How to Fully Utilize GO! BOB Dies

School may be coming to a close soon for this year, but it's never too late to learn new things.

Hi, all! Terri here from Lizard Creek Quilting and today, I am going to teach you how build a new block, the Floating Star, using shapes from an already amazing Block on Board (BOB) Die.

GO! Make This Table Topper Yourself

Dies Used:

• GO! Weathervane-8" Finished (55544)
• GO! Carefree Alphabet Lowercase Set (2-Die Set) (55491)
• GO! Carefree 3" Numbers (55099)
• GO! Strip Cutter-3 1/2" (3" Finished) 2 Strips with Angled Guidelines Die (55032)
• GO! Strip Cutter 2 1/2" (2" Finished) 3 Strips Die (55017)

Fabric Amounts:

• Yellow Dot: 1/3 yard
• Yellow: 1/4 yard
• White: Fat Quarter
• Gray Stripe, Aqua, Red, and Navy: Fat Eighth from EACH color
• Batting: 24" x 24"
• Backing: 26" x 26"
• Fusible Product: 4" x 18"

Before the cutting directions are given, let's take a look at these two blocks made with the GO! Weathervane-8" Finished Die.

A 3 x 3 grid is used in each block to achieve the finished size of 8".  Eight is not easily divisible by three, which makes using the die so handy because the math is already figured out! It only seemed smart to come up with more ways to use the shapes on this BOB die. However, the C shapes will not be used in this project.

Cutting for Two Floating Star Blocks:

PRO TIP: I draw a line 1/4" away from shapes on all sides to help me keep the fabric grain aligned with the blades.

Additional Cutting:

• Gray Stripe: two squares measuring 8 1/2" x 8 1/2"
• Yellow Dot: three strips measuring 3 1/2" x width of fabric (WOF) for borders
• Yellow: three strips measuring 2 1/2" x WOF for binding
• Aqua: one letter A and one number 1
• Red: one letter B and one number 2
• Navy: one letter C and one number 3

Those applique shapes have more cuteness than I can even handle!

Piecing the Floating Star Block:

1. Pin and sew one navy piece (Shape D) to the adjoining sides of one white piece (Shape B) as illustrated above. Press the seams open and make four house units.
2. Arrange four house units, four white (Shape A), and one aqua (Shape A) as shown above. Pin and sew into rows. Press the seams to Shape A. Pin and sew the rows into block. Press the seams open. Make one Floating Star block.
3. Repeat the above steps with red to make an additional Floating Star block.

As you can see, engineered corners are A.M.A.Z.I.N.G thanks to AccuQuilt's Die construction that works perfectly with GO! Fabric Cutters!

Quilt Top Assembly:

1. Fuse the letters and numbers applique shapes to the gray stripe squares as illustrated above. Appliques can be stitched to the square to secure or left raw and secured with quilting.
2. Arrange two Floating Star blocks, one letter, and one number block as shown. Pin and sew into rows. Press the seams open. Pin and sew rows into quilt center. Make one quilt center.
3. Add yellow polka dot borders.
   
   

Finishing:

1. Quilt as desired.
2. Add the binding. This table mat finishes at 22" x 22".

Let Your Creativity Flourish with GO! BOB Dies 

I hope this tutorial will help you look at each BOB die in your collection in a new way. Think about each shape on the die as a building block unit and see what new quilt blocks can be built! I would love to see your finished project, so be sure to share your creations with us on social media. Tag me @lizardcreekquilting and @AccuQuilt on Instagram and always use the #AccuQuiltBuilt hashtag so we can see them!

If you're not on Instagram, share with us on Facebook! Give us a follow while you're there and you'll be the first to know what we're making.

Peacefully Quilting,

Terri