ESSENTIAL GUIDE Mariner’s Compass Journey

“Mariner’s Compass, with its tricky points and curves, is one of the star blocks that quiltmakers often aspire to making successfully, and we show you how to begin this journey.”
– Lin Clements

MARINER’S COMPASS

here are some blocks that have a reputation for T being difficult. We have explored Lone Star in the past and, in this month’s guide, we will learn how to piece Mariner’s Compass. This block is a useful one to learn because many of the principles of making it can be applied to other tricky blocks, such as Double Wedding Ring, Pickle Dish and New York Beauty. The main challenges are all the sharp points and the curved sewing that is normally required.

Mariner’s Compass block is so-called because the design is meant to represent the sort of compass used by seafarers. These devices displayed points indicating north, south, east and west, with additional marks around the circumference of the circle to show the degrees. A magnetised pointer indicated the north direction, helping mariners navigate at sea.

Most of the Mariner’s Compass stars are based on a simplified version of the marine compass, and it’s common to see sixteen-point and thirty-two-point stars represented in patchwork, but the design can be made even more complicated – search for images of the block online and you will see a dazzling array of stunning designs. A useful book I would recommend is Judy Mathieson’s , which has many inspiring