I usually have 12 or more blocks in a quilt. Since our Block of the Month Group is only planning on 9 blocks, I decided to add a few of my own blocks.
Eight Pointed Star |
I first learned this technique at Quilt, Etc. I choose this method if I have a large print for my star. I don't want to break up the large print with a seam through the middle of one of the points. Another method of making this star uses half-square triangles (leave a comment if you would like a tutorial on that method).
This is not a 'no waste' method of making stars. This is a very accurate method, but there is alot of waste. I get creative and use the extra pieces on the back of the quilt or in the border.
In order for this pattern to work you also have to have a small print or a solid for the background fabric. If you have a busy background print you will see the seams more clearly.
As always, the seams are a scant 1/4".
Cut from background fabric
(A1) eight 4" x 6 1/2" rectangles
(A2) eight 3" squares
Cut from color 1 (red)
(B) four 3 x 6 1/2" rectangles
Cut from color 2 (green)
(C) four 3 x 6 1/2" rectangles
Everything cut out. |
Draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of each square background (A2) |
Place a background square (A2) right sides together on each3 x 6 1/2" rectangles (B, C). |
Sew along the diagonal line on each square. I usually chain sew all eight sub-units, one piece after another. |
Trim 1/4" to the right of the sewn line on all eight pieces. |
Ready to cut. It's hard to see, but the two corners of the square and the drawn line are under the 1/4" line of the ruler. |
This is what your sub-unit will look like when it's trimmed. |
Press one color towards the background fabric (A) and one color towards the colored fabric (B or C). |
Eleanor Burns is always very careful about pressing. Reading her books and watching her videos has taught me to think through the pressing process so that I have the least amount of bulk in the seam allowances. It also allows seam nesting, which makes for better points.
I pressed my AB sub-units towards the background (A) and my AC sub-units towards the green (B) fabric. |
Using your AB and AC sub-units place an A1 unit (4 x 6 1/2" background) fabric on the LONG edge of the colored fabric. See the photo above. |
Sneak peak! I pushed the unsewn pieces from the above photo together and placed paper over the parts that will be trimmed away just to see if I had everything lined up correctly. |
Sew the AB and AC sub-units to the 4"x 6 1/2" rectangle.
Press the seam towards the red (B) fabric, and towards the background (A) fabric on the units with green (C) fabric.
Sew along the drawn line. |
You can't see the stitching, but this unit is ready to be trimmed 1/4" from the sewn edge. |
This is what you want it to look like after it's been cut. |
Press towards one side. It isn't as important to press towards one side or the other in this step. I generally press towards the green (C) fabric.
Get your blocks ready to sew the next seam. It's really starting to look like a star now! |
Place one unit right sides together with another, nest the seams and pin where the seams nest to keep them from shifting while you sew.
I place my sewn units like this on the pressing board so that I remember to press one seam up and one seam down. This press is important because it will allow you to nest the center seam of the star. |
Place both halves of the block together and nest the seams, especially the seams at the center of the star, pin in place and sew the last seam.
I press on the wrong side so I can swirl the center seam and reduce the bulk. Then I turn it over and do a final pressing on the front. |
Final block from the right side. |
I love stars! They are also one of my most challenging blocks because I am always trying to avoid cutting off the points. If my cutting and seams aren't accurate--I loose points every time.