This is Block 6 in the 2025 Riley Blake Challenge, Starburst, designed by Amber Elliott. I've been fooling around with this sew-along, not fully committed to seeing it through. There have been six blocks so far and I've done four.
It is a gorgeous block, but the way the pattern instructions directed, I thought there were too many seams. The center unit was four half-square triangles, and I changed it up to a 4 1/2" square in a square unit. Those star points were supposed to be two half-square rectangles. I changed those up by making it a paper pieced unit finishing at 3 1/2" by 4 1/2".
Have you ever drafted your own paper pieced unit? It really isn't difficult, and this piece in particular was super simple.
The first step is to draft the pattern. The unfinished piece is 3 1/2" by 4 1/2". Inside that shape is the 1/4" seam allowance/stitching line. Draw diagonal lines from the upper midpoint to the left and right lower corners.
Line your pieces up together and stitch right sides together on the drawn diagonal line. I cut my green pieces a full one inch larger than the width of the finished unit. (3 1/2" x 5 1/2").
This is what the unit looks like when pressed open and before trimming. You can see how much fabric is wasted. Oh well.
Trim on your outside drawn line to 3 1/2" by 4 1/2".
And there is your lovely trimmed unit. Now tear the paper away.
There is your perfectly sized foundation pieced star point unit. No seams through the middle! Whenever I can eliminate unnecessary seams, I am a happy camper.
Hope you all have a great weekend. I plan to do some sewing and some reading and get outside to enjoy the warmer weather we have been promised.
9 Responses
Thank you for the tip! Do you just use regular copier paper for that? I, too, get very frustrated by the use of too many HSTs in a pattern— I guess they avoid having to add drawings to instructions. Waiting on those Brio blocks— lol! I may make some HSTs today.
Wow! Thanks so much. I always learn something from you.
Well it turn out to be true- I’m NOT making these blocks. But I’ll follow along with you and see your other tips. I too have been known to get rid of HST if possible. More seams to match and mess up! No thanks.
I am glad you brought up paper piecing. I have a question.
No stores near me carry any paper piecing patterns or blank paper any more.
I just printed a free paper pieced flying geese pattern.
https://www.freshlemonsquilts.com/journal/flying-geese-perfect-points
One pattern was close to the size I needed. I used my copier settings to get it to the exact right size.
I have a question for you about the patterns on the site/link above.
Is the pattern meant to be cut apart and each flying geese is made separately?
Or is there some type of magic where two large pieces of fabric are attached to the whole sheet of paper and all the sewing lines are done at once? And then cut? (On half square triangle paper piecing patterns, that is the method.)
I am going to the office supply store to see if I can get very cheap paper, so it is easier to tear.
I also found this video on another method –
https://youtu.be/9tOLsmiINzg?si=dEDuTKwlmDjwTqnL
On your example in your post, be careful of bias.
I would have cut a large square and then cut it diagonally to use on the corner pieces.
This would keep the bias on the inside, secured by the stitching.
A while back, I was making some square-in-a-square blocks and was having a difficult time getting them to turn out right. I drafted a pattern and paper pieced the blocks and they turned out so much better. It takes more time but you can get such precision. I also used some old onion-skin typing paper I had and it tore so much better.
Your blocks look great & the thorough tutorial is helpful, as always! Thanks for taking the time to demonstrate the steps! Enjoy your weekend!
Thanks for the great lesson! Your blocks look great for your not quiltalong 🤣
I have never attempted my own paper piecing patterns but thank you so much for explaining how to do it! Your block looks so much better without all those extra seams!