Star Quilt Block Tutorial

Hello and welcome to any new friends. Today is my turn to share a block tutorial for the 

Blogger's Block of the Month, hosted by Jackie at Canton Village Quilt Works.  

I was so excited when Jackie asked me to participate. Fun times!

This block is the 6th block in the series. If you haven't joined the fun yet, it's definitely not too late! You can find out more about this free Block of the Month party here.

I'm going to share a tutorial for this very traditional star block. I certainly don't claim any credit for making it up, but I'll show you how I made this classic design into a finished 8" block (unfinished 8.5").

Cutting list:

From your background fabric cut: 

• [4] 3" squares
• [4] 2¼” squares
• [4] 1½” x 4” rectangles. (not pictured. D'oh! Sorry)

From each of your 4 'point' fabrics:

• [1] 3" square
• [1]  2¼” squares

Center square:

• [1] 1½” x 1½” square

Start this block by making each of your 'points'.  Begin by matching up a 3" colored square with a 3" background square.  Draw one diagonal line on the back of the lighter fabric.  Carefully sew a scant 1/4" seam along both sides of the drawn line.

Using a rotary cutter, carefully cut directly on the drawn line.  Press both blocks open, pressing seam toward the 'point' fabric.

Carefully 'square-up' both half-square triangle blocks to 2¼”

 

Take both half-square triangle blocks and match them up with the coordinating 2¼” colored square and 2¼” background square in this layout.

Sew top two squares together and bottom two squares together. Press seams away from the half-square blocks.

Now sew two rows together, butting the seam allowances up against each other to help line-up that center point.  *Optional: when pressing this portion, 'pop' the first couple of stitches in the center seam and open up where those four seams intersect to make it lie more flat. Press the seams as shown.* 

Repeat the same process to make all four of the points.  Take your [4] 1½” x 4” rectangles and your center 1½” x 1½” square and lay out the block like this. 

Sew the blocks together in three separate rows as pictured. Press the seams toward the center rectangle on the points rows, and press away from the center square on the middle row.  Sew three rows together.

Voila!

And here is my version in a very different color scheme.  I love how versatile this block can be - modern or traditional, depending on the colors and fabrics used.

I have loved ALL the blocks so far. To see more block versions - or to upload your own - visit the BBOM flickr page.

Here are the other designers and their corresponding months: 

September - Sherri McConnell - A Quilting Life

October - Vicki Welsh - Field Trips in Fiber

November - Stephanie Dunphy - Loft Creations

December - Pat Sloan - The Voice Of Quilting

January - John Adams - Quilt Dad

February - Amy Smart - Diary of a Quilter

March - Allison Harris - Cluck, Cluck, Sew

April - Amy Lobsiger - Mrs. Schmenkmen Quilts

May - Cathy Underhill - Cabbage Quilts

June - Pam Vieira-McGinnis - Pam Kitty Morning

July - Victoria Findlay Wolfe - Bumble Beans Inc.

August - Amy Ellis - Amy's Creative Side

September - Sarah Fielke - The Last Piece

October - Jackie Kunkel - Canton Village Quilt Works 

It's also a great way to bust some stash.

Have fun!