How to make my favorite Star.

I love star quilts.  And of all of the star blocks I've made for quilts over the years, this one remains my favorite.  I want to share it with all of you.  And you CAN do this new quilters!  Just take it slow and cut and sew carefully.  I made this block when I was a beginner and I was really intimidated by it.  But when taken apart into sections I realized it wasn't as scary as I thought.  I would love it if you all made it with me.

So first things first.  Choose some fabric.  Just grab a little stack that you like and you can edit later. 

*Edit:  This block is nice and big and measures at 14 1/2 inches, forgot to mention that!

*Edit #2!!  I've had a few lovely ladies point out that it would be nice to have a picture of the back of the star and some more instruction on pressing, so I'm going to get working on that and explain more about pressing and cutting on my next post.  Thanks for asking ladies I'm sure it will help out others too!  x

*You'll need some background fabric.  I've used two in this block but you could use one, or make each piece different.  It's up to you.
*Fabric for your nine patch squares.
*Fabric for your outside and inside star points. 

I like these.  My favorite of which is this one. 

It makes me think of old houses and grandmas, homemade pies and kitchen curtains.  I wish I had more of it. 

* A quick note about cutting.  I can't stress to all of you wonderful new quilters out there how important accuracy is when it comes to cutting.  Especially in a block with lots of pieces.  You can sew with a perfect 1/4 inch seam allowance but if your pieces aren't cut accurately, they won't fit together the way they're supposed to.  And you'll say bad words.

So, first cut 9, 2 1/2 inch squares for your nine patch. 

I cut a bunch for future blocks.

Now sew them together, pressing toward the dark squares.

Now we'll cut the rest.  First cut four, 2 1/2 by 6 1/2 inch strips from your background fabric.  Since I used two background fabrics I'll call this one background #1.

Out of this same background #1 cut four, 4 1/2 inch squares for the corners.

Now grab background #2, (or more of #1 if you are using all of the same background) and cut four, 2 1/2 by 4 1/2 inch strips.

Also cut eight, 2 1/2 by 1 1/2 inch little strips out of background #2. 

Now we'll cut the star points.  I chose red for the outside points.  Cut eight, 2 1/2 inch squares for these. (It looks like I just cut four, but there are eight there, they're just stuck together from cutting and I forgot to separate them for the photo)

And eight, 1 1/2 inch squares out of the same.

Now cut eight, 2 1/2 inch squares for the inside star points.

Here's everything laid out all nice and purty.

Now you'll want to put everything together in sets to sew up the star points.

The 6 1/2 inch background #1 strips go with the red 2 1/2 inch squares, the 4 1/2 inch background #2 strips go with the lighter 2 1/2 inch inside point squares, and the smallest background #2 strips go with the baby 1 1/2 inch squares.

First we'll sew the points to the longest strips.  We'll just do the good old stitch and flip method for each side.  Lay a red square on one end, draw a line from corner to corner, stitch on the line, and press it back.  After pressing the corner back (we'll be pressing all of the star points in this block toward the points) you can flip it back over and trim the excess off with your rotary cutter.  I like to press it before cutting it just because it stabilizes it a bit since we're working with bias.     

Just be sure to sew from the CORRECT corners!

Now, sometimes when we start sewing on an outside corner, the corner gets sucked down into the machine and causes us to say bad words.  Can I hear an amen?  This used to drive me crazy until I figured out the SECRET to solving this problem.  It's a 'straight stitch'  stitch plate. (Heavens parted...angels singing...)

Now this is your normal stitch plate, that can handle all stitching.  See it's little horizontal opening?  It's smiling at you.  It's long so your needle can zig and zag till it's hearts content.  But, it's also wide enough to suck your little fabric points down. 

Now for the straight stitch plate.  Notice she doesn't have a horizontal smile, just a hole.  That top hole there is where the needle goes down.  And it's so small my fabric corners can't get sucked down into never never land.

But notice the red warning.  NO ZIG ZAG stitching!  Or your needle will hit the side and snap off!  Not that I've ever done that or anything.... just sayin'.  Oh who am I kidding?  I've done it so many times I should wear safety goggles. 

Here they are side by side.

So, check with your manufacturer to see if you can get one of these babies.  I love mine.

Now back to our star blocks.  Where was I before I so rudely interrupted myself... oh ya.  Now we'll sew the points to the inside part of the star.  So get your 4 1/2 inch background #2 strips and your lighter 2 1/2 inch corner squares.  Go ahead and sew them together using the same stitch and flip.  You'll end up with four flying geese.

And now for the tiny 1 1/2 by 2 1/2 inch strips and 1 1/2 inch squares.  Aren't they cute?  Divide them up into two groups of four sets because you sew half of them in one direction and half of them in the other.  Stitch and flip.

See?  Nothing is getting sucked down in there!  Just feed them through one at a time.  For you new quilters this is called chain piecing.  It saves time and thread.  You just feed them through one after another and snip them apart later.

Four in one direction, four in the other.

Here they are finished.

When you have these pressed and trimmed it's fun to lay out all of the pieces and see how it's going to look.

Now we sew this together in sections.  First the inside lighter point pieces and the little red points we just finished.

Now sew these new units to the 6 1/2 inch red star point units.  Press toward the top unit.

