Tutorial

How to make that star? Instructions now available as a slideshow here.

Five Point Quilt Star Pattern Tutorial Part One

Quilting patterns are full of eight point stars but if you are looking for a pattern for a five point star they are hard to come by. I was working to create an unusual star for a quilting project I was designing and so I decided to try making a five pointed star. After a variety of tries with disappointing results, I settled on this approach. There are similarities here to the log cabin method of making a square block, layering on rows of fabric to build the design. This pattern uses a backing fabric that should be a plain white or light colored fabric so that it does not show through the fabric when the quilt is finished.
Start with a 14 inch square of plain cotton fabric and mark a center point, but it does not have to be exactly in the center.
Make five lines through the center, all the way to the edges


On every other line mark a point five inches from the center point. For a funky look, make points of various lengths.
On the alternating lines mark a point two inches from the center point.

Connect the dots to form the outline of the star.
Number each section of the star. This will be very helpful later on to keep the sections straight.
Flip the star over and mark the same numbers on the back to keep them straight once they are covered in fabric.
Carefully cut in to the center of the star between the points of the star cutting the square into five sections.




Choose ten coordinating fabrics for the body of the star and cut 5.5 x 2 inch rectangles of each.

1. Combine five pairs of these star fabrics, right sides together.
Place one pair of fabrics over the central line of one section of the star and carefully sew leaving a .25 inch seam allowance.


Iron the two sides of the star open and repeat for the four other sides.

For the conclusion please check out the next post

Five Point Quilt Star Pattern Tutorial Part Two

The first seams have been sewn at this point, the star fabric to the background.

Press the star fabric open.

Turn the section facedown and trim the points of the star leaving an extra .25 inch seam allowance.


Holding fabric up to a light source, carefully trim the extra fabric away from the star leaving an extra .25 inch seam allowance. This will become a guide in sewing the next sections of the fabric to the star.

You can just barely see the pencil mark through the fabric so that you know where to cut. Try to avoid using ink for this purpose, having the ink run when the finished quilt is washed would be rather annoying.

Choose ten coordinating fabrics for the second row of the star and cut 2 inch strips or strips of various widths for a more funky look. Choose fabrics one step darker in value than the color of the star.
Lay out the fabrics until you are satisfied with the colors and balance.
Carefully place the chosen colors on the star face down, sew leaving a .25 seam allowance.
Sew each star point starting on the right hand side so that all points of the stars “go” the same direction.
Iron fabric open and trim.
Place the second strip of fabric against the first, carefully sew and iron open then trim.
Continue to add rows to the star points until all the backing fabric is covered. Iron each section open and trim each section carefully.



Carefully sew two points of the star together matching the lining fabric and iron.
Carefully sew two other points of the star together, matching the lining fabric and iron.
And the final point to a pair and iron.
Sew the final two sections together starting in the center of the star and sewing each side to the edge and iron.
Your star is complete and ready to be trimmed. Add a border fabric or two, or piece several stars together in a quilt design. The options for using this star block in quilt designs are endless.

I have to admit, making a tutorial is kind of fun!