one end of the fabric H 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 G square.

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

Select one 2½” x 4½” rectangle of fabric E, one 2½” square of fabric D, and one 2½” square of fabric F. Draw a diagonal line on the backs of the fabric D and F squares.

Place the fabric D square on one end of the fabric E 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 fabric F square.

Trim to 2½” x 4½” to complete the chevron unit. Make two, set aside.

Repeat the steps above but with the drawn lines on the fabric D and F squares oriented in the opposite direction as shown:

Trim to 2½” x 4½” to complete the chevron unit. Make two, set aside.

Select one 3" square of fabric D and one 3" square of fabric E. 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. Make four.

Using the fabric H flying goose, four chevrons, four half square triangles, and two 2½” each of fabrics C and E, assemble the block centre as shown:

Using the remaining flying geese units and 2½” squares of fabrics B and C, complete the block as shown:

Trim to 16½” x 8½” to complete the Tangled Ribbon block.

Full block instructions are available as a PDF download here:

It's never too late to join this BoM quilt along, so if you have a friend who would love to join, please send them here to download the pattern for themselves!

Stars of the City Sample Blocks

Along with Birds of the Night, Queen of the Sky is one of my favourite blocks featured in this quilt!

I really love the unique shape of the star in this block, and the way the shapes overlap creates a really interesting layered star effect. And of all the blocks in this pattern, I think Queen of the Sky has the most interesting negative space! The shape of the background mimics the shape of the star in a really beautiful way!

The second of February's blocks, Tangled Ribbon, has the most off-theme name of all the blocks, but the pieced design has a really gorgeous starry appearance!

I love how the colours come together in this block to create an almost fiery appearance! As you can probably tell, I still haven't gotten around to quilting this block just yet, but I'm sure it will look amazing once the outline quilting is in place!

I can't wait to continue quilting this and see how it turns out!

Stars of the Lily Pond Blocks

I've also finished the blocks for my second version of this pattern, which I've been calling Stars of the Lily Pond. The difference between the original colour scheme and this one really shine in these two blocks, where the areas of highest contrast are placed a little differently!

For the Queen of the Sky block, the unique shape of the outline is a little less prominent, with the ribbon tails creating an interesting border rather than being a feature of the central star. I do really love that they almost look like little leaves that frame a pink lily blossom though!

But I think Tangled Ribbon has the most lily-like appearance of all the blocks so far!

The spiky chevron motif really lends itself to the shape of a water lily, and the pale green frames that shape really well!

Unlike past months, I haven't felt the need to alter my colour placement or add extra piecing to these blocks to enhance their floral shapes. The original blocks look so amazing as they are and have really contributed to the theme of this second version of the Stars of the City pattern!

Friends, we are now past the half-way point of this quilt along! I have been having so much fun putting my quilt together along with all of you and have really enjoyed seeing how each of you have put your own touch on the pattern!

And being so far through the quilt along, I'm interested to hear your feelings about this pattern, the way the instructions were written, the style of the quilt, or anything else you'd like to share with me! Please let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment below or by emailing me directly!

And i hope you'll share photos of your blocks when those are ready too! Please use #starsofthecitybom when you post them so I can find your pictures!

I hope you'll join me again on 05 March for the next set of instructions!