Do you have to use a Jelly Roll? NOPE! Charm squares, Layer Cakes, and even Mini Charms can be used (Mini Charms are 2 1/2" squares. If you use Mini Charms there is not a need to cut 2 1/2" squares but additional fabric pieces for the background will be needed).
(Some of what I considered using for my stars. I ended up using the white Jelly Roll as the background and cut my own strips for the star pieces)
You can also cut your own pieces from yardage, and if you cut your scraps into 2 1/2" strips you have pieces all ready to go!
Now on to the Stars
Each star has a background and 2 pretty fabrics.
Star size: 8 1/2" after they are pieced, 8" after they are sewn into the project.
For each star
Background fabric cut:
4 2 1/2" squares
4 2 1/2"x 4 1/2" rectangle.
Pretty fabric 1 cut:
10 2 1/2" squares
Pretty fabric 2 cut:
2 2 1/2" squares
Yep that is it! Now on to piecing.
Making the star points.
Using 8 of the 2 1/2" pretty fabric squares, draw a line diagonally (from corner to corner)on the wrong side of the squares.
Each star point is made up of 1- 2 1/2" x 4 1/2" rectangle and 2 - 2 1/2" squares.
With right sides together place a pretty fabric square on one side of the 2 1/2" x 4 1/2" rectangle matching raw edges. Sew on the drawn line. Press the square towards the raw edges so a triangle is formed. Trim the fabric from the back of triangle leaving 1/4".
Add the second triangle to the other side of the rectangle. Press the square towards the outside of the rectangle.
Repeat this process 3 more times to complete all 4 sets of star points.
Star Center:
The star center is made of 4 - 2 1/2" squares. No fancy sewing and flipping here, just make a 4 patch. Sew a square of pretty fabric 1 to a square of pretty fabric 2, pressing the seams of the 2 1/2" squares to the dark fabric. Repeat that one more time, then sew the units together, making a 4 patch. Press the seam to one side.
All the parts are made, all that is left is piecing the star block! The Block is basically an "uneven nine patch".
To piece the star, lay the pieces out as shown below. Sew rows 1 and 3 together but adding a 2 1/2" back ground square to each end of a star point unit. Sew row 2 together by adding a star point unit to the sides of the 4 patch, make sure to match the center seam of the 4 patch to center point (where the two triangles over lap) of the star points. (HINT: Pin where the center point of the star point and the 4 patch will be sewn. I pin to each side of the center so the area is secure and will not shift when sewing.)
Press toward the 2 1/2" squares for rows 1 and 3. Press row 2 towards the 4 patch center.
Now piece the rows to each other. Pressing towards center. Notice there is a seam allowance left on the edges where the star points are. This is sort of important, not of great importance but sort of. If this 1/4" is not left on the outside edge, the points would disappear and the star would be pointless. I don't find that having a few pointless star points makes my world tilt at all, I actually think they are a bit more "real" that way.
I know a computer generated block isn't that pretty, so here is a block that is made from real fabric!
Here are my fabric parts all cut and ready to go. I cut the pretty fabrics from leftover scraps, and I used a Bella Solid White Jelly Roll, Junior size for the back ground. ( I have aspirations of using stars like the one show below in a quilt design.) So don't be afraid to mix your cut strips with precut pieces, you get to be the decider, and you can make it work.
These are the pieces for my star block-ravels and all!
My star block pieces are sewn, trimmed and pressed.
The finished star block.
So there it is, a simple star block that is easy to piece. Fun!
Before I say goodnight, I must tell you about a ruler that makes cutting strips so easy. It is called the "Shape Cut" by June Taylor.
This is one tool that quilters who cut strips should own. I love this tool (this is not a sponsored endorsement-I just really really like this tool!)
Have fun making stars, talk to you soon,
Jan
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