MODA BLOCKHEADS 5: Week 9

This week’s designer is Sarah Thomas of SARIDITTY and her block is called CANDY STRIPED HOLLY STAR! Be sure to check out her WEBSITE to learn more about all the fun things she has to offer!

We decided to take Sarah’s Foundation Paper Pieced (FPP) block and create an oversized pillow project to end out part 1 in the MODA BLOCKHEADS 5 series. All the details on how we made it are below!

OUR BLOCK #9: HOLLY STAR PILLOW

CHOOSING FABRICS:

For the blocks themselves, we made (4) in the 12″ finished size, using (2) reds for stars on a cream background, with the other half of the block featuring a secondary cream print on a green holly background.

Sarah added some optional holly leaf and berry applique shapes to her block pattern, and since we ARE doing a Christmas-themed quilt, we certainly couldn’t help ourselves! We picked some of our very favorite yummy wools and we are working to add these final applique touches. NOTE: If you’d like some hints and tips on working with wool applique, visit THIS BLOG POST!

This pillow project will be a great match to our quilt finish, as we will continue our Christmas blocks in part 2 of the MODA BLOCKHEADS 5 series, starting again in January 2024.

PIECING INSTRUCTIONS:

We followed the block 9 MODA pattern instructions to construct our blocks.

To create the pillow setting, cut:

• (4) 1.5″ x 12.5″ sashing strips [cream stripe]
• (1) 1.5″ square center cornerstone [red]
• (2) 2″ x 25.5″ L/R borders [red gingham]
• (2) 2″ x 28.5″ T/B borders [red gingham]

Arrange your (4) blocks into a “pinwheel”-style design with sashing strip/cornerstone additions. Then, add L/R borders, followed by T/B borders. Your pillow should measure 28″ square finished. Quilt as desired and follow your favorite pillow-making instructions to complete. We made a vertical envelope back opening, and added 2 1/4″ striped binding to finish.

FABRIC COLLECTIONS:

• Red criss cross: FRESH FIG FAVORITES
• Red eyelet: FRUIT COCKTAIL
• Cream w/tan dot: FRESH FIG FAVORITES
• Cream ditsy: FRESH FIG FAVORITES
• Green holly: CHRISTMAS FIGS II
• Cream stripe [sashing]: FIGS & SHIRTINGS
• Red gingham [borders]: FRESH FIG FAVORITES
• Red stripe [binding]: FRUIT COCKTAIL
• Cream blossom [backing]: FRUIT COCKTAIL

ALTERNATE BLOCK 9: SUMMERTIME STARS

I’ll admit, I am not always up for FPP as it just takes my brain awhile to work in that style of sewing. When I first saw this fun block, I immediately thought of my SUMMERTIME STARS pattern…even though it has been quite a bit of time since I last used it! It is a simple method of getting a very similar result. You stack your fabrics one on top of another, cut several at a time according to a single template on the top and then start sewing sections back together again until you have wonky stars!

If using SUMMERTIME STARS, you could easily square down these blocks to 12.5″ unfinished (12″ finished) without losing your points, so this might be a great alternative for this week…and a whole lot easier to piece! No templates, and no points OR seams to match! Let me know if you try it… or if many moons ago, when this pattern was super popular, you have tried this method!

In fact once I started thinking about those stars from long ago, we were so inspired that we are using this unique method to recreate the SUMMERTIME STARS quilt in an updated color palette, using prints from the upcoming JELLY & JAM FABRIC COLLECTION and (of course) mixing in a few oldies, but goodies!

We will share more on the finished SUMMERTIME STARS quilt [and more info on our method and process] as JELLY & JAM fabric starts to hit stores, expected APRIL 2024!

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FYI: MODA BLOCKHEADS has *one* more week, noted as a “wrap-up”. Here at the Fig Tree Headquarters, we will be working on our annual 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS SALE that begins next week, so this is our last BLOCKHEADS 5-specific post until the new year!

Want to learn more about our 12 DAYS SALE?! You can search the blog for past years’ fun (just enter: 12 days). We also made a recent blog post of all the info for 2023’s sale, which you can find HERE.

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MODA QUICK LINKS

For ALL the details and specifics on Moda Blockheads 5, I encourage you to visit these useful resources:

MODA BLOCKHEADS 5 FAQs AND FABRIC RECOMMENDATIONS

INTRO TO MODA BLOCKHEADS 5 LIVE VIDEO [REPLAY]

BLOCKHEADS LIVESTREAM RECAP BLOG POST

MODA BLOCKHEADS FACEBOOK GROUP

And last, but certainly not least, the MODA BLOCKHEADS 5 BASIC PAGE – this is where ALL the block patterns will be saved for easy reference as we move forward!

Happy Sewing…and Happy Holidays!

-Joanna