Quilt block · Stars · Beginner
Double Star quilt block
A small square in the center with four big medium triangles turning round it, a dark triangle tucked into each, and plain rectangles round the edge, pieced with partial seams.
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
The center square, 4 rectangles and 4 triangles
- B4 rectangles 3″ × 1⅞″then cut with template B
- A4 rectangles 3″ × 1¾″then cut with template A
- D1 square 1¾″then cut with template D
Dark · Navy in the picture
4 triangles
- B4 rectangles 3″ × 1⅞″then cut with template B
Medium · Denim in the picture
4 big triangles
- C4 squares 3″then cut with template C
Between the lines. Double Star cuts cleanly at 5″ or 7½″. At 6″ its quarter-square triangles' long 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
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
The center square, 4 rectangles and 4 triangles
- B4 rectangles 4¼″ × 2½″then cut with template B
- A4 rectangles 4⅛″ × 2⅜″then cut with template A
- D1 square 2⅜″then cut with template D
Dark · Navy in the picture
4 triangles
- B4 rectangles 4¼″ × 2½″then cut with template B
Medium · Denim in the picture
4 big triangles
- C4 squares 4¼″then cut with template C
Between the lines. Double Star cuts cleanly at 7½″ or 10″. At 9″ its quarter-square triangles' long sides are 3³⁄₅″, 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
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
The center square, 4 rectangles and 4 triangles
- B4 rectangles 5½″ × 3⅛″then cut with template B
- A4 rectangles 5⅜″ × 3″then cut with template A
- D1 square 3″then cut with template D
Dark · Navy in the picture
4 triangles
- B4 rectangles 5½″ × 3⅛″then cut with template B
Medium · Denim in the picture
4 big triangles
- C4 squares 5⅜″then cut with template C
Between the lines. Double Star cuts cleanly at 10″ or 12½″. At 12″ its quarter-square triangles' long sides are 4⁴⁄₅″, 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 6″ block. Choose another size above and these steps follow it.
- Sew the set-in seams
These pieces meet where a straight seam can’t run right across, so they’re joined with set-in (Y) seams. Mark the ¼″ seam points at each piece’s corners. Sew each seam only from mark to mark, backstitching at both ends, so the seam allowances stay free; sew the two seams into the corner, then pivot and sew the last one. Press the allowances so they swirl round the point. The part measures 6½″ (6″ finished).
For the 9″ block. Choose another size above and these steps follow it.
- Sew the set-in seams
These pieces meet where a straight seam can’t run right across, so they’re joined with set-in (Y) seams. Mark the ¼″ seam points at each piece’s corners. Sew each seam only from mark to mark, backstitching at both ends, so the seam allowances stay free; sew the two seams into the corner, then pivot and sew the last one. Press the allowances so they swirl round the point. The part measures 9½″ (9″ finished).
For the 12″ block. Choose another size above and these steps follow it.
- Sew the set-in seams
These pieces meet where a straight seam can’t run right across, so they’re joined with set-in (Y) seams. Mark the ¼″ seam points at each piece’s corners. Sew each seam only from mark to mark, backstitching at both ends, so the seam allowances stay free; sew the two seams into the corner, then pivot and sew the last one. Press the allowances so they swirl round the point. The part measures 12½″ (12″ finished).
Blocks like it
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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?
Not as drawn: it has set-in (Y) seams, where three seams meet and none runs straight through. Piece it with a rotary cutter and templates instead, as the cutting list above does.
Is it a good block for a beginner?
It’s a good block for a beginner: 17 pieces in 4 different shapes and 8 points to match. Nothing in it curves or has to be set in. We work the level out from the block’s own geometry, never by eye.