Quilt Block Mania: New Year Star
Welcome to Quilt Block Mania! I have a complimentary block pattern for you and a list of other designers who have also posted blocks this morning!
Let me introduce you to something I call “the running thirds.”
My block is called New Year Star and it uses the running thirds. It’s a way of dividing a block in three so that you get a Nine Patch, but the divisions are not equal.
Instead, they are the sizes of any three consecutive or “running” numbers, such as 3, 4 and 5. All of the Quilt Block Mania blocks finish at 12″, and you’ll notice that 3 + 4 + 5 = 12.
Keep in mind that for right now, we are talking about the finished sizes.
First we’ll divide the block into three columns. The first column is 3″ wide, the next is 4″ wide, and the far right column is 5″ wide. There’s our pattern of 3, 4 and 5.
But wait! There’s more!
Next we’ll divide the block horizontally so that we have three rows. The first row is 3″ tall, the next row is 4″ tall and the bottom row is 5″ tall. Same pattern of 3, 4 and 5. Still with me?
From there you can see that the dimensions of each patch are easy to figure out. If you’re not following, try this:
- Read the dimensions of the top row, moving across.
- Read the dimensions of the middle row, moving across.
- Read the dimensions of the bottom row, moving across.
You should be able to hear the patterns of 3, 4 and 5 as you read. Repeat the process for each column:
- Read the dimensions of the first column, moving down.
- Read the dimensions of the second column, moving down.
- Read the dimensions of the third column, moving down.
My New Year Star block is based on a 3-4-5 grid just like you saw above. What’s so cool about this idea is that you can adapt it for many traditional blocks and put a whole new spin on them. But that’s a topic for another day.
Take a look at the New Year Star if you scrap it up a bit with the magic of EQ8.
I like these colors but I thought it might be intense for an entire quilt. So I changed to blue and silver and got this:
The stars appear to be dancing because I rotated the blocks randomly and used many different blues: brighter, darker and dustier.
Then I went scrappy with baby girl colors, and the quilt is below.
There are so many things you can do with this block! If you have EQ8, I recommend that you play with it there. But if you don’t, then mess around with crayons or markers or even your stash to get inspired and make a quilt that is uniquely you.
I’ve created a printer-friendly pdf with the block instructions for New Year Star. The block finishes at 12″ x 12″. Enjoy!
Scroll down for links to the other designers with complimentary blocks out today. So much deliciousness!
Stargazing Sue
Starburst at Slice of Pi Quilts
Massachusetts Star with blockofthmo.com
Nova Star at Always Expect Moore
Nativity Star
Star Bright – Cotton Street Commons
Five Pointed Star at Duck Creek Mountain Quilting
New Year Star at Stash Bandit
Poinsettia Star
Wish Upon a Satar by Heidi Pridemore
Falling Star at Pretty Piney Quilts
Star Splash at QuiltFabrication
Seward Star at Blue Bear Quilts
Moon Star at Perkins Dry Goods
Starburst at Patti’s Patchwork
Cherokee Star
Christmas Tree Star
Christmas Star by Oh Kaye Quilting
Starfish by Appliques Quilts and More
Snowy Star by Seams To Be Sew
Combination Star by Devoted Quilter
Ablaze by True Blue Quilts
Tags: electric quilt, electric quilt company, EQ8, free quilt block, free quilt pattern, quilt block mania, quilt blocks, quilt design
Lori Smanski
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this is so pretty. thanks. thanks for the tips also.
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Diane Harris
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You are most welcome, Lori!
Joan Sheppard
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Yikers! That’s brilliant! A whole new world. Simple yet quite elegant. Thanks.
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Diane Harris
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Thanks so much, Joan! 🙂
Nancy Arnoldy
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Nothing beats easy to remember math. 3+4+5=12.
That would work with a lot of blocks.
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Julie Meyer
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I want to try this tonight! I love the 3-4-5 grid!
(I can’t find the measurement for G – the star points. 1 1/2″ square?)
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Connie
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Thank for the beautiful star, love the quilt possibilities!
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Debby Patz
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What fun, you could change the sizes of the star points to make it look stretchy! Thank you so much for this idea. You got me thinking “what if”…
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Jean
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Love this!!!
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Patti
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Different! Thank you for this idea.
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Jan
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Don’t you need to add seam allowance to the strips in order to finish at 12”?? Or is my thinking wrong??
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Diane Harris
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Yes, you do! My post was just about the finished sizes. Click on the free block link to get all the cutting info. 😊
Jan
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Don’t you want to add seam allowance to the strips?? Or am I not thinking right??
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Michele-Marie Bloch
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Thank you so much for your tutorial on Running Thirds 🙂 Never too old !
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