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Now onto the tutorial….A post from Kelli–
This post has been updated to add more pictures:
As promised, yesterday and a year and a half ago, I promised you a tutorial for the Christmas quilt I made. So grab your 2.5″ strip bucket and rotary custter, and without further ado, here it is!
This is the quilt…
To make it you need to make this block. Â I know-you are thinking but that doesn’t make a star. Â Trust me, it will.
1. To make one block, you will need 2-2.5″ red squares, 4-2.5″ green squares, 6-2.5″ squares, and 4-2.5″ half square triangles. I used my easy angle ruler to make the half square triangles with 2.5″ strips, however if you would feel more comfortable using a different method, you may. (The most common method other than an easy angle ruler is to cut squares at 2 7/8′, draw a line on the diagonal and sew on each side of the line.  Cut then on the line.)  If you don’t know how to use an easy angle ruler, here is a link that shows you how.
2. To make the block, we will be making 2 parts. The first part is made up of a red square, neutral square, and 2 half square triangles. Assemble the pieces as shown. Press to the red or neutral square (path of least resistance). Join and press. To make one block, make to of these star point parts.
3. This is the second part that will be needed for the block. Make a basic 4-patch using green and neutral squares. Press to the green squares. You will need two of these parts to complete the block.
4. Assemble the block as shown. The block should finish at 8.5″ when completed and 8″ when added into the quilt.
Although you won’t construct and put the blocks together this way, you can see what happens when you turn the blocks and lay them out together. Â A star is formed.
Instead you will make six of each of these different rows.
I made 120 blocks and set them together in the quilt in 10 block by 12 block layout to finish at 80″ x 96″. I bound the quilt (a year and a half after it was quilted) with red 2.5″ strips.
It you make this quilt, I would love to see pictures–even it’s a year and a half later!
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That is a great quilt and tutorial. I’m going to have to dig through my red and green scraps and see what I can come up with.
Easy peasy! It looks a lot more complicated. Excellent job of making it easy to understand.
Oh my! How fun this looks. I can hardly wait to start. What an amazing job of explaining the construction of this quilt. Looks great! Thanks for sharing.
THANK YOU, Kelli!! I LOVE this quilt!!! Yup…just added it to my Bucket List!! Can’t wait to make it!
P
What a lovely quilt and easy enough for me to give it a go. :D Thank you so much.
I really like that Kelli! I would never have guessed that the block you showed would give us that beautiful quilt! You made me laugh with the ‘even if it’s a year and a half later’! I’m going to save this one! Thanks!
Going to give this a try. THIS OLD LADY MAY NOT GET FAR. But fell in love with your tutorial.
Marie
Beautiful. Thanks for the tutorial.
Thanks Kelli for the great tutorial. I think I will cut this quilt out today and start using the 4 patch as my current L&E. I might make my stars blue.
Fabulous quilt Kelli and thank you for sharing the tutorial! I’m thinking this would make a great QOV in reds and blues, and my blue and brown box is overflowing so I’ll be adding another one to the list. Just gorgeous! Ohhh…fall colors….it’s a vicious cycle.
Wow, such a simple block that makes a very effective design! I’m going to have to make this one my next leader and enders project. PS: For anyone who hates math, I’ve calculated that you will need 480 half-square triangles, 240 red squares, 480 green squares and 720 neutral squares to make a quilt the size Kelli has made. Thanks for sharing!
WOW! love it, absolutely love it!!!
Love this quilt! Thanks for the tute! Great place to use up all those “free” 1/2 square triangles. Happy Easter to you and yours!
I would of guessed you put it together with a star block and a stepping stone block. Great way to combine the blocks, probably makes it more interesting to sew and accurate to put together. Thanks for a great tut!
It would be fun to substitute blue for the green and make an Americana flavored quilt! Thanks for the instructions!
Thank you, thank you, Kelli. I love any star quilt but particularly love this one :)
What a wonderful gift to us all out here in Blogland! Thank you so much for taking the time and energy to write up this tutorial and to share your lovely ideas for quilts with us!
Tricia
Wonderful quilt and great directions. Thanks
Kelli, you sure have a gift for quiltmaking! I’m going to sort out dark and medium blue scraps, white scraps and tan/beige scraps to make mine up. Much like the color scheme in Moda’s “Indigo Crossing”. Also, a big thank you to Terri in BC for doing the math for us!
Sooo pretty! Thanks for the tutorial :)
You make it look so simple, but it looks stunning! I can see it in red, white and blue…..yep. Thanks for a great, easy-to-understand tutorial for this old lady that needs kindergarten level instructions!
That is Road to Oklahoma…I made one of plaid homespuns. Son has it with him. A very soft quilt. Love yours.
I just came across this tutorial and love this quilt. It’s a nice way to use scraps. Thanks.
Love the block and how easy to use scraps to make Christmas quilts! Thanks for the tutorial.
It’s so amazing that a 16 patch basic block, can turn into a wonderful Star quilt!!!! I love simple, especially when it turns out so fabulous! Thanks for sharing this!!!!
Kelli, your quilt is stunning! I am a bit confused about the half square triangles. Wouldn’t they need to be 2.75″ rather than 2.5″, to create a 2.5″ finished square, that would equal the 2.5″ square? That 2.75″ would allow for the 1/4″ seam to join both half square triangles, which then leaves a 2.5″ square.
Great quilt. What is the fabric requirement for this (i.e. how much of each color)?
Disregard above question–I figured out how you did it with 2.5″ strips.
i dont understand how the stars come unto play once you make the blocks,i am a beginning quilter, and yes im confused, all i see is the blocks,could you please email me a more understandable directions, im in remission from cancer and can no longer work and i love to quilt to keep my mind occupied, thank you so much for your time God bless
Victoria
This is an amazingly simple way to make a stunning quilt. I am nearly 62 years old and a beginner quilter and live in England, Great Britain. I have found that Americans are light years ahead of us in quilting techniques and making a difficult pattern much easier to complete. I love this quilt and will be making it for Christmas – after the gardening is finished, if it ever stops raining. Thank you for sharing this wonderful pattern.
I have to chuckle. Earlier this week, I was looking through one of my block books, found this block, and decided it looked like a great way to use up charms. My book just gave a drawing of the block, sizing it is up to the reader. That was easy enough, but I could have saved hours of looking for inspiration in block books if I’d gone hunting on your site instead!
I just finished making this quilt and LOVE it. It is MY Christmas quilt, staying with me. Plan to make it again in red, white and blue. Thank you for the pattern, Kelli.
I really love this quilt! I plan on using purple and ? … I’m still thinking about the other two colors that would look good with it, maybe teal and light grey? Thank you so much for all the patterns you give us! I will send a picture when I get it made and quilted.
I think this would make a great Quilt of Valor in red, white, and blue.
Jo,I love this quilt! You are such a wonderful person, I enjoy your blog and your quilting projects:) Thank you for being so generous with your patterns!
WOW!! How late am I to finding your blog?!?!? I have gone through the entire thing and gone through all the patterns and don’t know which one to start first being a newbie…but put them all on my bucket list…LOL…thanks so much for sharing and all the hints and tips!! just love your site!!!
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What are the amounts of fabric needed for this quilt? I have no stash! I would like to make it In patriotic colors. Thank you
Charlotte-I would by 10-12 fat quarters in each color and start with that.
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