In today’s post, we start putting together all the gorgeous cut up pieces of Northcott’s Stonehenge Gradations Brights to make the center of our quilt!

Four panels make center star
The center is constructed of four identical panels with the exception of one square unit in each. When the panels are joined together the four different squares become the center of the star.
Let’s begin!

Hst pairs for center units
Make hst Fabric Pairs
The majority of the pieces in the panels are half square triangle (hst) units. We’ll make the units needed for all four panels at once.
To start, match Fabric A (39300-62) background blue 5″ squares with the fabrics below:
4 of Fabric B (39301-85) for a total of 8 hsts
2 of Fabric C (39300-85) for a total of 4 hsts
4 of Fabric E (39303-84) for a total of 8 hsts
8 of Fabric G (39302-72) for a total of 16 hsts
4 of Fabric H (39303-71) for a total of 8 hsts
You’ll also need the following pairs:
4 Fabric C with 4 Fabric F for a total of 8 C/F hsts
8 Fabric G with 8 Fabric H for a total of 16 G/H hsts

Diagonal guide line for hst sewing
Make hsts
Make the half square triangle units by drawing diagonal line on back of Fabric A {background} 5″ square. I put a reusable cloth bag, made of canvas fabric, underneath – its little bit of texture helps keep the fabric from shifting.
- Put the fabric pair together, with right sides facing.
- Sew ¼ʺ away from each side of the drawn line.
- Cut on the drawn line; press the seam to the background fabric.
- Trim each hst to 4½ʺ square.
Lay Out Pieces for 1 Panel

Layout for one center panel
Use the photo and a design wall to layout the pieces for one quarter of the center as shown.
The top left 4½ʺ square is Fabric E in this panel.
The middle four – 4½ʺ squares are from top left clockwise:
Fabric F Fabric E
Fabric B Fabric D
Sew Column Pieces

Sew column pieces
Sew the second and third column pieces together; press the seams to the middle.
Sew the column pieces together in columns 5 and 6 as well; press the seams to the middle.
Sew Columns

Columns sewn
Continue to sew each column together.
Press the seams in alternate directions, first column up and the second column down, and so on.

First panel in two halves
Sew first two columns together, as well as the last two columns together.
Press the seam to each outer column.

Panel sewn
Sew the two sections of the column together; press the seam to the previous right section.
Make 3 More Panels

another panel laid out
Use your first completed panel as a guide to make three more identical panels – changing out only the top left square.
The completed one has Fabric E 4½ʺ square; of the remaining panels, one will have a Fabric B, one a Fabric C and a Fabric F.
Join Panels to Make Center

Four center panels
- Layout the four quarters of the center as shown in the photo.
- Sew the units together in pairs; press one pair’s seam to the left and one to the right.
- Then sew the pairs together.
The largest section of the quilt is now assembled! The Stonehenge Gradations Brights fabrics from Northcott make these large, simple geometric shapes shine. I love looking at it 🙂 In the next post we’ll put together the top and bottom border elements of the quilt.
2 comments
Pretty block, thanks for the tutorial.
You’re welcome! The Northcott fabrics do a lot of the work;)