Milky Way Sampler: Block 3 – Alpha Centauri

Hey hey hey! With this block, we’re a quarter of the way through the Milky Way Sampler already, how awesome is that! Although if you’re sewing the bundle with the 13 blocks, you’re not quite a quarter there… unless you’ve already sewn the Celestial block, and then you’re more than a quarter of the way through… Ok, anyway… If you want find out more about this foundation paper pieced sampler, you can check out this post for all the info. And if you need to brush up on your foundation paper piecing skills, I’ve got a post for that too!

Alpha Centauri! It’s the closest star to our solar system, and is block 3 for the Milky Way Sampler. You can download it for free this month from my Craftsy store.

I used two shades of red for this one, an old Jennifer Sampou print for the inner, and my favourite red Sevenberry bicycle print!

One thing I’d like to mention is stay-stitching. In projects like this, where you may not sew quilt blocks together for a few months, and especially when the outer edges may be on the bias, it can be useful to stitch around the outer edge about 1/8″ from the edge. This helps to reduce fraying. I leave the paper in and do it in the small 1.2 foundation paper piecing stitch length. I’m using a shot cotton which is known for fraying like the dickens, so it looks like this:

Alpha Centauri

What you’ll need

Alpha Centauri pattern – print 4 copies of the template at ‘Actual Size’
Paper piecing supplies – read this post for my recommended paper piecing supplies

Pattern notes

• Templates should measure 5 1/2″ x 5 1/2″.
• A3 and A5 are the background sections.
• When you have pieced all four templates, arrange them so that each A3 and A5 sections are along the outer edges of the quilt block. Sew the templates into pairs, pressing seams in alternate directions so that they nest when you sew the block together. Sew the block together and press the seam open.
• Quilt block should measure 10 1/2″ x 10 1/2″.

Block 4 will be out on April 1st (AEST), and this block will no longer then be available for free. Make sure to download it now so that you don’t miss out! You can also sign up for my newsletter so that you don’t miss out on future block announcements.

SHARE YOUR BLOCKS

Looking for how to show off your masterpieces? If you’re on Instagram, use #milkywaysampler and feel free to tag me too – @blossomheartquilts! There’s also a fabulous community happening in the BHQ Facebook group where many people are sewing along to this QAL too.

 

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