Happy Quilting: Starburst Quilt-A-Long

** NOTE - This post is part of a series of posts for the Starburst Quilt-A-Long. If you would like to join (and have a chance to win one of the $75.00 Gift Certificate grand prizes sponsored by The Intrepid Thread ) you can find a list of the post links here :) Once again, here is the schedule, but if you want to work ahead you can use the tutorial just be sure to take pictures of your weekly assignments so you can link them up for weekly prizes :)

January 14 - Cutting Post
January 21 - Goose in the Corner and Half Square Triangles
January 28 - Flying Geese
February 4 - Building Blocks - At least 2
February 11 - Finish Blocks and Sashing
February 18 - Baste it, Quilt it, Bind It
March 4 - Starburst Parade and Grand Prizes

Now, before we get into this week's assignment let's get a winner from last week!!

The Flying Geese winner who gets a Honey Honey Charm Pack is . . .#49 -Liz- Congrats :)

I am so excited for this week!! This weeks assignment is to make at least 2 of your Big Blocks!! I just love seeing it all come together!!

THIS WEEKS ASSIGNMENT - BUILDING BLOCKS

Now all of the building units are made and we can get to making the blocks. Start by sorting your building units into the block groups that you decided before cutting.

Each grouping should have 2 sets of flying geese (1 set of 4 with the "sky" in print fabrics and 1 set of 4 with the "geese" in print fabrics), 16 half square triangles, 4 goose in the corner blocks that match the "geese" print fabrics, and a larger center square that matches the "sky" print fabrics. Then to each set add 4 background squares and 4 background rectangles.

When sewing these blocks together placement is key!! Place close attention to the direction of each piece. I find it easiest to lay the entire block out first as follows.

We'll start by sewing the center star first. Lay the center star out as follows.

First, lay your background squares onto either side of the flying geese unit with right sides together on the top and bottom row. Sew a 1/4"seam along all 4 sides. Press towards the background fabric.

Now, lay the flying geese units onto either side of the center square with right sides together aligning raw edges. Pin in place and then sew a 1/4" seams along pinned edge. See next picture for tip on sewing. Press towards the center square.

To get a perfect point on your geese unit be sure to sew directly through the center of the x created from your geese seams. Even if you sew a little larger or a little smaller than a 1/4" sewing through the center of this x is going to give you the perfect point finish.

Now simply sew the 3 rows together. Start by placing the top row onto the center row with right sides together taking care to nest the seams and then pin them in place. Now sew a 1/4" seam along the pinned edge, once again, taking care to sew directly across the x created by the goose unit. Press seams open. Repeat for the bottom row.

And your center star is complete. So pretty!!!

Next, you will create the Side Bursts. Start with your HST's. Lay 2 HST's out in the layout of the top row and two in the layout of the bottom row as shown below. They look a lot a like, but they are different. Lay the top HST onto the bottom row with right sides together and raw edges aligned and pin for both the top and bottom row. Sew a 1/4" seam along the pinned edge. Press the seams open and Wha La. Burst Points. Now repeat to make a total of 4 Burst Points for each of the 2 layouts.

Now to make the centers of the Side Bursts. Grab your Flying Geese with the print as the "Geese" and your background rectangle and lay out as follows. Lay your background rectangle onto your geese with right sides together and pin. Sew a 1/4" seam along the pinned edge. Press towards the background fabric. Repeat to make 4 units total.

Now it is just a matter of sewing the 3 units together. Lay your 3 units out as follows. Place your Burst Points onto your geese unit with right sides together and pin. Sew a 1/4" seam along the pinned edge. *See the following picture for hints on how to keep the perfect point when sewing. Press the seams open.

When sewing these units, you are lining up 2 points. So to ensure that they are perfect I like to do the following. Place a pin right through the point of where the background fabric meets the print fabric, then continue to push the pin through the second unit right where the point of the geese unit is.

