Portsmouth Star

We are quilting along with Barbara Brackman's

Block of the Month, Threads of Memory.

http://civilwarquilts.blogspot.com

This is how I made my block. it may

differ from the original.  If you want 

to use a fussy cut in the corner units

this is not the method to use.  It is 

best to use a fabric that will blend 

easily for the Fabric B.

Fabric Requirements:

Fabric A: Fussy Cut

1 - 4 1/2'' square

Fabric B:  Blue

4 - 2 1/2'' squares

4 - 2 1/2'' x 4 1/2'' rectangles

Fabric C: Green

2 - 3 1/4'' squares - Mark

a diagonal line on back.

1 - 6'' square

Fabric D:  Red Print

2 - 3 1/4'' squares

1 - 6'' square

Fabric E: White Print

2 - 6'' squares - Mark a 

diagonal line on back.

Make Half Square Triangles:

Pair Fabric C and Fabric D 3 1/4'' squares

with right sides together.  Sew 1/4'' away from 

each side of the drawn line, cut on drawn line.

  Press seams to the Fabric C and square to 2 1/2''.

Make Corner Units:

Layout a Half Square Triangle and Fabric B

2 1/2'' square as shown and sew together, 

press seam to the Fabric B square.

Layout above unit and Fabric B rectangle

as shown and sew together, press seam to

the rectangle.  Square to 4 1/2''.

Make 4 of this unit.

Make Quarter Square Triangles:

Pair 6'' squares in the following combinations:

1 - E/D        1 - E/C 

The first step is the same as making a Half

Square Triangle:  sew 1/4'' away from each

side of the drawn line, cut on the drawn line.

  Press seams to the darker fabric.  Mark a 

diagonal line on the opposite diagonal from the 

seam on the Fabric C/E units.

Take care with this step, you want to pair the

E/C and E/D units with right sides together.

You want the 2 seams to butt up against each 

other and lock in place, pin along the seams.

Sew 1/4'' away from each side of the drawn

line, cut on drawn line.  Press seam open to

reduce bulk.

With Quarter Square Triangles there is a very

specific way to square up.  Place the diagonal line 

on the ruler on the diagonal seam that runs from 

top right to bottom left, also for this size QST, 

place the 2 1/4'' mark on the ruler in the center

of the unit as shown by the arrow.  Now trim the 

top and side.

Rotate the unit and place the 4 1/2'' lines of 

the ruler on the left and bottom edges as shown.

Trim top and right side.

Make 4 of this unit.

Layout units as shown and sew together in

3 rows.  Press the seams in rows 1 and 3 to 

the outside and the seams in row 2 to the

inside.

Sew rows together and press seams open to 

reduce bulk.  Square to 12 1/2''.

Check out everyone's work on Dustin's Flickr site:

http://www.flickr.com/groups/threadsofmemory/