December 24

BETHLEHEM STAR, 6″, Light

T’was the night before Christmas ….

This block was published twice by Nancy Page: as Bethlehem Star in the Birmingham News in 1939, and earlier as Christmas Star in the same newspaper in 1934. The piecing differs slightly for the two patterns: Bethlehem Star has triangles at the corners, while Christmas Star has a square.

Download December 24 instructions (as .pdf).

December 24 BONUS

CHRISTMAS TREE, 6″, Light

This block was published with two options for its name, Christmas Tree or Pine Tree, by the Kansas City Star in 1934. It’s a bit simpler than the Bethlehem Star block, as I know you may not have much time this weekend!

Download December 24 BONUS instructions (as .pdf).

December 25

STAR OF BETHLEHEM, 6″, Light

Merry Christmas! Very best wishes to everyone, today.

Our block for Christmas Day is Star of Bethlehem (Hall, 1935; Aunt Martha Series; Home Art) … well actually a slight variation without the corner triangles, and with a variable star centre, rather than an eight-pointed star (drafted on a circle). Here is the original block:

This block has also been known as: Bethlehem Star or Winged Star (Kansas City Star, 1938), Christmas Memory Quilt, Quilter’s Newsletter Magazine, 1972), Jewels in a Frame (Progressive Farmer, re-published in Award Winning Quilts, 1974 and Kansas City Star, 1957), and Star of the Magi (Nancy Cabot, 1937). Many of the names have firm Christmas connotations. I have also seen this block called Swoon recently, but I’m not sure where that originated.

Download December 25 instructions (as .pdf).

December 26

GOOD CHEER, 6″, Light

For many in Australia, the sound of willow on leather emanating from the TV is as ubiquitous as the grind of cicadas in the heat on Boxing Day. If not the Boxing Day cricket test at the MCG (Australia vs Pakistan this year), it’s the Sydney to Hobart Yacht race. The mood of the day is lazy – lazy lunches of leftovers from the Christmas feast, a trip to the beach to cool off, relaxing time with family.

Continuing with the holiday spirit, today’s block is Good Cheer, originally published by Clara Stone (1906). It was also called Stepping Stones by the Kansas City Star in 1931.

Download December 26 instructions (as .pdf).

December 27

LIGHTNING IN THE HILLS, 6″, Light

Lightning in the Hills is a Nancy Cabot block. Lightning in the Hills is so perfect for summer in Australia; perfectly evocative of the thunder storms rolling in in the afternoon bringing precious cooling rain.

Download December 27 instructions (as .pdf).

December 28

JACOB’S LADDER, 6″, Light

This version of Jacob’s Ladder is from Hall (1935). I prefer this version with all the half-square triangles. Most other versions have four-patches:

Download December 28 instructions (as .pdf).

http://www.365challenge.com.au/the-blocks/