Christmas Star Quilt

SUPPLIES & TOOLS:

• Fabric A (cream background): 4 yds
• Fabric B: 1/4 yd
• Fabric C: 1/4 yd
• Fabric D: 1/4 yd
• Fabric E: 1/4 yd
• Fabric F: 1/4 yd
• Fabric G (red border squares): 1/2 yd
• Fabric H: 1/4 yd
• Fabric I: 1/4 yd
• Fabric J: 1/4 yd
• Fabric K: 1/4 yd
• Fabric L: 1/4 yd
• Binding Fabric: 1/2 yd
• Backing Fabric: 60"x 70"
• Batting: 60"x 70"
• Large Quilting Ruler
• Rotary Cutter
• Safety Pins
• Fabric Marker
• Iron & Ironing Surface
• Basic Sewing Supplies

DIRECTIONS:

1. CUT LIST:
• Fabric A (cream background):
• Star Blocks: (60) 3 1/2"x 3 1/2", (30) 4 3/4"x 4 3/4"
• Sashing Between Blocks: (12) 1 1/2"x 1 1/2", (31) 1 1/2"x 9 1/2"
• Inner Border: (2) 2 1/2" strips for top/bottom, (3) 2 7/8" strips for sides
• Diamond Border: (10) 2 1/2" strips
• Outer Border: (6) 4" strips
• Fabric B: (12) 2"x 2", (4) 3 1/2"x 3 1/2", (6) 4 3/4"x 4 3/4"
• Fabric C: (8) 2"x 2", (4) 3 1/2"x 3 1/2", (7) 4 3/4"x 4 3/4"
• Fabric D: (4) 2"x 2", (4) 3 1/2"x 3 1/2", (5) 4 3/4"x 4 3/4"
• Fabric E: (8) 2"x 2", (4) 3 1/2"x 3 1/2", (3) 4 3/4"x 4 3/4"
• Fabric F: (8) 2"x 2", (4) 3 1/2"x 3 1/2", (3) 4 3/4"x 4 3/4"
• Fabric G: (5) 2" strips
• Fabric H: (8) 2"x 2", (4) 3 1/2"x 3 1/2", (3) 4 3/4"x 4 3/4"
• Fabric I: (4) 2"x 2", (4) 3 1/2"x 3 1/2", (5) 4 3/4"x 4 3/4"
• Fabric J: (8) 2"x 2", (4) 3 1/2"x 3 1/2", (5) 4 3/4"x 4 3/4"
• Fabric K: (8) 2"x 2", (4) 3 1/2"x 3 1/2", (5) 4 3/4"x 4 3/4"
• Fabric L: (12) 2"x 2", (4) 3 1/2"x 3 1/2", (6) 4 3/4"x 4 3/4"
• Binding: (6) 2 3/4" strips


2. CONSTRUCTING BLOCKS:
• Follow the provided pattern to determine fabric placement for each star block.
• For each block you will need the following pieces - (1) 3 1/2" cream square, (4) 2" squares, (4) 3 1/2" outer squares & (4) 4 3/4".
• Begin by creating the middle square of the block - collect the cream square and the corresponding 2" squares.
• Use a fabric marker and ruler to make a line from corner to corner on the back of all 4 small squares.
• With the right sides of the fabric facing together line up the first 2" square into the corner of the cream square (the marker line should run to the outsides of the square, making a triangle shape).
• Stitch down this line.
• Repeat on the opposite corner of the square.
• Press the 2" pieces up and over with your iron to form the new corners of the square.
• Cut off excess under layers of fabric.
• Repeat on the opposite 2 corners.
• Middle square is complete, set to the side.
• Construct the (4) quarter square triangle pieces next.
• Each piece uses 3 separate fabrics - check to see which is needed, 4 pieces of fabric total.
• Place the right sides together of (2) 4 3/4" corresponding square fabrics.
• Use a fabric pen to draw a diagonal line from corner to corner.
• Stitch a straight line a scant 1/4" away from both sides of the drawn line.
• Cut along the line.
• Press open.
• Repeat the same process on the other set of squares.
• You should have 4 of each pair of fabrics, 8 total.
• Match up each of these pairs and make sure the seams are lined up.
• Same process as earlier.
• Line up the piece with the right sides together.
• Draw a diagonal line, stitch and cut the pieces apart.
• Press open.
• Trim to 3 1/2".
• Gather the remaining (4) 3 1/2" solid squares.
• On your work surface line up the 9 total squares that form the block.
• Stitch together all 9 pieces, start with rows and then stitch rows together.
• Press all seams open as you go.
• Press and trim down all final blocks to be 9 1/2"x 9 1/2".


