Quilt block · Stars · Advanced

Stars and Nines quilt block

Two nine-patches alternate with two stars made from hourglass units and half-square triangle corners.

FamilyNine-patch
Grid12 × 12
Units8 half-square triangles, 8 hourglass, 20 squares
Pieces68

What to cut for one block

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

8 squares and 24 triangles

  • C4 squares 3¼″cut twice on the diagonals
  • B4 squares 2⅞″cut once on the diagonal
  • A8 squares 2½″
⅜ yd

Dark · Navy in the picture

12 squares and 24 triangles

  • C4 squares 3¼″cut twice on the diagonals
  • B4 squares 2⅞″cut once on the diagonal
  • A12 squares 2½″
⅜ yd

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 12″ block. Choose another size above and these steps follow it.

  1. Make 8 half-square triangle units

    Sew a Dark B triangle to a Background B triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Dark. Each measures 2½″ (2″ finished).

  2. Make 8 quarter-square triangle units

    Sew the Background C and Dark C triangles together in pairs along a short edge, then join the pairs, matching the seams at the center. Press the last seam open. Each measures 2½″ (2″ finished).

  3. Sew the units and pieces into 6 rows

    Lay out the units and pieces as in the picture and sew them into 6 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.

  4. Join the rows

    Join the 6 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

More like this: Star quilt blocks · Checks and chains quilt blocks · Nine-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 12 × 12 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 15″ 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 12 sections (A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K and L), 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: 68 pieces in 3 different shapes and 24 points to match. Practise the hard seams on scraps first. We work the level out from the block’s own geometry, never by eye.

Design with Stars and Nines, free

Open it in Quarter Inch at any size, in a layout of your own and in your own colors.

Start designing free