Quilt block · Stars · Intermediate
Rising Star quilt block
A star within a star: a big four-patch star whose center is a small sawtooth star. Also called Star Within a 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 corners and 8 triangles
- A4 squares 2⅜″cut once on the diagonal
- C4 squares 2″
Dark · Navy in the picture
8 small star points
- B4 squares 1⅝″cut once on the diagonal
Medium · Denim in the picture
4 big geese
- A1 square 4¼″cut twice on the diagonals
Light · Powder Blue in the picture
4 squares and 4 small geese
- B1 square 2¾″cut twice on the diagonals
- D4 squares 1¼″
Accent · Apricot in the picture
The center square
- C1 square 2″
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 corners and 8 triangles
- A4 squares 3⅛″cut once on the diagonal
- C4 squares 2¾″
Dark · Navy in the picture
8 small star points
- B4 squares 2″cut once on the diagonal
Medium · Denim in the picture
4 big geese
- A1 square 5¾″cut twice on the diagonals
Light · Powder Blue in the picture
4 squares and 4 small geese
- B1 square 3½″cut twice on the diagonals
- D4 squares 1⅝″
Accent · Apricot in the picture
The center square
- C1 square 2¾″
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 corners and 8 triangles
- A4 squares 3⅞″cut once on the diagonal
- C4 squares 3½″
Dark · Navy in the picture
8 small star points
- B4 squares 2⅜″cut once on the diagonal
Medium · Denim in the picture
4 big geese
- A1 square 7¼″cut twice on the diagonals
Light · Powder Blue in the picture
4 squares and 4 small geese
- B1 square 4¼″cut twice on the diagonals
- D4 squares 2″
Accent · Apricot in the picture
The center square
- C1 square 3½″
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: Medium and Background
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 flying geese units: Light and Dark
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 2″ × 1¼″ (1½″ × ¾″ finished).
- Make 2 sections, 3½″ × 1¼″
Sew 2 Light D squares and a flying geese unit together in a row. Press toward the plain pieces. Each measures 3½″ × 1¼″ (3″ × ¾″ finished).
- Make 1 section, 3½″ × 2″
Sew 2 flying geese units and an Accent C square together in a row. Press toward the plain pieces. Each measures 3½″ × 2″ (3″ × 1½″ finished).
- Make 1 section, 3½″
Sew 3 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: Medium and Background
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 flying geese units: Light and Dark
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 2¾″ × 1⅝″ (2¼″ × 1⅛″ finished).
- Make 2 sections, 5″ × 1⅝″
Sew 2 Light D squares and a flying geese unit together in a row. Press toward the plain pieces. Each measures 5″ × 1⅝″ (4½″ × 1⅛″ finished).
- Make 1 section, 5″ × 2¾″
Sew 2 flying geese units and an Accent C square together in a row. Press toward the plain pieces. Each measures 5″ × 2¾″ (4½″ × 2¼″ finished).
- Make 1 section, 5″
Sew 3 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: Medium and Background
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 flying geese units: Light and Dark
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 2 sections, 6½″ × 2″
Sew 2 Light D squares and a flying geese unit together in a row. Press toward the plain pieces. Each measures 6½″ × 2″ (6″ × 1½″ finished).
- Make 1 section, 6½″ × 3½″
Sew 2 flying geese units and an Accent C square together in a row. Press toward the plain pieces. Each measures 6½″ × 3½″ (6″ × 3″ finished).
- Make 1 section, 6½″
Sew 3 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
Green Mountain StarFour-patch · Stars
Northumberland StarFour-patch · Stars
Right Hand of FriendshipFour-patch · Stars
Squares and StarsFour-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 Rising Star the same block as Star Within a Star?
Usually, yes. Block names vary by region and by book, and the same block is often sold under several. Our library lists Star Within a Star 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 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: 33 pieces in 6 different shapes and 12 points to match. Take it slowly and pin the points. We work the level out from the block’s own geometry, never by eye.