my favorite 8 Patchwork Star blocks

As one project starts to wind down, my mind often drifts to what I will sew next. You understand, I’m sure! I plan to sew stars, which are actually my favorite overall patchwork motif. I love their sharp, sparkly personality and the way that they show off fabric.

Patchwork stars can be simple or fancy, traditionally pieced or paper pieced, wonky or tidy, scrappy or fussy cut. In every form, I love them! Here are my favorite 8 patchwork star blocks.

 

No. 1 - Sawtooth Stars

Probably the most popular patchwork star shape, and for good reason. The Sawtooth Star has a large center that’s perfect for showing off special fabrics. The star points are traditionally sewn as flying geese units, but can also be made up of pairs of half square triangles.

Make it: my free Sawtooth Star tutorial

I’ve sewn a few Sawtooth star quilts with a vivid color as the background, such as red or blue. They also look lovely with a scrappy “background” colors and white stars.

A Sawtooth Star forms the center of the Sawtooth Burst in my Pas de Deux sampler. This burst could be extended to fill a whole quilt, with one star at center.

 

No. 2 - Modified Sawtooth Stars

Many star blocks are variations on the classic Sawtooth Star. Variations often replace the large center square with a pieced element: a second star, a grid of postage stamp blocks, a heart, an on-point square, etc.

For example the Pinwheel Star from my Pas de Deux sampler has a pinwheel of HST blocks as its center square. In addition, the outers four “background squares” are made up of HST blocks. It looks very different than a classic Sawtooth Star, but the geometric footprint is identical.

Take a good look at my Double Star twin-sized quilt. This quilt is an oversized variation on the Sawtooth Star with a second star block taking the place of the center square.

Someday I want to sew a whole quilt made up of Postage Stamp stars! That’s where the Sawtooth Star’s center square is replaced by a grid of tiny postage stamp squares.

 

No. 3 - Wonky Stars

A Wonky Star is ideal for using up triangle scraps. It has a smaller center, as compared to a Sawtooth Star, and the star points vary in size and angle, giving the star character and sparkle.

Make it: Cut 9 squares of the exact same size: 8 squares in background color and 1 square for the center. Sew triangles to 4 of the background squares, using the stitch and flip method. Random-sized scraps work great! Trim to return triangle-point squares to original square size. Then join squares together as a 9-patch block.

My favorite wonky star work so far is this collaborative quilt made with members of do. Good Stitches. I asked my bee mates for 12” finished blocks made up of wonky stars in any layout. The variety made for a happy quilt!

 

No. 4 - Economy Stars

All of the above patchwork star types create distinct, individual blocks. Economy Stars are stars that emerge in a series. The points of these stars are created with economy blocks, which causes the points of the stars to touch. This style uses less background fabric than Sawtooth Stars and Wonky Stars, resulting in a more compact star patchwork.

Make it: my Economy Star Parade quilt pattern

I’ve already made two Economy Star Parade quilts. The next time I return to this star construction, I think I’ll sew continuous Economy Stars rather than the border parade. It’s always fun to try something new!

 

No. 5 - Starbright Stars

I love sewing stars with traditional machine piecing techniques, but how to branch out from the 8-pointed star styles we’ve covered so far? It was an exciting discovery to find that I could create a six-pointed star without resorting to hand sewing or paper piecing. My Starbright Star construction is formed with diamonds and triangles. It sews together in rows.

Make it: this pattern is included in my Angled course

My first Starbright Stars quilt was scrappy, but since then I’ve tried several color schemes, from autumnal to super pink.

I’ve even sewn a miniature version, which hangs on my sewing room wall.

 

No. 6 - Honeycomb Stars

Honeycomb Stars is a recent creation, once again using traditional machine piecing techniques to sew a 6-point star. This fresh take uses pretty hexagon centers. It’s fun for fussy cutting too!

Make it: my Honeycomb Stars quilt pattern

I’ve also sewn the larger version, which is ideal for a big bed quilt.

 

No. 7 - Mariner’s Compass Star

A Mariner’s Compass is a type of star with many long, dramatic points. The main directional points are often emphasized in some way to give it a characteristic compass style. Usually this block is paper pieced, since it is so complex.

Make it: this block is included in my Seafarers quilt pattern

My journey with the Mariner’s Compass Star is just begun. I designed my first as part of the Penny Sampler and subsequently used the same block as the center and corner squares of the Seafarers medallion-style quilt. Someday I will undoubtedly experiment with it further, as well as with its cousin block, the New York Beauty.

 

No. 8 - Ice Cream Soda Stars

To round out my list of favorites, this last patchwork star block is a hand sewn wonder. It’s slower, yes, but that is part of its charm. Ice Cream Soda blocks are the creation of Jodi Godfrey of Tales of Cloth. These blocks are English paper pieced from three different shapes.

Make it: Jodi’s Ice Cream Soda quilt pattern

My own Ice Cream Soda quilt is stil in progress, and I am enjoying every minute!


Well, I think that gives you some ideas for your next quilt (or two or three)! If you love stars like I do, I may not have mentioned your favorite. Please tell us in the blog comments which star block style or pattern you’ve most enjoyed sewing!