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Big Dipper Block size: 8 inch

This is the most complex colouring of this block, which has many names – and these can change with the way the block is coloured.

Cutting

You need 4 fabrics for this version. Cut a 5¼ square of each and cut them in 4 diagonally.

Block

Lay the triangles out as shown. Stitch the triangles into pairs and press to the darker colour.

Stitch pairs into four to make 4 QST units.

Stitch these units into pairs

and then stitch together to complete the block.

Quilt Ideas

The original version of this block is made from just 2 fabrics – it is sometimes called Hourglass or Yankee Puzzle. Put together the quilt can

look a bit boring if the fabrics used are plain or tone or tone. If one of them is a bright, bold, splashy print then it can look more interesting.

Once you start adding more colour you get more interest and movement

in the quilt. Start with sashing strips between the blocks –

Don’t forget you can download a tutorial for quick piecing the QST units from the blog – very useful if you are using the two colour version. https://meadowsidedesign.wordpress.com/tutorials/

If you start adding further colour(s) to the block you could have quilt designs like these –

See what a difference the shade of the colour change makes – when dark

brown becomes light green.

What about putting these blocks on point? Or mixing several colours – make it a scrappy quilt?

© Meadowside Designs, 2015

https://meadowsidedesign.wordpress.com.