3. SASHING & INNER BORDER:
• Gather the cream 1 1/2" squares and 1 1/2"x 9 1/2" strips.
• Sew the 9 1/2" strips vertically between each block as you create each row.
• There will be 3 total in each row.
• Press seams open.
• Stitch together a horizontal row of cream sashing.
• (4) 9 1/2" pieces horizontally with the 1 1/2" squares in between each.
• Press seams open.
• Stitch the narrow cream sashing between each larger row of blocks.
• Make sure to line up the seams so that it falls into the correct alignment.
• Press and trim all edges.
• Stitch the (2) 2 1/2" strips to the top and bottom of the quilt front.
• Press.
• Stitch the (2) 2 7/8" strips to the sides.
• Press.


4. DIAMOND BORDER:
• Gather the (10) 2 1/2" strips of cream and the (5) 2" strips of red.
• Stitch the strips together with (2) cream on either side of (1) red.
• Press.
• Cut strips vertically into 2" wide pieces.
• Cut a total of 100.
• Sew these strips together, offsetting the center strip each time you sew the next one. (line up the first steam of each center strip you are sewing with the 2nd seam of the last strip you sewed)
• This will create a row of diamonds.
• Create (4) total strips of diamonds.
• The top and bottom rows should be made with 22 diamonds.
• The sides should be made with 28.
• Measure 1/4" from the diamond's corners and trim off excess fabric to create strips.
• On the last diamond on both sides of all 4 strips, cut down to 1/4" (yes this means there will barely be any of this square left, but will allow the diamonds to line up correctly at the corners of the border).
• Pin your top and bottom diamond border pieces to the top and bottom of the quilt.
• Stitch and press.
• Pin the longer side diamond border pieces to the sides of the quilt.
• Stitch and press.
• Do be careful to line up the tips of the diamonds where the borders meet.
• Stitch the (6) 4" cream strips together to form one long strip.
• Proceed to stitch along each side of the quilt.
• Cut the strip after each side.
• Repeat along the top and bottom of the quilt.
• Press.
• The quilt top is complete.


5. QUILTING:
• Sandwich your backing fabric, batting and quilt top together with the right sides of the quilt facing out.
• Make sure all fabrics are laid out evenly and perfectly flat.
• Use safety pins sporadically to attach all layers together.
• Quilt the layers together by stitching along the top of the seam lines (stitch in the ditch style)
• When you're done quilting, make sure to cut off any excess fabric hanging off the edge of the quilt and use your rotary cutter, board and ruler to square off the sides and make it a perfect rectangle.


6. BINDING:
• Attach the 6 binding strips together to form one long strip.
• This is done by stitching them together along the short edges.
• Do this by laying them in an L shape with the right sides together and stitching a diagonal line from the top left corner to the bottom right corner of the overlapping section.
• Press seams open.
• Repeat to attach each strip.
• Fold the binding strip in half lengthwise with the wrong sides together and press.
• To attach the binding to your quilt, line up the raw edges of the top of your quilt with the raw edges of your folded binding piece (right sides together)
• Leave approximately 5" of the binding undone as you start so that when you finish stitching around the perimeter you can tuck the excess binding into this opening and do a final stitch over it.
• Fold the binding around to the back of the quilt and use your needle and thread to do an invisible stitch around the entire quilt.
• All raw edges will now be hidden and the quilt is finished.

JOANN HACKS:

• If you are finding that the diamond border strips are not accurately lining up with each other at the corners, go ahead and trim down the smaller white border to make sure that it does.
• Test the measurements before you sew (so you won't have any re-work)
• When quilting the layers together (stitch in the ditch), it is not necessary to quilt every single seam on this pattern.
• To save time, just stitch the seams along the sashing that runs vertical and horizontal.
• That will hold everything in place.
• It is very helpful to have a square cutting mat with 45-degree lines to create and cut the quarter square triangles.