Southern Cross Quilt Pattern

Caroline and I sort of worked on this quilt together.  I knew what I wanted to do but because I was getting ready to go to Canberra the wonderful Caroline did it and then wrote up the pattern and I just worked out the measurements!

How to make the Strippy Southern Cross Quilt.

This pattern is based on the width of your fabric (WOF) being 42 inches.  

First cut yourself 12 strips of different fabrics 6 ½ inches x WOF.

You will also need to make 5 stars using Jan-Maree’s star block tutorial..... see the button on the right hand side of the blog.  I  did 4 stars using the exact measurements (3” & 2” squares) and 1  star using  2 ½ “ & 1 ½  “ squares.  Once complete trim all stars to 6 ½ squares.

Sew your first two strips together.  

Take your third strip and cut two pieces 18 1/2 inches long, sew one piece to each side of your star.  Then sew this strip together with the  first two. 
   

Sew your next strip to the bottom of this section. 

The next strips has two stars in it.  Cross cut the strip into two 6 1/2 inch squares and one 18 1/2 inch strip.   Sew a star to each end of the 18 1/2” piece then the 6 1/2" squares to each end.  

Sew this strip to the top section.

Sew the next full strip on to the quilt.

For the next strip I used the smaller star.  Take your strip and cut one piece 24 1/2"  and one piece 9 1/2" long.  Sew the star to the end of your 24 1/2” strip then sew the smaller end to the other side.  Position your strip so that the 24 1/2" strip is on the left hand side of the star.  Refer to picture if you are not sure.

Sew two more full strips to the quilt.

For the next strip again cut two pieces 18 1/2 inches long and sew one piece to each side of your star.  

Sew the last two full strips to the bottom of the quilt.

All done. 

Once this quilt was layered it was finished with straight line quilting along the sewn lines of the strips (in the ditch)  and starting in the centre of the southern star (in the swirly strip at the centre of the 2 stars)  Caroline quilted diagonal and straight lines  (like an asterix) through all the stars. (not very noticeable in the picture)  or quilt however you like.

This quilt is very easy and fairly quick quilt to complete and gives you a great Aussie Quilt!

Try choosing two colours like we did, one for the stars and one for the background - red and blue, green and gold.  Alternatively make a scrap quilt but choose one colour for your stars and only choose fabrics that will contrast well with that colour.

Simply have fun!

Make sure you check out the quilts of the week tomorrow!  Not to mention quite a few laundry bags as well.

As usual on a Thursday night I like to make sure that I have all the pictures in for the following night's post but tonight the list is huge!  So below is the list of all those who will have pics to show off tomorrow night - if your name is NOT on the list and you have emailed me or if you have sent something and not emailed me please let me know.

Melissa, Janine, Pam from Vic, Carolynne, Fran T, Caroline, Marg, Maria, Nancy, Naomi, Karen B and Karen D, Khristina and Leonie!  

And yes tomorrow night is another bumper crop!!

Till next time...........keep spreading the word and happy stitching!