This week, Moda Blockheads 5 Block 9 is the Candy Striped Holly Star. The block is designed by Sarah Thomas. Sarah is the designer behind Sariditty. The Moda page for this paper pieced quilt block shows a couple different layout ideas that would make a charming table runner and a full quilt.
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Related Post: Moda Blockheads 5: A Quilt Along
Download Pattern for Blockheads 5 Block 9
The Moda Blockheads 5 quilt along offers 2 different block sizes: 12 inch and 6 inch. Moda fabrics has split Blockheads 5 into two parts. Part 1 will be a shorter quilt along with 9 quilt blocks plus 1 bonus block. This will allow for a project to be finished before the holidays. After the first of the year, the quilt along will resume with more blocks for a second project that will be larger quilt setting with the remaining blocks. For this quilt along I am using Songbook fabrics by Fancy That Design House.
Moda Blockheads 5 Block 9 Assembly
The Candy Striped Holly Star is a paper pierced block with optional holly leaves and berries for appliqué. I chose not to do the appliqué because it’s just not my favorite thing to do and I think the star block looks really cute without it.
The block is made up of 6 sections to complete the block. I chose to do half the block in one color way and the other half in a coordinating color, keeping my stars in the same cream fabric print.
My best advice for paper piecing the block is to actually write on the paper pieces which color/fabric goes in which spot. This way you have it all laid out before you start sewing. However, keep in mind, with paper piecing, the printed side of the paper is the wrong side of the fabric, so your block will be a mirror image when completed.
Candy Striped Holly Block
Making this quilt block in two colors but keeping the star the same color gave it a pretty finished look. It would be fun to experiment with color placement and make more blocks for the table runner layout that was shown on the sew along page on Moda’s website. It uses 4 blocks laid out to give the table runner a candy cane striped look.
Moda Blockheads 5 Progress
I am so happy with how my blocks look in the Songbook collection by Fancy That Design House. I still haven’t decided if I’ll use one of the layouts for the 9 blocks in this first phase, or if I’ll save these blocks to put into a larger project with the second phase of blocks after the New Year. But for now, I’ll set these blocks aside until after the holidays. Enjoy the slide show of the 10 quilt blocks from phase 1!
If you haven’t had a chance to sew the free quilt blocks from the Moda Blockheads 5 quilt along, it’s not to late to catch up after the holidays or during a holiday break for an easy project with just 9 quilt blocks.
Happy quilting friends!
