SIMPLE STARS
Mix bright fabrics with a plainer background for Svetlana Sotak’s super-star quilt design.
NOTES
Seam allowances are ¼in, unless otherwise noted. Press seams open, unless otherwise instructed. Templates include seam allowances. RST = right sides together. WOF = width of fabric. Wash and press all fabrics well before cutting.
FABRICS USED
We used medium weight quilting cotton fabric for the samples in this pattern. Linen and linen/cotton blend fabric could also be used.
CUTTING OUT
1
From fabric A cut twenty (20) 6in x WOF strips. Set eight (8) strips aside for sashing and border. Subcut twelve (12) strips into ninety-six (96) triangles from Template A, and sixteen (16) half-triangles from Template B.
2
From fabrics B-E cut one (1) 6in x WOF strip each, then subcut each strip into six (6) triangles using Template A.
3
From the binding fabric cut seven (7) 2½in x WOF strips.
4
Cut the backing fabric into two (2) equal lengths and remove all selvedges.
PIECING THE BLOCKS
5
Following the layout diagram opposite, arrange the triangles into two main blocks. Each block consists of four rows, with each row containing fifteen triangles and two half-triangles.
6
Start piecing each row from left to right by placing the joining edges of triangles right sides together (Fig a). Use pins to prevent shifting as you sew. Finger press the seam open and attach next triangle (Fig b). Keep adding triangles, making sure to keep them in the correct order for each row.
7
Once an entire row is pieced, press seams open. Sew the remaining rows as before.
8
Stitch the first four rows together to make one large quilt block. Press the seams open. Piece the second block of triangles in the same way.
SASHING AND BORDERS
9
Remove any selvedges from the remaining sashing and border strips. Stitch all strips together along short 6in edge into one long continuous strip. Subcut this strip into three (3) 52 in long strips and two (2) 61in long strips.
10
Join the two sets of assembled stars together by attaching one 6in x 52 in strip between the triangle blocks. Then add a strip to the top and bottom. Press seams toward the strips. If necessary, trim the ends of the strips to the same width as the triangle block. Finally, sash the sides with the 61in long strips.
QUILTING AND FINISHING
11
Stitch the two pieces of backing fabric together along the long edge using in seam allowance. Press the seam open. Make a quilt sandwich by basting together backing, batting and the completed quilt top. Quilt as desired – Svetlana kept it simple with straight lines in white thread across the top at approx. 1in intervals.
12
Trim off any excess batting and backing and square up the quilt. Stitch binding strips together using diagonal seams. Press in half lengthwise with wrong sides together. Bind using your preferred method to finish your star quilt.