Quilt block · Stars · Beginner
Right Hand of Friendship quilt block
Four big triangles meeting in the center, each with two small triangles beside it for the points of a star, and plain squares in the 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 8 triangles
- C2 squares 2¾″cut twice on the diagonals
- A4 squares 2″
Dark · Navy in the picture
6 triangles
- B1 square 3⅞″cut once on the diagonal
- C1 square 2¾″cut twice on the diagonals
Medium · Denim in the picture
6 triangles
- B1 square 3⅞″cut once on the diagonal
- C1 square 2¾″cut twice on the diagonals
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 8 triangles
- C2 squares 3½″cut twice on the diagonals
- A4 squares 2¾″
Dark · Navy in the picture
6 triangles
- B1 square 5⅜″cut once on the diagonal
- C1 square 3½″cut twice on the diagonals
Medium · Denim in the picture
6 triangles
- B1 square 5⅜″cut once on the diagonal
- C1 square 3½″cut twice on the diagonals
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 8 triangles
- C2 squares 4¼″cut twice on the diagonals
- A4 squares 3½″
Dark · Navy in the picture
6 triangles
- B1 square 6⅞″cut once on the diagonal
- C1 square 4¼″cut twice on the diagonals
Medium · Denim in the picture
6 triangles
- B1 square 6⅞″cut once on the diagonal
- C1 square 4¼″cut twice on the diagonals
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.
- Add 4 corner triangles
Sew the Medium C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add 4 corner triangles
Sew the Background C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Make 2 sections
Sew a Background A square and a section together in a row. Press toward the plain pieces.
- Make 2 sections
Sew a section and a Background A square together in a row. Press toward the plain pieces.
- Make 2 sections
Sew 2 sections together in a column. Press the seams to one side.
- Make 2 sections
Sew 2 sections together in a column. Press the seams to one side.
- Add 2 corner triangles
Sew the Medium B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle. Each measures 3½″ (3″ finished).
- Add 2 corner triangles
Sew the Dark B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle. Each measures 3½″ (3″ finished).
- Sew the units into 2 rows
Lay out the units as in the picture and sew them into 2 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 2 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.
- Add 4 corner triangles
Sew the Medium C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add 4 corner triangles
Sew the Background C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Make 2 sections
Sew a Background A square and a section together in a row. Press toward the plain pieces.
- Make 2 sections
Sew a section and a Background A square together in a row. Press toward the plain pieces.
- Make 2 sections
Sew 2 sections together in a column. Press the seams to one side.
- Make 2 sections
Sew 2 sections together in a column. Press the seams to one side.
- Add 2 corner triangles
Sew the Medium B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle. Each measures 5″ (4½″ finished).
- Add 2 corner triangles
Sew the Dark B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle. Each measures 5″ (4½″ finished).
- Sew the units into 2 rows
Lay out the units as in the picture and sew them into 2 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 2 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.
- Add 4 corner triangles
Sew the Medium C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add 4 corner triangles
Sew the Background C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Make 2 sections
Sew a Background A square and a section together in a row. Press toward the plain pieces.
- Make 2 sections
Sew a section and a Background A square together in a row. Press toward the plain pieces.
- Make 2 sections
Sew 2 sections together in a column. Press the seams to one side.
- Make 2 sections
Sew 2 sections together in a column. Press the seams to one side.
- Add 2 corner triangles
Sew the Medium B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle. Each measures 6½″ (6″ finished).
- Add 2 corner triangles
Sew the Dark B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle. Each measures 6½″ (6″ finished).
- Sew the units into 2 rows
Lay out the units as in the picture and sew them into 2 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 2 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
Northumberland StarFour-patch · Stars
Squares and StarsFour-patch · Stars
FirewheelFour-patch · Stars
Autumn 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
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 4 sections (A, B, C and D), 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 a good block for a beginner: 24 pieces in 3 different shapes and 12 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.