Quilt block · Stars · Intermediate

Cross and Stars quilt block

A dark cross of strips divides the block, with a square on point in each corner holding a kite-shaped star point.

FamilyFive-patch
Grid10 × 10
Shapes5
Pieces29

What to cut for one block

A 12″ finished block measures 12½″ before it’s sewn into a quilt. Each fabric’s yardage is the least that cuts its strips across the width of fabric, with a strip to spare for straightening.

Background · Snow in the picture

12 triangles

  • A12 squares 3″then cut with template A
¼ yd

Dark · Navy in the picture

4 strips and 1 center square

  • D4 rectangles 5⅜″ × 3″then cut with template D
  • E1 square 3″then cut with template E
¼ yd

Medium · Denim in the picture

4 kites

  • C4 squares 4¼″then cut with template C
¼ yd

Light · Powder Blue in the picture

8 triangles

  • B8 rectangles 4¼″ × 3⅛″then cut with template B
¼ yd

Between the lines. Cross and Stars cuts cleanly at 10″ or 12½″. At 12″ its half-square triangles' short sides are 2²⁄₅″, so they need templates.

Worked out by @quarterinch/cutting · ¼″ seams included · strips cut across 42″ of usable width · the letters are the pieces the sewing steps name

How it’s sewn

For the 12″ block. Choose another size above and these steps follow it.

  1. Add 8 corner triangles

    Sew the Light B triangle across each corner in turn, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.

  2. Add 8 corner triangles

    Sew the Background A triangle across each corner in turn, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.

  3. Add 4 corner triangles

    Sew the Background A triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.

  4. Sew the units and pieces into 3 rows

    Lay out the units and pieces as in the picture and sew them into 3 rows. Press the seams in row 1 to the left, row 2 to the right, and so on, so they nest when the rows are joined.

  5. Join the rows

    Join the 3 rows, matching and nesting the seams where they meet. Press the long seams open or to one side. The block measures 12½″ (12″ finished).

Blocks like it

More like this: Star quilt blocks · Five-patch quilt blocks · all quilt blocks

Questions

Short answers.

Something else? A real person replies.

hello@quarterinch.app

What size should I make it?

On its 10 × 10 grid, 6″, 9″ and 12″ put some pieces between the ⅛″ marks, so they need templates. It cuts cleanly at 10″ or 12½″.

Can I paper piece it?

Yes. It splits into 5 sections (A, B, C, D and E), each sewn on its own paper in order and then joined with straight seams. In Quarter Inch, the Foundations tab prints its papers at true size (with Quilter).

Is it a good block for a beginner?

It’s an intermediate block: 29 pieces in 5 different shapes and 12 points to match. Take it slowly and pin the points. We work the level out from the block’s own geometry, never by eye.

Design with Cross and Stars, free

Open it in Quarter Inch at any size, in a layout of your own and in your own colors.

Start designing free