Quilt block · Stars · Advanced
Heavenly Stars quilt block
Small stars of half-square triangle units scattered across a grid of squares. Also called Snow Crystals.
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
16 squares and 32 triangles
- B16 squares 1⅝″cut once on the diagonal
- A16 squares 1¼″
Dark · Navy in the picture
64 triangles
- B32 squares 1⅝″cut once on the diagonal
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
16 squares and 32 triangles
- B16 squares 2″cut once on the diagonal
- A16 squares 1⅝″
Dark · Navy in the picture
64 triangles
- B32 squares 2″cut once on the diagonal
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
16 squares and 32 triangles
- B16 squares 2⅜″cut once on the diagonal
- A16 squares 2″
Dark · Navy in the picture
64 triangles
- B32 squares 2⅜″cut once on the diagonal
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 32 half-square triangle units
Sew a Background B triangle to a Dark B triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Dark. Each measures 1¼″ (¾″ finished).
- Make 16 half-square triangle units
Sew a Dark B triangle to a Dark B triangle along their long edges. Press the seams open. Each measures 1¼″ (¾″ finished).
- Sew the units and pieces into 8 rows
Lay out the units and pieces as in the picture and sew them into 8 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 8 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 32 half-square triangle units
Sew a Background B triangle to a Dark B triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Dark. Each measures 1⅝″ (1⅛″ finished).
- Make 16 half-square triangle units
Sew a Dark B triangle to a Dark B triangle along their long edges. Press the seams open. Each measures 1⅝″ (1⅛″ finished).
- Sew the units and pieces into 8 rows
Lay out the units and pieces as in the picture and sew them into 8 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 8 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 32 half-square triangle units
Sew a Background B triangle to a Dark B triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Dark. Each measures 2″ (1½″ finished).
- Make 16 half-square triangle units
Sew a Dark B triangle to a Dark B triangle along their long edges. Press the seams open. Each measures 2″ (1½″ finished).
- Sew the units and pieces into 8 rows
Lay out the units and pieces as in the picture and sew them into 8 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 8 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
SolitaireFour-patch · Stars
CoronationFour-patch · Stars
Cross and SquareFour-patch · Stars
Solomon’s StarFour-patch · Stars
More like this: Star quilt blocks · Four-patch quilt blocks · all quilt blocks
Questions
Short answers.
Something else? A real person replies.
hello@quarterinch.app
Is Heavenly Stars the same block as Snow Crystals?
Usually, yes. Block names vary by region and by book, and the same block is often sold under several. Our library lists Snow Crystals as other name for this one, so a search for any of them finds it.
What size should I make it?
Its 8 × 8 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 4″, 7″, 8″, 10″, 14″, 15″, 16″ 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 8 sections (A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H), 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 advanced block: 112 pieces in 2 different shapes and 45 points to match. Practise the hard seams on scraps first. We work the level out from the block’s own geometry, never by eye.