This month’s block is Variable Star from Quilt Blocks Galore.The quilt shop chose yellow for the main color this month.

You will need the following cuts using my method of chain piecing instead of strippy piecing. It really helps when you are doing these blocks to check the supply requirements at the end before you start. On this block, the center square is not addressed in the cutting, it is only referenced on the second page.
Yellow

3 inch squares – 4

3-3/4 inch squares – 4

2-1/2 inch square – 1

Grey

3 inch squares – 4

3-3/4 inch squares – 4

2-1/2 x 5-1/2 strips – 4

The tip this month is using blue painters tape on your ruler helps to quickly line up an odd size, here 3-3/4 inch lines.

So we get all our squares cut.

On the large squares, mark a diagonal line on your background, pair up with the yellow, and sew on either side 1/4 inch away from the line.

I would much rather chain piece like this, it just goes faster for me.

Be careful here, you are going to cut the squares on the opposite diagonal first. Note the seams are running left to right and the cut is top to bottom.

Now cut the triangles in half along your marked line between the sewing lines.

Now there are four HST units, put them together to form hourglass units.

Nest your seams so the points are perfect. Note I changed back to the quarter-inch foot for accuracy.

Now square up the hourglass units to 3 inches.  See my tutorial on Squaring up Blocks if you need a refresher.

Lay out the block to ensure your hourglass units are pointing the right way for the block design.

Assemble the four patch units in the corners first. I also did the center horizontal sashings.

Now sew the four patches to the center vertical sashings.

Lastly assemble the rows into the final block.

All done!!

For those hopping over from the Around the World Blog Hop, I am being tagged today by two other quilt bloggers.  The post about my blog and the bloggers I will tag will be on Sept 1.  The posts are a week apart so we don’t get overwhelmed with hops.  In the meantime, please look around my blog and I hope to see you again next week!