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Starburst Quilt Block

Item # 052511022P36
Intermediate 3-5 Hours

SUPPLIES & TOOLS:

  • Cut pieces from the Lucky Star Quilt
  • Gray or tan cotton sewing machine thread
  • Lead pencil & white pencil
  • Straight quilters pins
  • Stitch ripper
  • Rotary cutter
  • 18"x 24" cutting mat
  • 6"x 24" plastic ruler for rotary cutting, other sizes optional
  • Iron & pressing surface
  • Sewing machine
  • Three sandwich-size plastic bags

  • MEASUREMENTS: Approximate size of block is 12 1/2" (approximate finished size on quilt is 12"x 12")

DIRECTIONS:


  • Download and print the pattern and diagrams that illustrate the steps shown, click on the "GET PATTERNS" tab.
  • This block is part of the Lucky Star Quilt, find directions for the full quilt CLICK HERE

  • Find directions for other star blocks:

    • JOANN HACKS:

    • Sew all seams 1/4" from edge of fabric or drawn line.
    • Sewing in the direction arrows indicate in diagram will help to prevent fabric from bunching at the beginning of the seam.

    1. Organizing Fabric Pieces:

      • Label the three sandwich plastic bags as follows:
        • Starburst Bag, Corner Starburst Bag, Finishing Pieces Bag
        • Carefully gather the following fabric pieces that were cut from Fabric Cutting Chart and place in the bag indicated._x000B_

        • Fabric A:
          • Sixteen 2 1/2" squares (Starburst Bag)
          • Twelve 2 1/2" squares (Corner Starburst Bag)
          • One 4 1/2" square (Finishing Piece Bag)
        • Fabric B:
          • Four 2 1/2"x 4 1/2" rectangles (Corner Starburst Bag)
        • Fabric C:
          • Four 2 1/2"x 4 1/2" rectangles (Starburst Bag)
        • Fabric D:
          • Four 2 1/2"x 4 1/2" rectangles (Starburst Bag)
        • Fabric E:
          • Four 2 1/2"x 4 1/2" rectangles (Corner Starburst Bag)

    2. Sew Center Starburst Units:

      • Use pieces from the Starburst Bag.
      • Refer to Diagrams 1-4, following the steps below.
      • Draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of the sixteen 2 1/2" Fabric A squares.
      • Pin one of the marked Fabric A squares over the left side of a 2 1/2"x 4 1/2" Fabric C rectangle right sides together with the line positioned as shown in Diagram 2.
      • Carefully sew directly on the drawn line.
      • To check corner edge, fold outside corner of Fabric C towards seam and fold opposite corner over to cover Fabric A._x000B_If Fabric C and A corners do not line up, or if they are more than slightly off, re-sew.
      • When corners line up, fold back over so seam is exposed and trim leaving a 1/4" seam allowance.
      • Press seam allowance open.
      • Pin a marked Fabric A square to the opposite side of the Fabric C rectangle with the line positioned as shown in Diagram 2.
      • Check corner edge and trim bottom two layers, leaving a 1/4" seam allowance.
      • Press seam allowance open.
      • Repeat to a total of four A/C Star Point units.
      • Put aside.
      • Use the remaining Four 2 1/2" Fabric A squares and 2 1/2"x 4 1/2" Fabric D rectangles to make four A/D Star Point units in the same manner with line positioned as shown in Diagram 3.
      • Pin and sew A/C and A/D Star Point units right sides together as shown in Diagram 4._x000B_Press seam allowance open.
      • Put units aside.

    3. Sew Star Points for Corner Starburst Units:

      • Use pieces from the Corner Starburst Bag.
      • Refer to Diagrams 5-7, following the steps below.
      • Draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of the eight of the twelve 2 1/2" Fabric A squares.
      • Put the remaining four 2 1/2" Fabric A unmarked squares aside.
      • Pin one of the marked Fabric A squares over the left side of a 2 1/2"x 4 1/2" Fabric B rectangle right sides together with the line positioned as shown in Diagram 6.
      • Carefully sew directly on the drawn line.
      • Once corner has been checked, trim bottom two layers, leaving a 1/4" seam allowance.
      • Press seam allowance open.
      • Repeat to sew a total of four Fabric A/B Star Point units.
      • Put aside.
      • Use the remaining four 2 1/2" marked Fabric A squares and 2 1/2"x 4 1/2" Fabric E rectangles to sew four A/E Star Point units in the same manner with line positioned as shown in Diagram 7.

    4. Sew Corner Starburst Units:

      • Refer to Diagrams 8 and 9, following the steps below.
      • Use remaining 2 1/2" Fabric A unmarked squares, A/B and A/E Star Point units.
      • Position an A/E Star Point unit wrong side up, horizontally with Fabric A on the left side.
      • Fold the right top corner over and press to make a 45 degree crease.
      • Press crease in place.
      • Draw a dot 1/4" away from the top edge of the fabric, over the crease.
      • If the crease is hard to see, draw a line over it.
      • Repeat this step on the remaining A/E Star Point units.
      • Lay an A/E Star Point unit directly over an A/B Star Point unit right side together.
      • The seams should be going in the same direction.
      • Set stitch length to 1 to secure the seam without having to back stitch.
      • Sew the two units together along the crease, beginning at the 1/4" dot, sewing just two or three tiny stitches.
      • Set stitch length back to 2.5 and sew to the corner.
      • Do NOT begin sewing before the dot.
      • Open and check to see that unit has been sewn correctly.
      • If correct, trim leaving a 1/4" seam allowance.
      • Press seam allowance open.
      • Repeat to sew a total of four units.
      • Refer to Diagram 9, following the steps below to sew a Y-Seam to complete the Corner Starburst units.
      • A Y-seam is needed when a square or rectangle piece is to be sewn into a corner of a unit.
      • Draw a dot 1/4" away from a corner on the wrong side of fabric on the four 2 1/2" Fabric A Squares.
      • Match the dot on the 2 1/2" square with the dot on the A/B/D unit just sewn, right sides together.
      • The edge of the Fabric A square should line up with the Fabric E edge of the sewn unit.
      • Pin in place.
      • Reduce stitch length to 1, sew a few stitches to secure over the dot, then set stitch length back to 2.5 and sew down to the edge of the fabric.
      • Do not press seam allowance yet.
      • Match the dot on the Fabric E edge and the dot on the 2 1/2" Fabric A square, right sides together.
      • Fold the Fabric E edge of the unit away to avoid sewing over it, and place a pin through both dots.
      • Pin the corner of the square to the Fabric B edge of the unit.
      • Reduce stitch length to 1, sew a few stitches to secure over the dot, then set stitch length back to 2.5 and sew down to the edge of the fabric.
      • Do not sew into the inside corner.
      • Unfold unit and press seam allowances away from Fabric A square.
      • Repeat to sew four Corner Starburst units.

    5. Complete the Starburst Block:

      • Use piece from Finishing Block Bag.
      • Arrange the Starburst and Corner Starburst units with the 4 1/2" Fabric A square in rows as shown in Diagram 10 on the pattern._x000B_Pin units in place, sew into rows and press as arrows indicate.
      • Arrange rows as shown in Diagram 11 on the pattern._x000B_Pin rows in place, sew rows together and press as arrows indicate to complete the Starburst block.
      • Block should measure approximately 12 1/2", but this can vary slightly.

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