Easy DIY Star Baby Quilt Tutorials

I love a simple, classic star quilt block. They’re timeless and traditional, but can easily be given a modern, graphic look because of it’s simplicity and by enlarging its size. Today I’m sharing the measurements for a very simple baby quilt from this traditional block that can be made quickly and easily. It’s a great beginner project as well.

Yesterday and today at the BERNINA We All Sew site, I’m sharing a simple tutorial for the easy star baby quilt  on the right in the LeMoyne, or Lone Star variation.  On this site, I’ll be sharing the measurements and construction for another variation of the star quilt on the left. Construction is similar, but fabric requirements and layout are slightly different.

Here’s to two fun variations on the same theme, not to mention a quick way to use pre-cut 10″ squares to make a quick baby gift or wall hanging. Click here for Part 1 – construction of the Lone Star Baby quilt and here for Part 2 – finishing the quilt at the We All Sew site.

This quilt variation finishes at 40″ x 40″. It is a great project for using pre-cut 10″ squares (or Layer Cake squares), calling for at least 21 10″ x 10″ squares. It could be made very clean and simple or super scrappy – lots of room for variations on a classic quilt block.

Fabric requirements:

• 6 light 10″ x 10″ squares
• 6 colored 10″ x 10″ squares
• 4 light 9 1/2″ x 9 1/2″ squares
• 16 strips 2 1/2″ x 9 1/2″ and 4 squares 2 1/2″ x 2 1/2″ for borders (cut these from yardage or from remaining pre-cut 10″ squares)
• 1 1/4 yard backing
• 3/8 yard binding

Draw a diagonal line on the back of the six 10″ x 10″ light squares. Match them up with a colored square and sew a 1/4″ seam down both sides of the drawn line.

Repeat with all six pairs.

Using a ruler and rotary cutter, cut all six pairs on the drawn line to create 2 half-square triangle blocks from each pair, for a total of 12 half-square triangle blocks. Press seams toward the dark fabric. Square up each block to 9 1/2″ x 9 1/2″

With solid light 9 1/2″ x 9 1/2″ blocks in the four corners, layout 12 half-square blocks in a star motif – 4 blocks across by 4 blocks down. You can use this layout or create one of your own. There are lots of options and variations.

Sew blocks into four rows Press seams alternating directions for each row. (For example press all seams to the right on odd rows – 1 &3 and press all seams to the left on even rows 2 & 4.) Then sew four rows together, pressing seams all the same direction.

To add borders, sew two sets of  four 2 1/2″ x 9 1/2″ strips end to end. Decide which side of the quilt you want to sew them to and press the seams in alternating directions from the seams on that side of the quilt. Sew two borders to opposite sides of the quilt. Press seams toward the borders.

For final borders, sew two more sets of four 2 1/2″ x 9 1/2″ strips end to end and sew a 2 1/2″ x 2 1/2″ square to either end. Repeat the process of pressing seams alternating directions from the seams on the quilt side. Pin border at seams and sew final borders to quilt. Press seams toward the borders.

If you would prefer non-pieced borders cut four strips 2 1/2″ x the width of fabric and attach them Here is a simple quilt border tutorial.

This quilt calls for a 1 1/4 yard piece of fabric (roughly 42″ x 42″). This is the most economical size for backing the quilt, but will be just slightly larger than the quilt front. If you baste carefully, it should still be big enough all the way around with excess backing fabric on all four sides before you quilt it. If not you may want to piece a larger back.

I extended my backing fabric by using remnants from my layer cake to make a fun pieced strip through the back of my quilt. There are lots of options for quilting you quilt. Here is a simple quilting tutorial. Big thanks to Sew Shabby Quilting for the quilting on this one.

For my binding I cut four strips of fabric 2 1/2″ x the width of the fabric (42″). Sew them together end to end to create one long binding strip. This tutorial shows how to bind – or finish – a quilt.

   Fabrics used for these quilts:

• (left) Emmy Grace by BariJ for Art Gallery Fabrics (available here)
• (right) Best Day Ever by April Rosenthal for Moda (still available here, here, and here)

If you’re looking for a larger variation on this design, check out Jeni Baker’s Giant Vintage Star Tutorial.