Chubby Stars quilt along -- Step 1 -- four patch chain

Today, we're going to work on making our Chain pieces for our X blocks. (I think I just pulled out my teacher voice... yikes)

First, you will need to refer to this chart, to figure out how many four patch chain pieces you need.

Chubby Star Quilt Along Information

	Throw	Twin	Queen/Full	King	Cal King
Dimensions	70” x 78”	62”  x  86”	86” x 94”	102” square	98” x 108”
Block layout	7 x 8	6 x 9	9 x 10	11 x 11	9 x 11
Snowball blocks	28	27	45	60	49
Chain blocks	28	27	45	61	50
Fabric requirements
Focal fabrics*	1 ⅔ yd.	1 ⅔ yd.	3 yd.	3 ¼ yd.	3 ⅝ yd.
Star points	1 ½ yd.	1 ½ yd.	2 ½ yd.	3 ⅓ yd.	2 ⅔ yd.
Background**	2 yd.	2 yd.	3 yd.	4 yd.	3 ¼ yd.
Chain strips***	1 yd.	1 yd.	1 ¼ yd.	1 ⅝ yd.	1 ½ yd.
Inner border	⅜ yd.	⅜ yd.	½ yd.	½ yd.	½ yd.
Outer border	2 yd.	2 yd.	2 ½ yd.	2 ½ yd.	2 ½ yd.
Backing	4 ⅞ yd.	5 ¼ yd.	7 ⅞ yd.	9 yd.	6 ½ yd. + 1 yd. stripped in

To figure it out -- take the number of Chain blocks, and multiply it by 8.  Yes, each chain block has eight four-patch units.  *gulp*

So for the crazy one making this in Cal King size me, I will need 50 chain blocks... 50 x 8 = 400 four patch units.  400 Four-patch units = 800 strip-pieced two patch pieces.

I can get 28 two-patch pieces in my WOF strip pieces (14 if you're using fat quarters).  So.... 800/28= 28 and a half...I need to create 29 strip pieces that will be sub-cut in to 1 1/2" two-patch pieces, and then sewed together to create 400 four-patch units.

Did all that make sense?

Let me break it down for you.

• Throw/twin -- Cut sixteen 1 1/2" x WOF strips in the background fabric, and sixteen 1 1/2" x WOF in your chain strips fabric.  You need 224 four-patch units (your goal for this week)
• Full/Queen -- Cut twenty-six 1 1/2" x WOF strips in the background and twenty-six 1 1/2" x WOF strips in the chain strips fabric.  Your goal is 360 four-patch units.
• I already discussed the Cal-King; if you're making a King sized, you're crazier than me, but can probably do your own math.  You need 7,ooo four-patch units.  

Here's how to do it:

• Cut your 1 1/2" strips (honey-bun friendly!)
• Sew one chain piece with one background pieces -- right sides together (RST)

• Press with seams open or towards the dark (I recommend towards the dark)

• Sub-cut in to 1 1/2" pieces (twenty eight/strip)
• Nest seams, right sides together, and sew in to four-patch units

That's your goal for this week!  I've got more work to do to finish mine!

Comment with any questions -- but it helps if your email is linked to your profile, so I can reply directly. :)

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If you're making your chubby stars without the chain -- I suggest cutting a 4 1/2" square for the center piece (one for each chain block), four 2 1/2" x 4 1/2" rectangles (where you will add the star points), and four 2 1/2" squares (where you will also add star points)  -- this would all be a neutral or background fabric.  --what am I thinking -- scratch that -- just cut four 4 1/2" squares.  *doh*

But the chain is just so darn pretty.