And to get an idea of how this block will look in a finished quilt . . . I drafted up a little EQ drawing. So fun, huh!!! My bee will be making this block for me this month and I can't wait to see all of those fabulous scrappy blocks. It is going to be amazing, I just know it!!
Alright, I promised you a Star Value tutorial so let's get to it!!!
**To see a simplified PDF Printer Friendly Version of this Tutorial please go here for The Star Value PDF it is available for Free Download!!
First, you will need to decide what size block you would like to make!! The block shown is a 20" block.
STEP 1 - CUTTING
Using the diagram above, go through your scraps and cut the total number of squares indicated for your chosen block size. If you are making multiple blocks for a quilt top, multiply the quantity by the number of blocks you want to make. Once you are done cutting you should have piles that look something like this. As you can see, the scrappier the better!!
STEP 2 - MAKING HALF SQUARE TRIANGLES
The fun thing about this block is it only takes Half Square triangles and the squares you have already cut. So let's start by making some Half Square Triangles. Match your blocks cut for Half Square Triangles into the following sets - 8 matching color/white sets, 8 grey/white sets, and 4 any color/grey sets.
Hint - When making an entire quilt of blocks, to save time be sure and repeat each of the sub-steps in an assembly line fashion.
On the wrong side of the darker fabric using your ruler, draw a pen line diagonally from the top left corner to the bottom right corner.
Lay your darker square on your lighter square with rights sides together. Pin both sides adjacent to that drawn line. Make sure to put them out far enough that your presser foot won't hit them as you sew on by :) Stitch a 1/4" seam along both sides of the drawn line (the black lines represent your stitching lines :)
And remember, you are doing these assembly line so go ahead and chain stitch all the sets on the right hand side of the line, and then go back and do all the sets on the left hand side.
Clip your threads and then align your ruler along the drawn center line. Cut your pieces apart along that drawn line.
Now press towards your darker fabric.
And now you are ready to trim up your HST. The following are the trim sizes for each size block
12" - 2" square 16" - 2 1/2" square 20" - 3" square 24" - 3 1/2" square 28" - 4" square
I will use the 3" trim for the example. Start by aligning the 45 degree line on your square ruler with the seam line on your half square triangle. Make sure that the raw edges of the half square triangle are over the 3" line's on your ruler. Trim the 2 sides along the edge of the ruler.
Now spin your block 180 degrees. Once again, align the 45 degree line on your ruler with the seam line on your half square triangle. Align the raw edges of the half square triangle under the ruler on the 3" lines on your ruler. Trim the 2 sides along the edge of the ruler.
And now you have Perfect Half Square Triangles. They take a bit to trim but are totally worth it for perfect points!!
You should have 40 Half Square Triangles total.
STEP 3 - MAKING THE BLOCK CENTER STAR
And now you are ready to start assembling your block!! Note - It's easy to get turned around with this block so I find it is always easiest to lay each step out so things don't get turned around. (And even with that, I still unpicked a seam or 2 :) Start by laying out 4 sets of color/white HST's with the matching color squares and 4 white color squares as follows.
I find the easiest way to piece this is to sew the squares into 4 quadrants of 4 first. So start by placing the the first square in each row onto the second square and the third squares onto the fourth squares with right sides together and sew a 1/4" seam along all the edges. (Shown in upper left corner). Press the seams of each quadrant in opposite directions. (Shown in upper right corner). Now place the top row in each of the 4 quadrants onto the bottom row. Nest the center seam and pin in place. Sew a 1/4" seam along pinned edge of all 4 quadrants (Shown in bottom left corner.) Press the seams open. (shown in bottom right corner.)
And now you should have 4 quadrants of 4 pieced squares. And now you can sew those 4 quadrants together.
Place the left hand blocks onto the right hand blocks with right sides together. Once again, nest the center seam and pin in place. Sew a 1/4" seam along pinned edge. Press your seams open.
**Note, when you are sewing this seam, if you make sure to cross your seam directly at the bottom of the little white triangle created in the seam you will get a perfect point every time :)
Now just place the top row onto the bottom, and be sure to align and pin each seam in place. Sew a 1/4" seam along the pinned edge and then press the seam open.
And your center star is complete!! Set this aside for the moment.
STEP 4 - MAKING THE BLOCK DIAMOND POINTS
And now, you are ready to do the diamond points. This is the exact same process as before of making quadrants into blocks. And note - You will be making 4 of these so assembly line fashion again will save you time. For each set gather up 4 grey/white HST's and 2 Grey/color HST's and lay them out as follows.
This time I placed the the second square in each row onto the first square and the fourth square onto the third squares with right sides together and sewed a 1/4" seam along all the edges. (it's fun to mix it up a bit). Press the seams of each quadrant in opposite directions. Then place the top row in each of the 2 quadrants onto the bottom row and nest and pin the center seam and sew a 1/4" seam along the pinned edge. Press the seams open.
Place the right hand blocks onto the left hand block with right sides together. Once again, nest the center seam and pin in place. Sew a 1/4" seam along pinned edge. Press your seams open. Remember to make a total of 4 of these units.
STEP 5 - MAKING THE BLOCK CORNERS
And all you have left is the corners. And by now, you are a pro at sewing these little quadrants together!! Gather your remaining 4 Colored Squares, 8 matching colored/white HST's and 4 white squares and lay them out into 4 sets as follows.
Sew the quadrants together just like before, sewing the squares into rows first, pressing in opposite directions, and then sewing the top and bottom row together and pressing the seam open. As always, use a 1/4" seam and be sure to nest your seams.
And then you have 4 fantastic corner blocks!
STEP 6 - SEWING THE STAR VALUE BLOCK
Which means, you are ready to sew the entire block together!!! Lay your pieces out as follows.
Place the right hand blocks in each row onto the center blocks with right sides together. Align your seams and pin in place. Repeat for the left hand blocks as well. Sew a 1/4" seam along all the pinned edges. Press the seams open.
And you should now have 3 fantastic rows. Only 2 more seams to go!!
Place the top row onto the center row with right sides together and once again align and pin each seam. Repeat for the bottom row onto the center row as well. Sew a 1/4" seam along each of the pinned edges. Press the seams open.
Now just sit back and enjoy your fantastic Star Value block!!!
And now let's get a finished quilt shown!!!! Here is my Star Value Quilt!!!! And a huge thanks so my bee mate friends who each made a block ;) It just added to the scrappy goodness!!!!
This is a 3 x 4 layout, so only 12 blocks of the 20" size which makes a great lap quilt at 60" x 80" ;) Isn't that so much fun!!!
Thanks for popping in today and sharing this Star Value Block Tutorial and Quilt Finish with me!!!
I hope you hall have a very Happy Quilting Day!!!
