I’ve been using this stay at home time to make some quilt blocks with the Riley Blake Block Challenge. Every week, we are challenged to make a new block- some I’d never had the opportunity to make before this challenge- and share our blocks! All the blocks in my quilt are being made using fabric from my Flutter and Shine collection for Riley Blake Designs.

This week, I’m going to show you how to make the Maple Star block. Star blocks are incredibly popular throughout quilting history, and over time different variations have been designed- including the Maple Star. This is an easy star block, as it just adds some squares and rectangles to the standard Sawtooth star block.

Like the Sawtooth Star, this block needs 4 Flying Geese units. The trick to accurate flying geese is in the seam- when sewing along the diagonal for the flying geese, make sure it is a scant seam so the corners, or sky units, don’t end up too small.

Especially on small blocks (this is a 6″ finished block I’m working on here), an inaccurate seam can make trouble fast! So, mind those seams and you will be off to a good start.

My instructions here are for the 9-patch construction of the Maple Star block, which means constructing the 9 sections and then sewing them all together. The 4 outside center sections are the Flying Geese unit, and a contrast fabric. If you’ve been keeping your seams accurate, you will never lose your flying geese points! Press towards the contrast fabric.

The four corner units are all constructed the same- as long as you press towards the background fabric (the Ditsy Dot in Navy in my sample here), the seams will all nest nicely in the end.

Now, all you need to do is lay out your sections, and begin sewing into rows. Press towards the corner units, and the center row towards the center unit.

Next, sew the rows together, nesting seams. I love nested seams, don’t you?

Press final seams toward the center row, and your block is all finished! Now, the Riley Blake Designs team has been working in 6″ and 12″ blocks, so I have a quick tutorial image below to help you with those sizes.

Or you can download a PDF copy HERE.

You can follow along with our the block challenge on Instagram with #rbdblockchallenge, and these Riley Blake designers have helpful tutorials for the different blocks on their blogs (Links will be added as they become available):

  1. Churn Dash with Amy Smart
  2. Log Cabin with Rachel Erickson
  3. Friendship Star with Bev McCullough
  4. Economy Block with Amy Smart
  5. Nine Patch with Christopher Thompson
  6. Shoofly Block with Melissa Mortenson
  7. Sawtooth Star with Amy Smart
  8. Bear Paw with Amanda Castor
  9. Maple Star with Melanie Collette (you’re here!)
  10. Bowtie Block with Elea Lutz
  11. Pinwheel with Amanda Niederhauser
  12. Maple Leaf with Amy Smart

My plan with this block sampler is to make twice as many 6″ blocks as the 12″ blocks, and then figure out the final arrangement when I’m all done- not a concrete plan, but it’s a good starting point! Some blocks, like the 9-patch or Shoofly block, are easy to make multiples at one time. I’m excited to see it all together at the end!

Happy block sewing!