Welcome to Blockheads 6 – Block 9: “Polaris” by Barb Groves!

This week’s Blockheads 6 pattern brings a radiant burst of energy with Polaris, a dynamic star block designed by Barb Groves of Me & My Sister Designs. Hosted by Moda’s Alison Dale, the tutorial offers not one—but two—ways to piece this playful block: paper piecing and traditional piecing using the versatile Tri-Recs ruler. Whether you're a foundation piecing fan or prefer to cut and stitch without the paper, this week has you covered!

You can find this week’s pattern here: BH6 – Block 9 – Polaris by Barb Groves of Me & My Sister Designs

Follow along with Barb!

Instagram: @meandmysisterdesigns
https://www.meandmysisterdesigns.com

If you’re new to Blockheads, here are a couple of quick things to know:

• This is a free quilt-along. No sign-ups are required. Just download the pattern and you’re ready to sew!
• The PDF patterns will be posted on the Moda blog and in the official Facebook group every Wednesday by 8:00 AM CDT.
• You can also bookmark this page: Blockheads 6 main page to find a convenient list of all the patterns as they are released.
• If you’d like to sign up for our blog newsletter to get blog posts delivered to your inbox, you can sign up here: Blog Newsletter Sign-Up 
• If you want to sew along with a virtual Blockheads community, head over to Facebook and join our official Moda Blockheads Facebook group. Our group is an active and vibrant community of 81,000 quilters and counting! It’s a great place to be inspired and share pictures of your Blockheads progress.
• If Instagram is where you prefer to hang out, be sure to follow us (@modafabrics) and the hashtags #modablockheads and #modablockheads6 to see the latest blocks from our designers and other Blockheads.

(Looking for a little more information about Blockheads? You can check out the Blockheads 6 archive HERE.)

About the Block

Polaris is an eye-catching eight-pointed star framed with a square-in-a-square center, giving it a bold, graphic look. Alison walks through how to complete the block using paper templates (included in the downloadable pattern), with tips like double-checking your printer scale and shortening your stitch length for easy paper removal. She also demonstrates how to create the same look using the Tri-Recs ruler set—making it accessible for anyone who wants to skip the paper but keep the precision.

What You’ll Learn

• How to piece Polaris using foundation paper piecing
• An alternative method using the Tri-Recs ruler
• Tips for accurate cutting, aligning notched corners, and piecing with minimal bulk
• A refresher on square-in-a-square construction, plus a fun bonus idea: save your corner cutoffs to make tiny HSTs later!

Alison also shares the fabric she's using for two quilt versions—one in the My Favorite Color is Moda Mixed Basics palette, and another in A Bloom by Corey Yoder and Cottage Charm by Heather Briggs. She's turning her second set of blocks into a quilt donation for California wildfire victims—a lovely reminder of how quilting can bring comfort and connection across the miles.

Let the Polaris block guide you through a galaxy of sewing inspiration this week. Whether you choose paper or traditional piecing, you’ll love watching this star shine.

Ready to stitch up your Polaris block? Be sure to download the pattern and follow along with Alison in this week’s video tutorial!

Join the Fun!

We can’t wait to see your version of the Polaris block! Whether you’ve tackled the paper piecing or opted for the Tri-Recs method, don’t forget to share your finished block with us. Join the conversation in our Blockheads Facebook group to swap tips, ask questions, and get inspired by what others are creating. Happy sewing, and we’ll see you next week for more Blockheads fun!

— The Moda Team