Quilt block · Nine-patch · Beginner
Wandering Star quilt block
Eight half-square triangles round a center square of four triangles, turned so the darks and mediums spin round the middle.
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
8 triangles
- A4 squares 2⅞″cut once on the diagonal
Dark · Navy in the picture
4 triangles and 2 center triangles
- B1 square 3¼″cut twice on the diagonals
- A2 squares 2⅞″cut once on the diagonal
Medium · Denim in the picture
4 triangles and 2 center triangles
- B1 square 3¼″cut twice on the diagonals
- A2 squares 2⅞″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
8 triangles
- A4 squares 3⅞″cut once on the diagonal
Dark · Navy in the picture
4 triangles and 2 center triangles
- B1 square 4¼″cut twice on the diagonals
- A2 squares 3⅞″cut once on the diagonal
Medium · Denim in the picture
4 triangles and 2 center triangles
- B1 square 4¼″cut twice on the diagonals
- A2 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
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 triangles
- A4 squares 4⅞″cut once on the diagonal
Dark · Navy in the picture
4 triangles and 2 center triangles
- B1 square 5¼″cut twice on the diagonals
- A2 squares 4⅞″cut once on the diagonal
Medium · Denim in the picture
4 triangles and 2 center triangles
- B1 square 5¼″cut twice on the diagonals
- A2 squares 4⅞″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 half-square triangle units: Dark and Background
Sew a Dark A triangle to a Background A triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Dark. Each measures 2½″ (2″ finished).
- Make 4 half-square triangle units: Medium and Background
Sew a Medium A triangle to a Background A triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Medium. Each measures 2½″ (2″ finished).
- Make 1 quarter-square triangle unit
Sew the Dark B and Medium B 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).
- Sew the units into 3 rows
Lay out the units 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 half-square triangle units: Dark and Background
Sew a Dark A triangle to a Background A triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Dark. Each measures 3½″ (3″ finished).
- Make 4 half-square triangle units: Medium and Background
Sew a Medium A triangle to a Background A triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Medium. Each measures 3½″ (3″ finished).
- Make 1 quarter-square triangle unit
Sew the Dark B and Medium B 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 3½″ (3″ finished).
- Sew the units into 3 rows
Lay out the units 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 half-square triangle units: Dark and Background
Sew a Dark A triangle to a Background A triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Dark. Each measures 4½″ (4″ finished).
- Make 4 half-square triangle units: Medium and Background
Sew a Medium A triangle to a Background A triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Medium. Each measures 4½″ (4″ finished).
- Make 1 quarter-square triangle unit
Sew the Dark B and Medium B 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 4½″ (4″ finished).
- Sew the units into 3 rows
Lay out the units 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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Eccentric StarNine-patch
More like this: 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 3 × 3 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 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: 20 pieces in 2 different shapes and 5 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.