How to Sew a Mariner's Compass Quilt

The Mariner's Compass quilt block is a star design that starts in the middle and moves outward in a circle. It has many points, resembling a compass from an old sea navigational map. Most blocks have at least 16 points but they could have up to 32 points to be a traditional Mariner's Compass block.

Things You'll Need

• Tape measure
• Material or fabric
• Scissors or rotary cutter
• Quilt batting
• Quilt bottom

Instructions

Determine Quilt Size

1. Measure the item where you want to use the quilt.

2. Choose the appropriate quilt size for the measurement of your item. Standard measurements are Crib: 28 inches x 52 inches, Twin: 39 inches x 75 inches, Double: 54 inches x 74.5 inches, Queen: 60 inches X 80 inches and King: 76 inches x 80 inches.

3. Determine how many quilt blocks you will need based on how big you want your quilt.

Choose Quilting Material

1. Choose 10 different colors of material. Pick colors by twos that compliment each other.

2. Gather 1/4 yard of material for each color to make one Mariner's Compass quilt block.

3. Calculate how many blocks across and down you will need, based on how big your quilt size is going to be. The finished block measures 12 by 12 inches.

Cut the Material

1. Copy a pattern onto paper. "501 Quilt Block A Treasury of Patterns for Patchwork & Applique" has a good pattern on page 71 (see Resources). Enlarge the size of the quilt block to what you want. Cut out the pieces.

2. Trace the pieces onto another piece of paper and make the pieces 1/4 inch bigger all around. Cut your pattern pieces out.

3. Pin the corresponding pattern piece letter to the corresponding colored piece of material. Cut the material out. Cut out the corresponding number of pieces according to the pattern.

Sew an Individual Quilt Block

1. Start from the outside of the block and work inwards. Follow the pattern and sew "C" to "D," sew "Cr" to "E" and sew "CD" to "CrE."

2. Add pattern piece "B" to the sewn block and then add a pattern piece of "A" to the block. This makes 4 units.

3. Join a pattern piece of "Cr" to "Dr" and join a pattern piece of "C" to "Er." Sew these 2 pieces together. Add a piece of "Br" to the block and then add a piece of "Ar" to the block. This also makes 4 units.

4. Sew one of the unit pieces from Step 2 to one of the unit pieces from Step 3. Repeat this 3 times to make 4 pieces.

5. Pin 2 of the pieces from Step 4 together, matching the centers. Sew the pieces together starting in the middle and sewing outwards. Repeat this to make 2 units.

6. Finish the block by pinning the remaining 2 block pieces together from the middle working outward and sew the same way.

Finish the Quilt

1. Measure how many blocks across it will take to complete and then measure down to see how many blocks you need. Complete the corresponding number of quilt blocks.

2. Sew all the across blocks together and then the down blocks together, to form the top of the quilt.

3. Use a piece of material that is as large as the top of your quilt for the bottom piece. Place the quilt batting in between the 2 pieces of the quilt.

4. Hand quilt or machine quilt the pieces together.

Tips & Warnings

• Assembling the Mariner's Compass quilt block in units will make sure that the center pieces match.

Resources

• Purchase the book '501 Quilt Block A Treasury of Patterns for Patchwork & Applique' at Amazon.
• Click for an intertwined center Mariner's Compass Quilt pattern.
• Click for a compass Mariner's Compass Quilt pattern.
• Click for a star Mariner's Compass Quilt pattern.