Star of Virginia Block Tutorial // Block #1 // Summer Sampler Turns 10

Star of Virginia Block Tutorial, Summer Sampler Turns 10, Katie Blakesley swimbikequilt.com

Welcome to to the first block tutorial for the Summer Sampler Turns 10 Quilt Along. If you are following along on Instagram, please tag me @swimbikequilt and use our hashtag #summersamplerturns10.

This block is known as the Star of Virginia (among other names), and believe it or not, in 2011, there really weren’t online tutorials for this block that is now ubiquitous. This quilt block looks great in 2 colors, with scrappy prints (see the yellow and orange star block below), solids, and more.

The original 2011 quilt along was based on blocks that we found in Barbara Brackman’s Encyclopedia of Pieced Quilt Patterns, which soon after became almost impossible to find. Good news: if you are interested in Brackman’s Encyclopedia, which included 4,000+ blocks, you can find an updated version here.

This block tutorial has two building blocks: flying geese and squares in 2 different sizes. If you are new to flying geese, I made a video a few years ago that will walk you through piecing them. The video was made to support the Sugarhouse Quilt Pattern release; good news, the construction method and even dimensions of the flying geese are the same for the Sugarhouse quilt and for the Star of Virginia.

Star of Virginia Block Tutorial

Cutting Instructions

Background [Light Blue Crosshatch]

• (4) 3-1/2’’ x 3-1/2’’ squares

• (4) 3-1/2’’ x 6-1/2’’ rectangles

Center Square [Blue Butterflies]

• (1) 6-1/2’’ x 6-1/2’’ square

Star Points [Blue Add it Up]

• (8) 3-1/2’’ x 3-1/2’’ squares

Piecing Instructions

Make the Flying Geese

1. Draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of (2) Blue Add It Up 3-1/2’’ x 3-1/2’’ squares with a hera marker or water soluble pen. Lay (1) Blue Add It Up square right sides together with (1) Light Blue Crosshatch 3-1/2’’ x 6-1/2’’ rectangle, as shown. Sew on the drawn line.

2. Trim the excess fabric by cutting 1/4’’ away from the stitching, as shown. Press seam open or towards the darker fabric.

3. Place the second Blue Add It Up square on top of the unit with right sides together. Sew on the drawn line and trim the excess by cutting 1/4’’ away from the stitching, as shown. Press seam open or towards the darker fabric.

4. Repeat steps 1-3 to make (4) Blue Add It Up/Light Blue Crosshatch Flying Geese units.

Piece the Star of Virginia

1. Lay out the units as shown below.

2. Place a Light Blue Crossweave 3-1/2’’ x 3-1/2’’ square right sides together with the Blue Add it Up/Light Blue Crossweave Flying Geese unit. Pin and sew. Press open or towards the Flying Geese.  Repeat with the second Light Blue Crossweave square on the opposite side. 

3. Repeat step 2 to sew together the bottom row.

4. Place a Blue Add it Up/Light Blue Crossweave Flying Geese unit right sides together with the Blue Butterfly 6-1/2’’ x 6-1/2’’ Center Square. Pin and sew. Press open or towards the Flying Geese. Repeat with the second Blue Add it Up/Light Blue Crossweave Flying Geese unit on the opposite side.

5. Pin and sew the rows together to complete the block. Press seams open or towards one side.

SUMMER SAMPLER SERIES BLOCK TUTORIALS

2011 TUTORIALS AND 2021 #SUMMERSAMPLERTURNS10

BLOCK 1: STAR OF VIRGINIA
Original post here
Re-released Tutorial
By Katie

BLOCK 2: GREEK CROSS

Original post here
Re-release on Feb. 24, 2021
By Faith

BLOCK 3: MOSAIC

Original post here
Re-release on March 3, 2021
Tutorial by Lee

BLOCK 4: FLOWER GARDEN PATH

Original post here
Re-release on March 10, 2021
Tutorial by Katie

BLOCK 5: STAR

Original post here
Re-release on March 17, 2021
Tutorial by Faith

BLOCK 6: ARKANSAS TRAVELER

Original post here
Re-release on March 24, 2021
Tutorial by Lee

BLOCK 7: SIX-POINTED STRING STAR

Original post here
Re-release on March 31, 2021
Tutorial by Katie

BLOCK 8: LUCKY PIECES

Original post here
Re-release on April 7, 2021
Tutorial by Faith

BLOCK 9: MINNESOTA

Original post here
Re-release on April 14, 2021
Tutorial by Lee

BLOCK 10: EVENING STAR

Original post here
Re-release on April 21, 2021
Tutorial by Katie

BLOCK 11: ROCKY ROAD TO KANSAS

Original post here
Re-release on April 28, 2021
Tutorial by Faith

BLOCK 12: KANSAS DUST STORM

Original post here
Re-release on May 5, 2021
Tutorial by Lee