The block is a Carpenter’s Star, sized specifically for baby. You can cut scraps or use that charm pack that has been languishing on a shelf. Enjoy!
BUILD-A-BABY QUILT
36″ x 36″
MATERIALS
I used 16 different orange and green fabrics to give it a scrappy vibe, but less variety, a charm pack, or even using two different colors will work. Just know that for the purposes of this quilt we will call orange “Fabric 1″ and green “Fabric 2.” Hopefully that will help you keep them straight.
1 yard background fabric–white here. You will have some leftover
backing (1-1/8 yard)
batting (at least 40″ square)
binding (1/3 yard, if you use 2-1/4″ width)
16 5″ squares of Fabric 1
16 5″ squares of Fabric 2
CUTTING DIRECTIONS
1. From background fabric cut: 16 4-1/2″ squares, 16 5″ squares, two strips 2-1/2″ x 32-1/2″, two strips 2-1/2″ x 36-1/2″.
2. If you haven’t already got your charms, you need 16 5″ squares of each “color”–Fabric 1 and Fabric 2.
CONSTRUCTION
1. Select 8 squares of Fabric 1 and 8 squares of Fabric 2. You will build Half-Square Triangles (HST). You can use your favorite method. Mine is to mark a line on the diagonal and sew two seams 1/4″ off the center line, then cut in half and iron open to create two HST blocks. You can get more details on how to do that HERE.
2. Using the remaining 8 squares of Fabric 1 and 8 5″ background squares, make more HST blocks.
3. One more time! Using the remaining 8 squares of Fabric 2 and 8 5″ background squares, make more HST blocks.
4. Now you are all done building HST blocks. You should have48 in all.
5. Square up the HST blocks to 4-1/2″. This ensures accurate piecing and is worth the time you spend. You can get more information on how to do this HERE.
6. Lay out the HST blocks and the 4-1/2″ background squares in the Carpenter’s Star pattern. You can find a really good diagram HERE, except that I put background squares in the corner, not squares of Fabric 1.
7. Assemble the blocks into strips and then sew the strips together to assemble the center star. Press.
8. Attach the two 2-1/2″ x 32-1/2″ background pieces to the sides. Press. Attach the two 2-1/2″ x 36-1/2″ background pieces to the top and bottom. Press.
9. Sandwich, quilt, bind and label as desired. I used some simple echo quilting around the star pattern and some curved quilting in the center and corners. Nothing too fancy, but it will hold those layers together. The binding is a medium mossy green to match Fabric 2.
10. Ta-dah! You have a finished Build-A-Baby Quilt. Well done!
NOTICE: I chose a backing fabric that I loved and matched the colors for the top with it. If you are new to scrappy or just like a little help with color work, this is a great method. If you love the back, you will love the quilt.
If you want more of the story about this particular quilt, which was designed and built specifically for W. Rockwell T., my third grandchild, you can read it HERE.
BUILD-A-BABY GALLERY
…your beautiful creation HERE!
