There are four steps to this mystery, all on this page. 

Don't feel obligated to make this quilt in the fabrics or colors shown.  This is YOUR quilt, make it YOUR way.  For example, if you substitute black for white and used batiks in 3 different colorways, this quilt becomes very dramatic.  

You will need:

3/4 yd white, muslin or neutral
1/2 yard pink
1/4 yard green
1/4 yard blue

Here are the cutting directions.  You will have leftover fabric - save it to use on the back.  

(4) 2 1/2" strips of white
cross cut (20) 2 1/2" squares and (20) 4 1/2"  x 2 1/2" pieces
(1) 5 1/4" strip, cross cut into 8 squares.  Cut these squares on the diagonal twice (an X) making quarter square triangles.  (see diagram to the right)  You will get 32 triangles. 
(1) 4 1/2" strip, cut into squares.  You will need 5

(1) 5 inch strip of pink
from this, cut seven 5 inch squares 
cross cut two on the diagonal to make half square triangles
cut five in half twice to make twenty 2 1/2" squares
cut two 2 1/2" strips for the border.

(1) one 5 inch strip of green
from this, cut five 5 inch squares 
cross cut three on the diagonal to make half square triangles
cut two in half twice to make eight 2 1/2" squares
cut the remaining strip down to 4 1/2" wide, then cut two 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" squares.
cut one 2 1/2" strips for the border.

(1) one 5 inch strip of blue
from this, cut six 5 inch squares 
cross cut three on the diagonal to make half square triangles
cut three in half twice to make twelve 2 1/2" squares
cut the remaining strip down to 4 1/2" wide, then cut two 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" squares.
cut one 2 1/2" strips for the border.

Block Number One:  A 3D star.    

Fold your colored 2 1/2" squares in half along the diagonal.  Pin or stay stitch to both sides of the all twenty 2 1/2" x 4 1/2" white pieces you cut.  They will overlap slightly in the middle.  That's okay - they are supposed to.  Try not to squish these folded blocks too much or you will loose the 3D effect.  Experienced quilters - I know it is a temptation to skip this step.  Don't do it.  Careful pinning will make your life SO much easier.  You will make 

Using the blocks you just pinned and the five 4 1/2" white blocks, sew 

Now, get out the twenty white 2 1/2" fabric squares and sew them to either side of the blocks you made in the first step.  You should make 

And put them all together!  You will make 

 Press lightly from the back, holding the iron over the block but not pushing down.  Try to keep those 3D squares from folding flat.  Square up if you need to.  This block should be 8 1/2" square.

Block Number Two: A Square in a Square  

Now lets make a square in a square.

Sew a quarter square triangle of white to each sides of the four colored 4 1/2" blocks.  Square up your blocks from the wrong side by laying the 1/4" mark on your ruler on the X made by the seams where the white triangles meet the point of the square center.  If you rotary cut this edge, you should get a perfect quarter inch seam allowance.  These blocks will be exactly six inches square.  

Now add the half square triangles as shown.  When you sew this seam, do so with the block face down so you can make sure your seam intersects the X mentioned above.  That will keep your point sharp.  Now square up these blocks as you did in the previous step.  

Using the blocks you made last week, sew them into rows as shown, then sew into a top.  

Press gently and square up.  It should measure 24 1/2"  

The borders:  

This is the trickiest step, but it does make the quilt!  The hard part is getting the angle going in the right direction.  (Click on the thumbnail above to check your placement.) 

From your 2 1/2" wide strips, cut the following:

Pink:
(2) 8 1/2" long pieces
2 1/2" square.
14 1/2" long piece.
16 1/2" long piece.
4 1/2" long piece.
8 1/2" long piece.

Blue:
(2) 12 1/2" long pieces.

Green:
(2) 22 1/2" long pieces.

Sewing the Bottom border

Sew the 8 1/2" pink strip to the 22 1/2" green strip on the diagonal as shown.  Open and press.  It should look like this:  

Sew to the bottom of the quilt, matching the placement of the point to the bottom of the lower left hand block.    

Top border

Working with the 12 1/2" long blue strip, add a 2 1/2" pink square to one end and sew on the diagonal from upper right to lower left.  Cut off the excess and press.  Your piece will look like this:

Now sew a 14 1/2" long pink strip to the left side, again on the diagonal.  Make sure to get your angle going in the right direction!  It will look like this:

Sew to the top of the quilt, matching the points as shown in the picture.

Left side border

Sew a 4 1/2" strip of pink to a 12 1/2" strip of blue.  Add the 16" strip of pink as shown.  Sew to the left side, matching points.  

Right side border

Sew the 22 1/2" green strip to the 8 1/2" pink strip as shown.  Sew to the right side of the quilt, matching points.  

Press, square up if necessary, and take a deep breath.  You are done!  Now send me a picture of your quilt, and I will post it there.

Kris

Jeanne Henry of Hilham TN

Made by Vicki Purnell of Devonport,Tasmania, Australia.  Click on the thumbnail to see how cleverly she has inserted embroidered designs.