It’s been over two years since our popular Quilt of Memories project, so I thought it was time for a new challenge to get those fingers itching to stitch. This colourful Over The Rainbow quilt won first prize at the Tinahely Show in 2013 and is a 10-week project that includes popular quilting blocks such as the Dresden Plate, the Drunkard’s Path and much more.

It’s a great project to use up scrap material, but more importantly it’s easy to personalise with appliqué, making it the perfect gift for a special someone.

So, let’s get started with the eight-pointed star block. There are many star block patterns in patchwork, but this is one of my favourite ones. Star block patterns can be pieced in a very simple manner, thus making it suitable for beginners, but there are also more complex patterns to challenge the more advanced sewer.

Whatever your method or choice of star, you can be sure that they will always add to the beauty of your quilt and can be relied on to do their job very well, which is of course to shine.

Following the instructions below, construct the eight-pointed star and not only will you have a new addition to your repertoire of quilt blocks, you will have completed the first block of our quilt.

Note: Finished size of quilt is 74” by 96”.

Eight-Pointed star quilt block

  • • Finished block size in quilt is 12” x 12”.
  • • Total number of blocks required – five.
  • • ¼” seam allowances used throughout.

    • Requirements for each block

    Fabric A (white) for background, 5” high by 31” wide

    Fabric B (navy) for four-star points, 5” high by 17” wide

    Fabric C (blue) for contrasting four-star points, 5” high by 17” wide

    Thread

    Rotary cutter, ruler and mat

    General sewing supplies

    Method

    1 Cut four squares from fabric A (white) measuring 3½” by 3½”.

    2 Cut four squares from fabric A (white) measuring 3?” by 3?”.

    3 Cut four squares from fabric B (navy) measuring 3?” by 3?”.

    4 Cut four squares from fabric C (blue) measuring 3?” by 3?” (figure 2).

    Half square triangle method Lay two squares of fabric right sides together. Draw a diagonal line from one corner to another on the lighter fabric. Sew ¼” seam on each side of diagonal line. Cut through on diagonal line. Open out, pressing seams to the dark side. This will yield two half-square triangle units.

    1 Leave four white fabric squares measuring 3½” by 3½” to one side.

    2 Using the above method, make the half-square triangles and following the diagram pair two white squares with two navy squares to yield four WHITE/NAVY UNITS.

    3 Pair two white squares with two blue squares to yield four WHITE/BLUE UNITS.

    4 Pair two blue squares with two navy squares to yield four BLUE/NAVY UNITS.

    You now have 16 squares, which we will use to construct the block (see figure 3).

    5 Follow the diagram to lay out your squares in the correct order. Sew all units in row 1 together, repeat for rows 2, 3 and 4.

    6 Now sew these rows together to complete the block.

    7 The block should measure 12½” x 12½”, which includes seam allowances.

    8 Open out the centre seam and press flat to reduce bulky seams at the back.

    9 Use spray starch to press your block and lay aside until later.

    Repeat this block four more times to have a total of five blocks for the first row in our quilt.

    Next week Make the Dresden Plate quilt block.

    Knit & Stitch

    Join Irish Country Living at the Knitting & Stitching Show at the RDS Dublin from 30 October to 2 November for the launch of our new quilting series and to pick up your free doll pattern.

    You will find us at stand D48. For more information, visit www.theknittingandstitchingshow.com/Dublin or follow on Twitter @KnitStitchRDS #KnitnStitch