If you've ever admired those classic six-pointed star quilt blocks and wondered how to piece them together, this tutorial is for you! In this lesson, we'll use 60-degree diamond quilt templates to create stunning star blocks with precise Y-seam construction. You'll learn how to cut and machine-piece six 60-degree diamonds to form the star points, along with background diamonds to complete the hexagon-shaped quilt block.
Whether you're making a single hexagon star block or combining several to design a full diamond star quilt, this project will sharpen your piecing skills and open the door to countless creative quilt layouts.
This technique builds on Machine Piecing Hexagons with Y-Seams Part 1 and piecing 60-degree diamonds using Tumbling Blocks method we practiced in Part 2. With a few simple marking and pressing tips, along with step-by-step assembly instructions, you'll gain confidence sewing 60-degree angles with your sewing machine and discover just how fun and versatile these shapes can be.
Before you start this tutorial, I definitely recommend a review of Part 1 and Part 2 where we talked about how to piece perfect 60-degree Y-seams.
How to Machine-Piece 60 Degree Diamonds
In this tutorial specifically, we'll machine piecing six 60 Degree diamonds to create a 6 pointed star quilt block.
Cutting the Diamonds
Cut 12 total 60-degree diamonds, each 2" high:
- 6 background diamonds
- 3 dark diamonds (star points)
- 3 light diamonds (star points)
(See How to Cut 60 Degree Diamonds in this post.)
Laying Out and Building the Star Block
Layout diamonds in desired pattern. The most efficient method I've found is to build the star in two halves, then add the final two side (blue) diamonds at the end.
Keep in mind: As we learned with the Tumbling Blocks, not all intersecting seams with the diamonds are Y-seams - only the seams where three 60-degree (fat points) seams intersect - like the center of the Tumbling Block below.
30-Degree points (the skinny points) do not intersect as Y-seams.
Mark ¼" point at 60-degree corners. (The more of these you do, the easier it will be to eyeball where the ¼" mark goes.)
Step-by-Step Assembly Instructions
To build the first half of the star block, start by sewing three diamonds - 2 star points and one background diamond together (on the left) to make a Tumbling Block using steps outlined in Part 2.
Sew third star point diamond to second background (blue) diamond, starting at ¼" and sewing to the end of the diamond points. Finger press seam open.
Insert this V to the tumbling block (left) using Y-seams technique - sew background diamond to light star point starting at the end of the 30-degree point and stopping at the 60 degree point Y-seam intersection.
Lift needle, line up edges of the background diamond with dark star point. Start sewing at ¼" intersection and sew seam to the end of the point.
Repeat process to make second half of the star.
Press all seams of the star in the same direction. Notice how the seams where the star points will match-up in the center are going in opposite directions. This will help the seams nest nicely when sewn together.
Above is a pressing guide for the seams. Press all of the seams in the same direction. This will help the points to match up and reduce bulk when you sew the two halves together.
Sew the two Halves Together:
Match up two halves, right-sides together, especially careful to match up the two center points.
Sew two halves together, starting at ¼" mark and ending at ¼" mark.
Add final two background diamonds to either side using the same Y seams technique at the 60 degree intersections.
After the finally background diamonds are in place, press flat. And once again you have a hexagon block!
You can now use the Hexagon machine-piecing techniques from Part 1 to sew you pieced six-point stars together!
Finishing and Assembling Your Star Blocks
For this mini quilt I made six 6-pointed star blocks. For the additional background pieces, I cut one side with a 60-degree angle and inserted them using a Y-seam. (I made my pieces slightly bigger and then squared-up the sides when all pieces were sewn together.)
I promise you that the more you practice you Y-seam, the more confidence you'll have and the easier it will be to quickly assemble these more complex looking quilt designs.
Then you can really play and let your imagination go crazy with the variety of ways you can incorporate these Y-seams into your piecing.
For in depth instructions for making a Lemoyne star using a Y-seam tutorial on a 90 degree angle, check out this tutorial here.
Advanced Quilt Piecing Series Sponsored by Baby Lock
This Series: Piecing Y-Seams with your Sewing Machine is sponsored by Baby Lock Sewing Machines. I've been sewing exclusively with Baby Lock machines since 2017 and I'm a huge fan.
If you're looking for recommendations for buying the right sewing machine for a beginner or ideas for upgrading your current machine, I've got a post here on how to choose the perfect sewing machine, for any level or budget.
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