The traditional Rosebud quilt block has been called many names over the years, including Hummingbird, Crow's Foot and Bright Star. It's a delicate looking block that's part pinwheel, with barbed tips that give you the opportunity for more color play. Try it with a white or neutral background as shown, or sew brightly colored "flowers" on a rich black background. The block finishes at 12-inches square -- in other words, it will measure 12.5" x 12.5" before you sew it to other quilt components.

_{Illustration © Janet Wickell}

Patchwork quilt blocks don't get much easier than the Friendship Star. But simple doesn't mean boring when you choose a deep, black background and sew a bunch of stars in vibrantly colored solid or tone-on-tone fabrics. I've included directions for two finished quilt block sizes -- 12-inch and 6-inch, and yardages for one block and thirty blocks.

_{Illustration © Janet Wickell}