We're almost done!  I can't stress how important it is for blocks like this to use a very CONSISTENT 1/4 inch seam allowance.  With so many pieces, even 1/16 of an inch off here and there can mess you up.  Your seam allowance doesn't have to be a perfect 1/4 inch, but it does have to be consistent, whatever it is.  Sew slowly, pay attention to your seam allowance, and you'll get great results.  Which in my book are nice points and pieces that fit together.

Now lay it out again.  Sew your sections together into three rows.  Press the top and bottom row toward the outside corners.  Press the middle row toward the nine patch.

And then sew your three rows together, pressing toward the center, and you're done!

Oh how I love this star. 

When choosing fabrics, I love a scrappy old fashioned look.  So it's nice to choose fabrics with different 'textures'.  If you mix lots of different fabric patterns like small florals, larger florals, tiny prints, and some others that read as a solid, your quilt will look much more interesting than if all of your fabrics are all similar patterns in different colors.

I hope you like this block as much as I do.  I'm going to work on some more and then figure out a nice way to put them into a quilt top.  I also need to get going on my Christmas Cottages!  I finally think I know how I'm going to put them into a quilt too. 

Please let me know if you make some of these, I'd love to see them! x 

Comments

[periwinkle]

this must have took you ages - the star is gorgeous , as are the fabrics - you make it look so easy
lisa x

[quiltergoingbananas]

Oh! I just love stars! Can't wait to try making this star block and thank you for posting all the pics to go with the instructions. We quilters are visual learners you know...

BTW even though I've been quilting for many years I don't recognize this star block. Does it have an actual name??

[Jane Weston]

That's a really pretty block...Thanks for the tutorial!

[Jane]

Oh my , how beautiful, you are right I would never try to make that block, but after seeing your tutorial, I think I may give it a whirl after the Holidays, I also need to get my cottages in order. I am also going to look into getting a new plate, that is why I always use a start and stop scrap of fabric, one so I do not have all the threads hanging and two, so they do not get sucked in. Butr I really like the plate. thank you so much!

[Jennifer from NY]

Beautiful! Such lovely fabrics, as always. Your tutorial is great, I can't wait to make this star! I love star quilts too.

I see your etsy shop is open! Yaay! Think I'll mosey on over there...

Love,
Jen

[Karen]

I love this block. I am very partial to stars also. Almost every quilt I make has some kind of star pattern. You would think by now my points would be getting better but they arent. I don't sweat the small stuff though.

Karen in IN

[jacquie]

that is a gorgeous star. love the fabrics you've chosen too! great job on the tut!!

[sherry]

I love this star block too. You did a great job on the tutorial and your fabric choices...just perfect. Thanks for sharing!

[Marit]

Such a beautiful star block. I love it!!!
Thanks for the tutorial and telling about the straight stitch plate! I'll try to find one for my Pfaff.

[Julia]

Thank you soo much for sharing this great tutorial - I love this block & I think I make my first mini-quilt {just recently decided that I have to have a mini wall quilt for the wall beside my desk}.
- Julia

[Carrie P.]

I like that star block a lot. Thanks for the instructions. Pretty fabric choices too.

[Sunny Hemphill]

Hi, I am really impressed with your blog, which I just found today. I've been going back through your archives and I have to ask .... where do you buy the incredible fabric I see in your posts? Moda I can find, but the other things .... the gorgeous stuff you made into hankies and the little grasshoppers playing pool. I am a total fabric freak, obsessive and compulsive both and have a stash that is way, way more than I can use. But that's ok. I'm finding new ways to use it all the time. I quilt, mostly art quilts and useful ones to donate to the children's hospital. But, I crave that fabric that you turned into hankies. And the grasshoppers. And.... where did you buy these and does the shop have an online store?
Sunny

[Laurie]

I can see why it's your favorite. The block is beautiful and I love your choice of fabrics!

[quiltingnana]

I love that star...will definitely try one

[quiltingnana]

I love that star...will definitely try one

[HOPE]

I LOVE this blog! Thank you so much for sharing these wonderful crafts..and the photos on HOW TO! I am a self taught Quilter and relish any helps I can get. I don't have a reliable quilt shop nearby with lessons.

I look forward to making this Star block and more lessons.

THANK YOU!!! for giving your time..and the enjoyment of your humor as well.

[Deb in AZ]

Beautiful star, does it have a name? How about Beautiful Star?
Thanks for sharing!
ps: as someone else mentioned- it would be nice to see the back so we know which way to press :)

[T]

WOW. That's a beautiful block. Thank you for sharing it and the clear instructions!

[happy zombie]

WHat a fantastic block! Beautiful tutorial, Sarah!

[Marlene]

I love the star and the tutorial..I have SO much to learn...Thanks,thanks,thanks!

[Ailsa]

Thank you so much for this tutorial! I'll have a go!

[Cara]

Oooh! I love stars too! This is a great looking one- love the colors you chose! Thanks for sharing. BTW great tutorial!

[Miss Jean]

Oh, I love the star block! I also love the fabrics you chose. Do you know the name, etc. that is on the selvage of the third one from the bottom in the picture showing them stacked (your second picture)? Your directions are great for seasoned quilters and newbies, also. Can't wait to see the whole quilt made.

[Suz K]

beautiful star and excellent instructions! thank you for sharing.

[Janet]

What a great tutorial and a gorgeous star block. I love the fabrics second and third from the bottom, what is the range? I'm always looking out for that color without luck.