Evening Star Block Tutorial // Block #10 // Summer Sampler Series
Evening Star by Katie Blakesley for the Summer Sampler Series swimbikequilt.com
This is a tutorial for the Evening Star block, first posted in 2011 as part of the Summer Sampler Series—a collection of 12 free block tutorials provided by Faith Jones, Lee Heinrich, and I. Each year, we host a block of the week Summer Sampler Series, which you can find here.
I hope you love the Summer Sampler as much as I do!
This is the Evening Star, and it is my favorite block! There are seven blocks in the Encyclopedia of Pieced Quilt Patterns that are named Evening Star; I chose block 2736a, which first appeared in the Kansas City Star on November 28, 1931. I didn't find anything interesting on the history of this specific block, but it is located in Chapter 15 of the Encyclopedia, which specializes in the Maltese Cross.
Evening Star Tutorial
If you are new to paper piecing, please see Faith's excellent introduction to paper-piecing. If you have already paper-pieced the other blocks in this series (or any other blocks, for that matter), this should be a piece of cake!
Print four copies of each of the paper piecing templates, Template A and Template B.
Make sure to print the templates at 100%, and double check that the 1 inch ruler on the printed template actually measures 1 inch.
If you are new to paper-piecing, it's better to use larger-than-you-need rectangles and save the scraps for another block than to be stingy with fabric. This block can be made with a single fabric center octagon, like I did, or out of as many prints/fabrics as you want.
Tip: Write the fabric colors on the templates to make piecing easier
Cutting Instructions
Kona Snow
(24) 4’’ x 4’’ squares
Various Rainbow Prints:
(8) 4’’ x 4’’ squares
Brown Print:
(2) 5’’ x 5’’ squares, cut in half along the diagonal to create (4) triangles
Piece the Evening Star Templates
3. Take your rectangle for Triangle 2 and place it right sides together to Triangle 1, which you just taped/pinned. Make sure that at least 1/4 inch of the fabric overlaps the seam line; it is easiest to do this by holding it up to the light.
4. Sew along the line between Triangle 1 and Triangle 2, sewing into the seam allowance.
5. Turn your block over, fold back the paper, trim your seams to 1/4 inch seam allowance, and press triangle 2 open.
6. Following the same steps outlined above, take your fabric for Triangle 3 and put it right sides together with Triangle 1. Tape/pin, make sure that at least 1/4 inch of the fabric overlaps, and sew a line between Triangles 3 and 1, sewing into the seam allowance. Turn your block over, fold the paper template back, trim your seams to 1/4 inch allowance, and press Triangle 3 open.
7. Take your fabric for Triangle 4 and put it right sides together with Triangle 1. Tape/pin, make sure that at least 1/4 inch of the fabric overlaps, and sew a line between Triangles 4 and 1, sewing into the seam allowance. Turn your block over, fold template paper back, trim your seams to 1/4 inch allowance, and press triangle 4 open. Turn your block over and trim around the template, making sure to keep the 1/4’’ seam allowance. You are done with the first 1/8 block. :)
8. Take Template B, and follow the directions above to piece Triangles 1-4.
9. Take your fabric for Triangle 5 and put it right sides together along the line made by Triangle 1, 3 & 4. Tape/pin, make sure that at least 1/4 inch of the fabric overlaps, and sew a line between Triangles 5 and 1/3/4, sewing into the seam allowance. Turn your block over, fold back the paper template, trim your seams to 1/4 inch allowance, and press triangle 5 open. Turn template over, trim block along the template lines.
10. Repeat these steps three more times for both templates; you should have four completed A blocks and four completed B blocks when you are done.
11. Remove the paper from your templates (if you want, you can remove it at after piecing the entire block together).
12. Take block A and B and match and pin center triangle points as shown. Sew block A to B on the seam allowance line, ironing seams (I ironed mine open). Repeat for blocks C and D, E and F, and G and H.
13. Match points, pin, and sew block AB to CD and block EF to GH.
14. Match points, pin, and sew the two block halves together. Iron open and tear off all of that paper! Step back and admire. Congratulations! You are done with the Evening Star!
Evening Star by Katie Blakesley for the Summer Sampler Series swimbikequilt.com
This is my last block tutorial with the Summer Sampler Series--I have loved co-hosting this quilt along, and have absolutely loved seeing all of the talented sewists who are participating. If you make a block, please hashtag it #summersamplerseries and tag me on Instagram, @swimbikequilt.
There are some amazing blocks in the flickr group, [such a throwback to 2011!) and I can't wait to see the quilts once they are done.
A Little History on Maltese Cross Blocks
A Maltese Cross block is "divided by four intersecting diagonal seams into eight pie-shaped pieces" (Brackman, Encyclopedia, 330). Kaleidoscope quilts (block 2704) fall into the same category. This is my favorite of the blocks that I chose for the Summer Sampler Series; I had no idea that it is based on a cross that has been in use since the First Crusade, almost one thousand years ago. It is easier to see the Maltese Cross block construction in the image below.
The Maltese Cross (also known as the Amalfi Cross) was the symbol of the Knights Hospitaller, a group of men who ran a hospital beginning in the 11th century in Jerusalem. This group, later known as the Knights of Saint John and dedicated to charity and caring for the sick, later moved to the island of Malta, hence the name. One version of the story claims that the eight points of the star represent the eight points of courage: including loyalty, generosity, and helpfulness to the poor and the sick. There is also an interesting story about how the Maltese Cross became associated with firefighters in the United States on the FDNY's website, if you are interested.