Retro Style Star Block Tutorial

Say "hello!" to Honey Bunch, the fabric collection by True Fabrics that is all about that classic 1930's feed-sack style.

Let's get some inspiration going and make something with these cute prints! Lemoyne Star is a very traditional quilt block but can be a bit tricky with Y seams, so I've adapted this version to be approachable for all skill levels.

Block is 12 1/2" and ideal for showing off cute prints (the pieces are nice and big!). All you need is the basics: rotary cutter and ruler, cutting mat, and sewing machine.

Get your Honey Bunch fabrics <<here>> . A fat quarter bundle will give you the variety you need for a cute scrappy look for your blocks: light prints for background, colorful prints for stars. Choose to go scrappy, all the same prints in each block, or some level of intentional placement.

You can make these cute blocks with any fabric you like. If vintage isn't your style, check out the full selection of True Fabrics in stock <<here>>

Let's sew!

Cutting to make one star block using fat quarter size fabrics:

Background print, cut (4) 4 1/4" squares + (4) 4" squares

Focus prints, cut (2) strips 3 1/2" x 21"

Cut all the background squares (4"  and 4 1/2") once on the diagonal to yield two half square triangles (HST) from each square.  You need 8 HST of each size to make one star block.

1. Place one 3 1/2" focus fabric strip on the cutting surface. Position ruler so that the 45 degree line aligns with one side of the fabric strip. The ruler should be angled to make a 45 degree cut from upper left corner of one end downward and to the right (see image below, left). Make cut.

2. Measure 4" from the first cut and reposition ruler at the same angle as in step 1. Make a second 45 degree cut.

Repeat steps 1-2 to cut four diamond shapes the same way. These may be from all the same or different fabrics.

Repeat steps 1-2 to cut four diamond shapes with the 45 degree angles in reverse. See illustrations above, right.

Sewing:

3. Place one of the diamond shapes cut in step 2 on the sewing surface as shown below, right side facing up and straight grain edges on top and bottom.

Position one 4" background HST, right sides facing, so that the angled edge of the triangle matches the angled side of the diamond as shown above. The point of the HST will overhang 1/4" on one end. Sew the angled side using 1/4" seam. Press and trim overhanging fabric tags.

4. Place the unit made in step 3 on the sewing surface, face up in position as shown below. Place a 4 1/4" background HST, right sides facing the diamond shape, so that one short side of the HST matches the top side of the diamond.

Sew 1/4" seam, press toward background fabric, and trim overhanging fabric tags.

Repeat steps 3-4 to make four star points.

5. Repeat steps 3-4 with the remaining four diamond shapes and background HST, making mirror image units of the first four. 

6. Divide the star points into pairs of mirror image units. Sew the pairs together on the long, angled side. Press seam open. Trim overhanging fabric tags to make 6 1/2" square. Make four units with two star points as shown above.

7. Arrange the four star point units in four-patch as shown below, so that the background fabrics are to the outside edges and the eight star points meet in the center. Sew units together in pairs and press seams open.

8. Sew the two halves together to finish the quilt block. Press seam open.

All done! now make as many as you want for a super cute, vintage style quilt. 

Options:

• Make four blocks and sew side-by-side to make a runner 12" x 48"
• Make nine blocks and set in a 3 x 3 grid. Cut 1 1/2" x 12 1/2" strips from some of the fat quarters in your bundle to make scrappy sashing. Also cut
  2 1/4" strips for a scrappy binding. This makes a 40" square baby quilt.
• Quick scrappy quilt: Alternate pieced star blocks with 12 1/2" cut squares of fabric. This layout can be sized up to whatever you prefer by making the correct number of blocks.

Are you excited to make something with Honey Bunch fabrics? We LOVE to see what you create with all the True Fabrics.

Be sure and share your projects on the Love Sew Facebook group and tell your friends about the newest name in quilting fabric: True Fabrics by Love Sew.

Happy Stitches,

Sharon