Spinning Stars TableRunner

This 23" x 46" table runner is made with the Square-in-a-square ruler. This pattern is designed to show you how to use the ruler and give you a little practice. Experienced square-in-a-square rulers will note that the rectangles are cut slightly oversize. That's to give new users a chance to make a mistake without ruining the block. You are welcome to cut them smaller (or use strips) if you prefer.

All these pictures are thumbnails. Click on them to see the technique up close.

Fabric requirements (please note that I am using the colors as shown in the picture below. Feel free to use your own colors:-))

2/3 yard Background
(1) 5 1/4" wide strip by the WOF (width of fabric) cut into (6) 5 1/4" x 5 1/4" squares and (1) 4 3/4" x 4 3/4" square.
(3) 2 1/2" x WOF (width of fabric) strips for the floating border.
(1) 3 1/2" wide strip by the WOF, cut into (12) 3 1/2" x 3 1/2" squares

3/4 yard Red
(3) 5 1/4" strips, cut into (28) 3" x 5 1/4" rectangles and (3) 4 3/4" x 4 3/4" squares. Cut down any leftover strip to 3 1/2" wide so you can use it in the border.
(3) 3 1/2" x WOF (width of fabric) for the borders

1/2 yard Green
(2) 5 1/4" wide strips, cut into (24) 3" x 5 1/4" rectangles

Step One: Making the center of the stars:

This is the classic square-in-a-square technique, called option 1 in the booklet that comes with the ruler.

Sew a 3" x 5 1/4" green rectangle to either side of the three red squares. (picture to the left) You can chain stitch these if you like. Press out toward the rectangle. Then sew a green rectangle to the other sides of the block. Note that it doesn't reach all the way to both sides. It doesn't have to! (picture to the right)

Lay the block on your cutting board face up. Place the ruler on the block so the two 90 degree lines lay along both sides of the two rectangles with the center at the point where the rectangles meet. Note that these lines converge 1/4 inch inside the ruler - that's for your seam allowance. The center line will go through the intersection of the two rectangles at the bottom. Click on the picture thumbnail to see the ruler properly placed. The rotary cutter is set on the side where you will make the first cut. Make your cuts on opposite sides of the block.

This picture shows the two sides cut. I am about to cut the third side. If you have a rotating mat, you will find this a very helpful thing:-)) When I have finished cutting the other two sides, I should have a perfect square in a square block that measures 6 1/2" x 6 1/2".

Here is a video showing the technique. Here's a tip for those on dial-up: click the video to start it loading, then click the pause button and minimize it. The video will continue to load while you do other things. When you are done, come back and hit the Play button.

If you would like more detail, see one made by the manufacturer. (Click on the one near the bottom explaining the Ohio Star.)

Step Two: Making the HSTs (half square triangles)

This is called Option 4 in the booklet that comes with the ruler. Sew a red rectangle to all four sides of the 4 3/4" background square and press to the rectangle. This time, instead of laying the 90 degree line on the point of the two rectangles, you are going to move over two lines. There will be a line that goes through the intersection of the rectangles at the bottom, and the two 90 degree lines will still line up with the rectangles BUT you will be cutting off your seam allowance. (Click on the picture to the left to see what I mean.) That's okay, you want to do that. Cut all four sides with no seam allowance (right), the cut the resulting block into quarters. (below) You should have four perfect 2 1/2" square HSTs.

Step Three: Making the Flying Geese

This is called Option 2 in the booklet that comes with the ruler. Start by sewing a green rectangle to either side of the (6) 5 1/4" background squares. (Picture to the left shows the chain stitching) This time, instead of sewing on another green rectangle as you did above, you will be sewing on a red rectangle. Make 6 blocks like the ones at the top of the picture to the right. This time, when you cut them, you will be cutting two sides with a 1/4" seam allowance (like you did in step one) and two without (like you did in step two.) Cut these blocks in half through the center that has no seam allowance. You will get two flying geese blocks from each square in a square block. Click on the picture to the right to see what I mean.

Do you notice something odd about the picture to the right? Yes, I was careless when I positioned the ruler to cut off the seam allowance. I should have been careful and always kept the green to the right. Because I didn't, I now have four flying geese blocks with the green side on the left and eight flying geese blocks with the green on the right. Bummer, dude. I guess I will just have to make one block with the stars swinging in the other direction. I will put it in the middle so it looks like I *meant* to do that.

Step Four: Putting the blocks together

I didn't take a picture of this step, but you can see from the final step that I sewed a flying goose block to both sides of the square in a square. (Press to the goose.) Then I sewed a 3 1/2" background square to both sides of the flying goose blocks that matched the two sides (press to the goose again) and sewed that unit to the top and bottom of the block. Because of the way you pressed your block, those seams should just nestle together, giving you a perfect intersection. Use pins and encouragement if it doesn't work out perfectly. Your block should measure 12 1/2" unfinished.

Now sew the blocks in a line of three as shown in the final picture. Remember I made a mistake in my sample - I put the "wrong" one in the center. It looks kinda nice, doesn't it? If I hadn't told you, you wouldn't have known.

Step Five: The borders

If all has gone well, you should have a strip of three stars that measures 36 1/2" unfinished. Cut two of the 2 1/2" background strips to this length and sew them to the top and bottom of the block. Press to the border. Cut two more of the 2 1/2" wide background strips 12 1/2" long. Sew a HST to both sides of this strip, matching the picture below. Press to the border again. Sew this strip to both ends of the tablerunner.

Spinning Stars Unfinished

Measure your new quilt top horizontally through the center. It should be 40 1/2", but if it is not, use YOUR measurement. Cut two of the 3 1/2" wide border strips to this length and sew to the top and bottom. Press to the border. Measure again, this time vertically. It should be 16 1/2" but again, use your measurement. Cut two strips to this length, and sew to the two sides. Press to the border - and - you are done!

Spinning Stars

Here's what it was supposed to look like:

If you've got the bug, we've got the cure!

Links

Spinning Stars TableRunner