Quilt block · Stars · Intermediate
Doris’ Delight quilt block
A dark square-in-a-square center, a triangle-in-a-square unit on each side with its tall background triangle pointing in, and half-square triangles in the corners make an eight-pointed star.
What to cut for one block
A 6″ finished block measures 6½″ 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
4 corner triangles, 4 tall triangles and 4 small triangles
- A2 squares 2⅞″cut once on the diagonal
- B4 rectangles 2⅝″ × 2½″then cut with template B
- D2 squares 1⅞″cut once on the diagonal
Dark · Navy in the picture
The center square, 4 corner triangles and 8 slim triangles
- A2 squares 2⅞″cut once on the diagonal
- E1 square 2¾″then cut with template E
- C8 rectangles 2⅝″ × 1⅝″then cut with template C
Templates. Pieces marked “cut with template” aren’t a shape a straight ruler cuts: cut the size given, then trim it to the template’s shape. Quarter Inch prints Doris’ Delight’s templates at true size with Quilter.
Worked out by @quarterinch/cutting · ¼″ seams included · strips cut across 42″ of usable width · the letters are the pieces the sewing steps name
A 9″ finished block measures 9½″ 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
4 corner triangles, 4 tall triangles and 4 small triangles
- A2 squares 3⅞″cut once on the diagonal
- B4 rectangles 3⅝″ × 3½″then cut with template B
- D2 squares 2⅜″cut once on the diagonal
Dark · Navy in the picture
The center square, 4 corner triangles and 8 slim triangles
- A2 squares 3⅞″cut once on the diagonal
- E1 square 3¾″then cut with template E
- C8 rectangles 3⅝″ × 2⅛″then cut with template C
Templates. Pieces marked “cut with template” aren’t a shape a straight ruler cuts: cut the size given, then trim it to the template’s shape. Quarter Inch prints Doris’ Delight’s templates at true size with Quilter.
Worked out by @quarterinch/cutting · ¼″ seams included · strips cut across 42″ of usable width · the letters are the pieces the sewing steps name
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
4 corner triangles, 4 tall triangles and 4 small triangles
- A2 squares 4⅞″cut once on the diagonal
- B4 rectangles 4⅝″ × 4½″then cut with template B
- D2 squares 2⅞″cut once on the diagonal
Dark · Navy in the picture
The center square, 4 corner triangles and 8 slim triangles
- A2 squares 4⅞″cut once on the diagonal
- E1 square 4¾″then cut with template E
- C8 rectangles 4⅝″ × 2⅝″then cut with template C
Templates. Pieces marked “cut with template” aren’t a shape a straight ruler cuts: cut the size given, then trim it to the template’s shape. Quarter Inch prints Doris’ Delight’s templates at true size with Quilter.
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 6″ block. Choose another size above and these steps follow it.
- Make 4 half-square triangle units
Sew a Dark A triangle to a Background A triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Dark. Each measures 2½″ (2″ finished).
- Add 4 corner triangles
Sew the Background B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Make 1 square-in-a-square unit
Sew triangles to two opposite sides of the center square and press out; then to the other two sides, and press out. Each measures 2½″ (2″ finished).
- Add 4 corner triangles
Sew the Dark C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle. Each measures 2½″ (2″ finished).
- Sew the units into 3 rows
Lay out the units 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.
- 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 6½″ (6″ finished).
For the 9″ block. Choose another size above and these steps follow it.
- Make 4 half-square triangle units
Sew a Dark A triangle to a Background A triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Dark. Each measures 3½″ (3″ finished).
- Add 4 corner triangles
Sew the Background B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Make 1 square-in-a-square unit
Sew triangles to two opposite sides of the center square and press out; then to the other two sides, and press out. Each measures 3½″ (3″ finished).
- Add 4 corner triangles
Sew the Dark C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle. Each measures 3½″ (3″ finished).
- Sew the units into 3 rows
Lay out the units 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.
- 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 9½″ (9″ finished).
For the 12″ block. Choose another size above and these steps follow it.
- Make 4 half-square triangle units
Sew a Dark A triangle to a Background A triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Dark. Each measures 4½″ (4″ finished).
- Add 4 corner triangles
Sew the Background B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Make 1 square-in-a-square unit
Sew triangles to two opposite sides of the center square and press out; then to the other two sides, and press out. Each measures 4½″ (4″ finished).
- Add 4 corner triangles
Sew the Dark C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle. Each measures 4½″ (4″ finished).
- Sew the units into 3 rows
Lay out the units 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.
- 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
Aunt Sukey’s ChoiceNine-patch · Stars
Sun RaysNine-patch · Stars
Morning StarNine-patch · Stars
Swing in the CenterNine-patch · Stars
More like this: Star quilt blocks · Nine-patch quilt blocks · all quilt blocks
Questions
Short answers.
Something else? A real person replies.
hello@quarterinch.app
What size should I make it?
Its 6 × 6 grid lands on the ⅛″ marks at 6″, 9″ and 12″, so every piece measures with a ruler at all three. It also cuts cleanly at 15″ and 18″. In Quarter Inch you can make it any size, and it says when a cut falls between the lines.
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: 25 pieces in 5 different shapes and 4 points to match. Take it slowly and pin the points. We work the level out from the block’s own geometry, never by eye.