Now straighten your two units so the pin is directly facing up and down. This means your two points are aligned. Pin the edges and then pin the center seam. Remove the guide pin. When sewing your 1/4" seam make sure to cross your sewing line directly over the bottom of that tiny background fabric triangle where you placed your guide pin.

Repeat this little process to make a total of 4 Side Bursts.

Now it's time to sew the entire block together. Hooray!! Layout out your sewn units and Goose in the Corner blocks as follows. Start by sewing the pieces into three rows by adding your Goose in the Corner blocks to the Burst Units in the first and third row. Then add the Side Burst's to the center star in the center row. Use the same techniques as you used to create the units to ensure that you get nice perfect points. And like always, use a 1/4" seam and press seams open to avoid bulk. (I am sorry, I forgot to take a picture of this step :)

Once the three rows are created it is simply a matter of sewing them all together. Start by laying the top row onto the center row. Align and pin your seams. Sew a 1/4" seam along the pinned edge taking care to use your techniques of sewing over the ends of those bitty background triangles to ensure perfect points. Press the seam open and then repeat to add the bottom row to the center.

And your block is complete!! Now repeat to build your other blocks!! This week's assignment is to build just 2 blocks, but if you get in a groove and want to work ahead your welcome too :)

So that's it!!! Get your 2 blocks made and your assignment is complete!!! And now you can enter to win the weekly prize :)

The Weekly Prizes are sponsored by the Fat Quarter Shop and a huge thanks goes to them for their support of the Starburst Quilt-A-Long.

This weeks prize is a $25.00 Gift Certificate to Fat Quarter Shop, so you can buy whatever you like!!!

So what do you have to do for a chance to win?? Simple . . . Just link up your 2 Blocks at the end of this post :) You can link to a blog post or a flickr picture, or whatever. Just make sure to link up by next Monday morning as I will be announcing a winner at the beginning of next weeks post :)

**If you are only making one block for a pillow or wall-hanging, please link up next week instead of this week, that way you will still be entered for the "Grand Prize".

Like always, if you don't get your blocks done by next week you can still link it up :) (just not in time for the prize :) The linky will remain open until the end of the Quilt-A-Long. Link up when you can :)

And don't forget to add your blocks to the Happy Quilting Quilt-A-Long Flickr group!!!

And remember - Questions?? Please don't hesitate to send them to me at happyquiltingmelissa@gmail.com

Have a Happy Quilting Day!!!

Link up this weeks assignment before next weeks post (Every Monday) for a chance to win the weekly prize shown above!! Happy Quilting!!!

1. ratama	2. Sharon	3. Pam Quiltaholic	4. Our Busy Little Bunch
5. Wobbly bobbin	6. Lori in PEI	7. Stacey Day @ staceyinstitches	8. Angie C
9. CJ	10. Jana	11. Laurel @ Patchinista - The Kelly	12. Kara Walz
13. Debbie P	14. Mary	15. Marit - Sy, elsk, lev (Sew, love, live)	16. Taryn @ Pixels to Patchwork
17. Jennifer @ The Days Dewings	18. Izzy @ Dizzy Quilts	19. Mary	20. Bethany M
21. Mom C	22. Tina	23. ErikaB3	24. Kayla
25. rosa	26. Chiska	27. MommaTwitch	28. KimR
29. CathyK	30. Jennifer A.	31. erica	32. Lorraine
33. t. anne quilts	34. Julianne	35. Mom's Quilt - with Carolyn @ Sweet Boater Chick	36. Carolyn @ Sweet Boater Chick
37. Jo	38. Sharon McQuade	39. Jamie Lee aka busybeequilts	40. Malini
41. Alice	42. Joyce	43. Liz @lizmakesstuff	44. Laurel @ Patchinista - The Alyssa
45. Laurel @ Patchinista - The Laura	46. Dawn B	47. Mindy Carlson (Pinspot)	48. Pat V.
49. Lynn McIndoe	50. Deb	51. Elizabeth M.	52. Rachell @CladdaghsQuiltsandStars
53. Lesley A	54. Julie @ That's Sew Julie