Quilt Pattern: Sunbeam Block

Transforming sunbeams into a radiantly beautiful quilt is an achievement worth while. Even one little 12-inch pillow pieced in this pattern from gay silk or calico leftovers is acceptable, while a whole coverlet of sunbeams set together with alternate white blocks is most attractive indeed.

The four pieces which form each little fan which fits against the edge of center square sew together first. White edge blocks are then added, sewing onto the center square last.

Material Estimate: A Sunbeam Block finishes 12 inches square which means about 17 inches diagonally. For a diagonally set plan, 25 pieced blocks alternate with 16 plain white, 16 half squares (triangles) and four quarter squares to make a quilt top about 85 inches square. You will need 1/3 yard orange, one yard yellow, one yard turquoise, 5 2/3 yards white. This is a total of 8 yards. One yard of orange additional makes a binding when cut into bias strips about 1 1/2 inches wide.

Quilting suggestions: The pieced blocks are almost always quilted by following the lines of the piecing. On this design a similar plan, that is like the pieced sunbeam, looks well on the alternate plain blocks, or a ten-inch Feather Circle may be used.