Quilt block · Stars · Intermediate
Martha Washington Star quilt block
A four-patch star whose center is a pinwheel of triangles, with half-square triangle points and plain corners.
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 squares and 12 triangles
- A1 square 4¼″cut twice on the diagonals
- D1 square 2¾″cut twice on the diagonals
- C2 squares 2⅜″cut once on the diagonal
- B4 squares 2″
Dark · Navy in the picture
12 triangles
- D1 square 2¾″cut twice on the diagonals
- A4 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
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 squares and 12 triangles
- A1 square 5¾″cut twice on the diagonals
- D1 square 3½″cut twice on the diagonals
- C2 squares 3⅛″cut once on the diagonal
- B4 squares 2¾″
Dark · Navy in the picture
12 triangles
- D1 square 3½″cut twice on the diagonals
- A4 squares 3⅛″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
4 squares and 12 triangles
- A1 square 7¼″cut twice on the diagonals
- D1 square 4¼″cut twice on the diagonals
- C2 squares 3⅞″cut once on the diagonal
- B4 squares 3½″
Dark · Navy in the picture
12 triangles
- D1 square 4¼″cut twice on the diagonals
- A4 squares 3⅞″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 4 flying geese units
Sew a sky triangle to one short side of the goose triangle and press toward the sky; then the other. The goose’s point sits ¼″ below the top edge. Each measures 3½″ × 2″ (3″ × 1½″ finished).
- Make 4 three-triangle units
Sew the two small triangles together along a short edge, then sew them to the large triangle, matching the point to the middle of its long edge. Press toward the large triangle. Each measures 2″ (1½″ finished).
- Make 2 sections, 3½″ × 2″
Sew 2 three-triangle units together in a row. Press the seams to one side. Each measures 3½″ × 2″ (3″ × 1½″ finished).
- Make 1 section, 3½″
Sew 2 sections together in a column. Press the seams to one side. Each measures 3½″ (3″ finished).
- 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.
- 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 flying geese units
Sew a sky triangle to one short side of the goose triangle and press toward the sky; then the other. The goose’s point sits ¼″ below the top edge. Each measures 5″ × 2¾″ (4½″ × 2¼″ finished).
- Make 4 three-triangle units
Sew the two small triangles together along a short edge, then sew them to the large triangle, matching the point to the middle of its long edge. Press toward the large triangle. Each measures 2¾″ (2¼″ finished).
- Make 2 sections, 5″ × 2¾″
Sew 2 three-triangle units together in a row. Press the seams to one side. Each measures 5″ × 2¾″ (4½″ × 2¼″ finished).
- Make 1 section, 5″
Sew 2 sections together in a column. Press the seams to one side. Each measures 5″ (4½″ finished).
- 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.
- 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 flying geese units
Sew a sky triangle to one short side of the goose triangle and press toward the sky; then the other. The goose’s point sits ¼″ below the top edge. Each measures 6½″ × 3½″ (6″ × 3″ finished).
- Make 4 three-triangle units
Sew the two small triangles together along a short edge, then sew them to the large triangle, matching the point to the middle of its long edge. Press toward the large triangle. Each measures 3½″ (3″ finished).
- Make 2 sections, 6½″ × 3½″
Sew 2 three-triangle units together in a row. Press the seams to one side. Each measures 6½″ × 3½″ (6″ × 3″ finished).
- Make 1 section, 6½″
Sew 2 sections together in a column. Press the seams to one side. Each measures 6½″ (6″ finished).
- 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.
- 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
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More like this: Star quilt blocks · Pinwheel quilt blocks · Four-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 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 6 sections (A, B, C, D, E and F), 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: 28 pieces in 4 different shapes and 13 points to match. Take it slowly and pin the points. We work the level out from the block’s own geometry, never by eye.