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Tessellating Stars Quilt
#14291
Overview
Give your quilts the star treatment. This stellar project triumphs over time and space with lightning-fast cut shapes and a layout that's completely out of this world!
Project courtesy of Gayle Wallace.
Theme: Quilting & Patchwork
Fabric Requirements:
| Yardage | Fabric | Cutting Instructions |
| 1 1/4 yd | Marbled cream print (background and binding) | Cut (120) Equilateral Triangles Cut (2) 1 3/4" wide Strips x WOF for background borders Cut (4) 2 1/2" wide Strips x WOF for binding |
| 5/8 yd | Peach with flower print (center of star and border) | Cut (100) Equilateral Triangles |
| 1 yd | Red with flower print (star points and border) | Cut (104) Equilateral Triangles |
| 1 yd | Backing fabric | |
| 35" x 38" | Batting |
Notes:
- Finished Size: 31 1/2" x 34"
- All seam allowances are 1/4" unless noted.
Piecing the Quilt:
- Each of the six sections of the block is made from four Equilateral Triangles, two from the background print and one each from the center and star points prints. Sewn together create a larger Triangle. See Diagram 1. Press toward what will become the center of the stars.
- Sew a background Triangle to the side of the star point fabric. Make sure that the straight of grain is on the outer edge. Press seam towards the star print. See Diagram 2.
- Sew the second background Triangle to the other side of the star point. Press away from the star fabric. See Diagram 3.
- Repeat steps 1 through 3. Sew two Triangle units together. Now is the time to decide which direction each section will be pressed. Be consistent.
- Repeat steps 1 through 4 until all Triangle units are sewn. The seams will begin to spiral in the center. You have now created half star units. See Diagram 4.
- Sew 12 background-only Triangle units to be sewn onto the ends of each of the horizontal rows. Refer to step 1.
- Follow Diagram 5 for placement of the half stars. Sew the half star units together in rows. This prevents sewing "set-in" seams and creates full hexagon stars.
- When sewing the rows together, carefully pin the centers of the star. When all rows are stitched, clip the threads in the seam of the center of star to fully allow seams to spiral. Be sure to carefully press the middle, not iron. Remember this is on the bias and stretching can occur.
- Using a long straight edge, square up the long sides of the quilt top.
- Measure from side to side. This measurement is the length of the top and bottom background border strip by 1 3/4" width. Sew on top and bottom of quilt top.
- To form Triangle borders, sew 11 center star print Triangles to 12 star point print Triangles. Repeat. This makes the top and bottom borders. Press. Do not sew them on yet.
- To form side Triangle borders, sew 12 center star print Triangles to 13 star point print Triangles. Repeat. This makes the each side border. Press. Do not sew them on yet.
- Fold to find the middle of each border strip. Place a pin at the fold. Fold quilt top in half to find the middle of each side. Place a pin at the fold. Match the pins on all sides and miter the corners.
Finishing:
- Layer the backing, batting and quilt top. Quilt by hand or machine, as desired.
- Sew binding strips together to form one long strip. Fold wrong sides together lengthwise and press.
- With a 1/4" seam, sew the raw edges of the binding to the edges of the right side of the quilt. Turn the folded edge of the binding to the back side of the quilt and stitch in place by hand, mitering the corners.