Christmas in July Block 13-Freshly Pieced

“Piece of Sky” block by Lee Heinrich

This block’s long and narrow size makes it the perfect canvas for modern design. Partial star shapes and uneven negative space give it movement and make it exciting!

Fabric requirements:
Red print
2 - 4.25” squares

Green print
2 - 4.25” squares
1 - 2.5” square

Red/green print
1 - 2.5” square

Green solid
1 - 2.5” squares

White solid
2 - 4.25” squares
5 – 2.5” squares
5 – 1.5” squares
1 - 1.5” x 3.5” rectangle
1 - 1.5” x 4.5” rectangle
1 - 2.5” x 4.5” rectangle
1 - 2.5” x 5.5” rectangle

To make the large star:
1. Pair up your 4.25” squares as shown—white with red print, white with green print, and red print with green print. Pair them with right sides facing.

2. Sew around the perimeter of each pair of squares, stitching ¼” from the raw edges.

3. Cut your sewn squares in half on the diagonal, and in half on the diagonal again, to make 4 quarter squares, as shown.

4. You will now have four half-square triangles (HSTs) for each pair of sewn squares (12 total). Press your HSTs open. I pressed my seam allowances to the side, pressing toward the red print when there was a red print, and toward the white solid when there was not. Trim each HST to 2.5” square, lining up the bias seam with the 45-degree line on your cutting board.

5. Arrange your HSTs as shown, and piece together. (You will have two unused HSTs left over.)

6. Trim your star to 5.5” inches wide, cutting from the right-hand side of the star.

To make the small stars:
1. Pair the green print 2.5” square and two of the solid green 2.5” squares with solid white 2.5” squares.

2. Follow steps 2-4 above to make the HSTs, using a very scant ¼” seam. You will end up with 12 1.5” HSTs—these little guys shouldn’t even need to be trimmed!
3. Piece the complete small star as shown, with the red/green print 2.5” square as the center, and the solid green/white HSTs as the star points.

4. Piece the partial small star as shown, with the solid green 2.5” square as the center, and the green print/white HSTs as the star points. You will only use four star points, to the left and bottom of the center.

Assemble the block: 1. Arrange your completed stars and white rectangles as shown and piece together.

2. Your completed block should measure 5.5” by 18.5” inches. Enjoy!