A mysterious pattern from an online auction a while ago.
Yellow-green and probable Turkey red.
19th Century?
The block should be somewhere in here among the Maltese Cross
designs in BlockBase. These have at least 8 seams meeting in
the center, rather a challenge and not too common.
What makes this one even odder is the way the seams appear.
A lot of insetting ---Y seams etc.
I'm not stitching it.
Another example that looks early-20th-century but with a more
practical construction. Still a challenge though.
Variously called Illinois Star.
BlockBase+ has a pattern for #2744---no Y seams but
16 seams meeting in the center.
See the Nancy Cabot sew-along page for more about the Chicago Tribune's 1933 version from
And as I always say when you have more than 4 seams meeting in the center. Don't forget they have invented the dot!
I sew by hand, and prefer the blind stitch of applique to the traditional running stitch of piecing - so that's what I do, regardless. A block like this is one I think would be easier to assemble using an applique approach.
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