Mexican Star quilt block

The Mexican Star quilt block utilizes a quilt patch that is often called a three quarter square triangle unit by quilters. This quilt patch uses three right angled triangles inside a square. The learning part in sewing this unit is that you use both half square triangles and quarter square triangles. This seems strange until you realize that it is always favourable to have the straight grain of the triangle fabric on the outermost edge. Whenever possible you do not want to have a bias edge on the outer edge of a patch.  As you construct this patch you will understand what I mean.

Mexican Star quilt block

The construction of this quilt block is done in what I call "chunks" and then arranged as a uneven nine patch block (so named because it is constructed as a nine patch but with uneven rows).


I liked this quilt block for its simplicity and because it has an often underused patch (in my opinion) -- the three quarter square triangle as I mentioned above.

The two sample quilts shown below are constructed with common settings of the blocks. I just really liked how all of the colours came together.

Quilts designed using the MEXICAN STAR quilt block

<sub>All images © W. Russell, patchworksquare.com

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Christmas Star quilt block

I'm a person who likes traditions -- especially old traditions -- and so, this Christmas Star quilt block is designed with the colours of the season.

Christmas Star quilt block

This quilt block is a little more challenging that other star blocks you might make, but the only difficulty in making this block lies in the number of pieces. So, with careful attention to your quarter inch seam allowance, this block should go together with ease. You get to use a patch that is underused (in my opinion) -- that being what quilters refer to as a three quarter square triangle patch. This patch is constructed using both half square triangles as well as quarter square triangles in order to place the three triangles within the square, and leave no bias edges on the outer raw edges of the patches. Oh, and there are also a few of my favourite patches included as well -- the flying geese patch.

The two sample quilts illustrated use basic settings of the blocks. The only extra "ingredient" in the on point quilt setting is the extra colourful blank blocks for quilting designs.

Quilts designed using the CHRISTMAS STAR quilt block

<sub>All images © W. Russell, patchworksquare.com

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Chinese Puzzle quilt block

I had created Chinese Puzzle pattern a couple of years ago and just updated it to feature one more block size and one more sample quilt layout.

Chinese Puzzle quilt block

This four patch quilt block features half square triangle units as well as quarter square triangles to make another patch which quilters often refer to as the three quarter square triangle. Can you spot those patches?



The Chinese Puzzle block was fun to play around with because I used multiples of the block with 90 degree rotations to create new and interesting designs. One of the quilts also mirrors the fabric placement to create an additional design option. Although I chose to use only three different fabrics, quilts made from this block would be ideal as a scrappy version.

Quilts designed using the CHINESE PUZZLE quilt block

<sub>All images © W. Russell, patchworksquare.com

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Peony and Forget Me Not quilt block

This is not a common quilt block -- at least I have not seen it before, but I saw that it made a pretty block and so decided I should share it.

Peony and Forget Me Not quilt block

Most people would be familiar with the Forget Me Not flower with petals in a variety of blue colours, but there are some around in a pink-burgundy colour too -- and so that is what I went for here. Peonies come in all sorts of lovely colours. Check out this Peony Nine Patch quilt block.

A little trivia:  Forget Me Not flowers are often given and planted as a remembrance of one dear to the heart and you can read more about this beautiful flower at Flowerinfo.org. Be sure to check out the other colour variations shown in the images on that website.



This eight patch block is constructed as an uneven nine patch, mainly due to the specific patches used in the block. You will find half square triangles, quarter square triangles as well as a patch using both of these cut pieces to form what is known as a three quarter square triangle patch. The centre of the block is comprised of the square in a square patch. So all in all, this is a choice you might use to practice your sewing skills in your quiltmaking journey.

The sample quilts illustrated are quite different even though both quilts use on point block settings.

Quilts designed using the Peony and Forget Me Not quilt block

<sub>All images © W. Russell, patchworksquare.com

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Flying Ducks quilt block

The Flying Ducks quilt block would be a good choice to use as a learning tool -- as a "step 2" of sorts for using half square triangles. Generally half square triangles are used as a "patch" by sewing two right angled triangles of contrasting fabrics together to create a square. However, often we need to use the cut pieces differently.

Flying Ducks quilt block

In this quilt block, some of the single half square triangle pieces are sewn to adjoining sides of a square to create a large triangle. This new pieced triangle is then finished into a square by sewing a single larger triangle to the pieced triangle. Still confused? Well you can see what I mean by looking at the four corner sections of the block.

The second learning experience in this quilt block is known as a three quarter square triangle patch. Two quarter square triangles are used to make one side of the square and this then is sewn to a third triangle. You use different methods for the initial cuts of these triangles as it is always preferable to have the straight of grain of the fabric on the outside of the patch (to avoid distortion).

The two sample quilts shown use very basic on point settings of the blocks, but the resultant quilts look very different.

Sample quilts using the Flying Ducks quilt block

<sub>All images © W. Russell, patchworksquare.com

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