- Background (muslin)
- Light (faded chambray)
- Dark (indigo)
Block No. 30 · star
Christmas Star Quilt Block
Also known as Christmas Star (five-grid version), Christmas Star (six-grid variation)
Part of: Star Quilt BlocksHalf Square Triangle Quilt Blocks
Christmas Star is used for several seasonal patchwork designs. This five-grid version combines modified Birds in the Air corners with a small central cross; the fabric colors can make it festive or suitable year-round.
Version note: Selected the five-grid Birds in the Air version; a different six-grid Christmas Star is also traditional.
- Level
- Intermediate
- Grid
- 5 × 5
- Pieces
- 33
Chart
Cutting for a 10" block
5 × 5 grid. All cuts fall on 1/8" ruler marks. Unfinished block: 10 1/2".
| Fabric | Shape | Cut | Size | Then | Pieces used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Background | Square | 1 | 2 1/2" square | Use as cut | 1 |
| Background | Corner square | 4 | 2 1/2" square | Stitch and flip; trim seam allowance to 1/4 inch | 4 |
| Background | Half-square triangle | 6 | 2 7/8" square | Cut once diagonally (2 triangles each) | 12 |
| Light | Square | 4 | 2 1/2" square | Use as cut | 4 |
| Dark | Square | 4 | 2 1/2" square | Use as cut | 4 |
| Dark | Half-square triangle | 2 | 4 7/8" square | Cut once diagonally (2 triangles each) | 4 |
| Dark | Half-square triangle | 2 | 2 7/8" square | Cut once diagonally (2 triangles each) | 4 |
Method
Piecing steps
Step 1: Cut the triangle parent squares in the chart once diagonally. Pair the indicated fabrics, sew along the long edges and press; trim each small HST unit to 2 1/2".
Step 2: For each corner unit, add one loose small background triangle to the top and one to the left of a small HST, forming the pieced triangular half shown.
Step 3: Join this pieced half to a large dark triangle and trim to 4 1/2". Add a background corner square at the dark outer right-angle corner using stitch-and-flip: sew the diagonal, trim to a 1/4-inch seam, then press.
Step 4: Make four corner units, rotating each around the center. Join a dark and a light square for each of the four side bars.
Step 5: Assemble rows of corner/bar/corner, bar/center/bar, and corner/bar/corner. Join the rows.
Step 6: Join the sections with a consistent 1/4-inch seam, pressing between seams. Check that the unfinished block measures 10 1/2" square.