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Previous Block of the Month: Missouri Star

Stitch a Star block using your favorite fabric collection.

According to Barbara Brackman's Encyclopedia of Pieced Quilt Patterns, this block is known as "Missouri Star." It's one of hundreds of mail-order patterns once published by the Chicago Tribune under the name of Nancy Cabot. The syndicated Nancy Cabot column, written by Loretta Leitner Rising, started in 1932 and ran throughout the decade. Refer to the block photos below for color ideas, or create an arrangement of your own.                                                            

BLOCK SIZE: 10" square

MATERIALS                                                                                                 The amount of each fabric needed depends on where you decide to place them in the block. One of the blocks shown uses only 2 fabrics while others use more than 4. One even uses about a dozen! You may want to choose one print for the Star points, one for the background, and one or 2 contrasting prints. Refer to the block photos to plan your fabric arrangement.

CUTTING                                                                                                  Dimensions include a 1/4" seam allowance.

• Cut 1: 4" square, background or contrasting print, for the block center
• Cut 2: 3 3/4" squares, one print, for the Star points
• Cut 2: 3 3/8" squares, same print, then cut them in half diagonally to yield 4 triangles
• Cut 2: 3 3/4" squares, contrasting print
• Cut 1: 6 1/4" square, background print, then cut it in quarters diagonally to yield 4 triangles
• Cut 4: 3" squares, background print

DIRECTIONS

	Draw a diagonal line from corner to corner on the wrong side of the two 3 3/4" print squares. Place a marked square on a 3 3/4" contrasting print square, right sides together. Sew 1/4" away from the drawn line on both sides. Make 2.
	Cut the squares on the drawn lines to yield 4 pieced squares. Press the seam allowances open. Cut the pieced squares in half, as shown, to yield 8 pieced triangles.
	Lay out 2 pieced triangles, a print triangle and a 3" square. Sew them into 2 sections. Press the seam allowances open. Join the sections to make a Star point unit, as shown. Make 4.
	Sew 2 Star point units to the 4" background or contrasting print square to make the center section. Set it aside.
	Sew 2 background triangles to each of the remaining Star point units.
	Lay out the 3 sections and sew them together to complete the block.

The following fabric companies participated in the 2001 Fabric Showcase Special. For more information on this special annual publication, click here.

There are no full-size pattern pieces for Missouri Star.

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