Perfect Union

I am hoping you are sailing away to a beautiful weekend. The Fourth of July is one of my favorite holidays; full of family, friends, and a little quilting. I’ve been preparing for the long weekend

by pulling out all my patriotic quilts and planning some new ones. 🙂

Thanks to my dear friend Debby, I am excited to share something special with you.

I am going to use some of my scraps from Little Sweetheart, Something Blue, and the Blue Sky Collections. Those three together form a Perfect Union. We also have a fabric kit available, or you can use any of your scraps for this quilt. To start, we will be making little Ohio stars. I would like to share with you two different ways to make the block.

Instructions for cutting the whole quilt can be found in the “Perfect Union” pattern. For one block, you cut: 8 blue QSTs (quarter square triangles) 8 light QSTs 1 blue square 4 light squares

Start by sewing light and blue QSTs, I am using a Microtex needle, Aurifil thread, and a shy quarter inch seam allowance (this will give me room to square and trim).

Push the seam allowance toward blue.

Match and nest the seam allowances together.

Sew and open the center back.

Trim your little QST unit – this is so important!

My quilting became so much better once I started trimming and squaring as I was sewing. Also, starching my fabric before I cut is advice give to any beginning quilters.

We have 4 QST units ready for our little Ohio star.

Arrange your pieces and sew them into three rows.

Sew the rows together and press, then trim.

From red and light fabrics, cut strips. (The exact measurements are available in the pattern)

Section them to rectangles and arrange them next to the star in alternating colors.

Begin sewing the red strip to the right side and bottom of the star.

Next, add the light strips…