Modern checkerboard star pieced cushion cover

Rock City batiks by Northcott are coming to stores this month. Definitely a holiday treat for quilters – I could just look at these batiks all day! It was difficult to decide what to create with these fabrics because the motifs of the Rock City batiks themselves are so interesting to look at. In the end I decided to make a large pieced block so I could still enjoy the motifs. Join me as I take a couple of fat quarters and turn them into a pieced checkerboard star cushion cover.

I asked my mom, who ends up being the recipient of many of my creations, what kind of things she would like to receive and she said cushion covers! A cushion cover is a quick gift to make, takes up little storage room for the recipient and can be enjoyed for as long as desired!

You’ll see that I had a hard time deciding how to use the large quarter blocks that make up the star – tomorrow I’ll show you some options for the final design. Let’s start with the fabrics and cutting requirements.

I picked three very different looking Rock City batiks for the checkerboard star. You’ll want good contrast between all three, but especially between the background and the star fabrics. I used an all-over tone on tone for the background and then a large scale motif on one star fabric and an all-over design on the second.

The fabrics are from three different colorways of the Rock City batiks.

Background is from the sterling colorway  80180-44.

Fabric B is also from the sterling colorway 80185-91.

Fabric A is from the rose gold colorway 80182-32.

Cutting Requirements

From the background fat quarter (80810-44)

cut two strips 6″ x 18″

from each strip cut two 6″squares and one 5½″ square

cut one 5½″ x 18″ strip

subcut into two more 5½″ squares

From Fabric A (80182-32)

cut one strip 6″ x 18″

subcut into two 6″ squares and one 3″ x 6″ rectangle
subcut rectangle into two 3″ squares

cut one 3″ x 18″ strip

subcut into six 3″ squares for a total of eight 3″ squares

From Fabric B (80185-91)

cut one strip 6″ x 18″

subcut into two 6″ squares and one 3″ x 6″ rectangle
subcut rectangle into two 3″ squares

cut one 3″ x 18″ strip

subcut into six 3″ squares for a total of eight 3″ squares

For one quarter star block you will need

From the background

two 6″ squares and one 5½″ square

From Fabric A

one 6″ square and two 3″ squares

Make HSTs with Fabric A and Background fabric

1. Draw 1 diagonal line on the back of Fabric A 6″ square.
2. Sew Fabric A square to background fabric 6″ square, RIGHT SIDES TOGETHER, by sewing ¼″ away from each side of the drawn line.
3. Cut on the drawn line to create 2 HSTs. Press the seam to the background fabric.
4. Trim each HST to 5½″ square.

Make HSTs with Fabric B and Background fabric

1. Draw 1 diagonal line on the back of Fabric B 6″ square.
2. Sew Fabric B square to background fabric 6″ square, RIGHT SIDES TOGETHER, by sewing ¼″ away from each side of the drawn line.
3. Cut on the drawn line to create 2 HSTs. Press the seam to the background fabric.
4. Trim each HST to 5½″ square.

1. Sew one Fabric A 3″ square to one Fabric B 3″ square. Press the seam to the Fabric B square.
2. Sew the remaining Fabric Aand B 3″ squares together, pressing the seam to the Fabric B square again.
3. Sew the two units together with the opposite fabric square on top so that the Fabric B seams nest when sewing. Press the seam in one direction.

Assemble one quarter block

Use the photo for orientation of the HSTs. The top row is the background square beside the Fabric A HST. Press the seam to the background square.

The bottom row is the Fabric B HST with the four patch. Note: The Fabric B square is in the top left of the four patch. Press the seam to the four patch.

Sew the rows together pressing the seam to the top row. The block should measure 10½″ square.

Repeat to make three more blocks – 2 blocks with Fabric A four patch square top left, one more block with Fabric B four patch square top left.

The beautiful motifs in the Rock City batiks continue to reveal themselves in this large quarter star block. The fun is just beginning! Come back for more as we play with the quarter star blocks to create something to keep for yourself or gift to someone special this season.