Step 4: Craftsy Quilts of Valor Mystery Quilt-a-Long!

Welcome to Part Four of this guest Quilt-a-long series from Alycia of Alycia Quilts. Last week, Alycia walked you through making a 5-inch star. This week, she will show you how to finish the star block. Come back each week for the next  step of the mystery quilt designed for Quilts of Valor! This quilt will also be featured in an upcoming Craftsy quilting class.

Step 4: Finishing the Star Block.

Next we will add the chains around the star!

For the first round:
Take one 5-inch strip and sub-cut it into sixteen 2 ½-inch pieces. Take these and sew them onto the right and left side of the star.

Sew to right and left sides of the star

Press them open to get this:

Like this!

Next, take one cream 5-inch strip and two blue 2 ½-inch strips. Sew a blue strip to each side of the cream strip.

Sew your blue strips to each side of the cream strip.

Press them open to get this:

Ta-da!

Sub cut the strip set into sixteen 2 ½-inch pieces.

Cutting my strips

Attach these strip sets to the top and the bottom of the block.

Here is what one block should look like!

Here are all my inner blocks!

This block should measure 9-inches. However, if they are off – no worries. We will trim the block to 8 ½-inches square. If your block was 9-inches, this means taking ¼-inch off of each side. If your block was a little off – it gives you a chance to square them up before we move on!

Ready? All eight blocks are now 8 ½-inches square?  Ready for the next round?

NEXT, the second round:
Take one of your 8 ½-inch cream strips and sub-cut it to 2 ½-inch pieces. You will then sew them to the left and right of the star block.

The beginning of round 2

Take the last 8 ½-inch cream strip, and two 2 ½-inch blue strips. Sew a blue strip on each side of the cream, and press. Sub-cut into 2 ½-inch strips. These will go on the top and bottom of the block. Press.

This is what you should end up with!

Here is your final star chain block. It should measure 12 ½-inches square when all sewn together.

Questions? Feel free to email AlyciaQuilts@gmail.com

Now that you have your eight 12 1/2-inch star chain blocks, come back next Wednesday to find out what the next step will be! Join us for the next two weeks as we create a mystery quilt together. To see all the steps so far, click here. Thanks again to Alycia for leading us on this fun quilt-a-long!