RBD Block Challenge 2025 - Week 9: Halo Star
This week’s block, Halo Star by Jill Finley of Jillily Studio, is nothing short of radiant! With its intricate Flying Geese (FG) units and vibrant star-like design, Halo Star adds elegance and depth to our quilts.
Reflections: The Glow of Halo Star
Working on Halo Star felt like stitching a little bit of light into my quilt. Its detailed construction of Flying Geese and Half Square Triangles (HSTs) offered a fun challenge while opening the door for creative exploration with fabric placement.
For my version, I turned to my It Takes a Village collection, focusing on soft blues, warm yellows, and gentle neutrals. These colors reminded me of sunlight breaking through clouds, adding a tranquil, glowing effect to the block.
This Week’s Block: Halo Star
Halo Star is a 10" x 10" finished block featuring Flying Geese units, HSTs, and a central square surrounded by intricate piecing. Jill’s thoughtful design encourages precise piecing and creative color placement, making it a joy for intermediate and advanced quilters to tackle.
My Fabric Choices and Tips
Here’s how I brought Halo Star to life:
- Fabric Choices: I paired prints from It Takes a Village with Riley Blake Designs’ Confetti Cottons to balance the block’s vibrant and neutral tones.
- Focus on Light and Contrast: By placing lighter tones in the Flying Geese and darker tones in the HSTs, I emphasized the glowing starburst effect.
- Tips for Success:
- Use a seam guide to keep your Flying Geese points sharp and aligned.
- When trimming HSTs, rotate your mat to avoid lifting your fabric for the cleanest edges.
- Lay out the entire block before sewing to confirm color placement and orientation.
Fabrics I Used
- It Takes a Village by Jennifer Long, Sew A Story for Riley Blake Designs
- Confetti Cottons by Riley Blake Designs
Let Your Creativity Shine
The Halo Star block is a reminder that even the smallest details can come together to create something spectacular. I’d love to see how your blocks turn out! Whether you lean into soft hues or bold contrasts, your creativity will make this block truly shine.
Share your progress on Instagram and tag @sewastory, @jillilystudio, @rileyblakedesigns, and #RBDblockchallenge. Let’s celebrate this creative journey together!
What is the RBD Block Challenge?
The Riley Blake Designs Block Challenge is a free quilt-along featuring 16 unique blocks created by Riley Blake’s talented designers.
- New blocks released every Tuesday through May 27, 2025.
- Perfect for quilters of all levels.
- Free to participate!
Find all the details and resources here:
Let’s keep quilting and inspiring each other. I can’t wait to see your Halo Star blocks!
