Four-Pointed Star Chain

Inspired by "Sew Scrappy" from designer Darlene Zimmerman

Quiltmaker: Laura Boehnke

• 9x22" piece (fat eighth) black floral (star block)
• 1/2 yard black print (star and 25-Patch blocks)
• 7/8 yard red print (star and 25-Patch blocks, middle border)
• 3/4 yard tan print (star blocks, middle and outer borders)
• 1-1/8 yards green print (25-Patch blocks, inner and outer borders)
• 2-2/3 yards backing fabric
• 49" square batting

Finished quilt: 42-1/2" square

Finished blocks: 10" square

Quantities are for 44/45"-wide, 100% cotton fabrics. Measurements include 1/4" seam allowances. Sew with right sides together unless otherwise stated.

Cut pieces in the following order. Click on "Download this Project" for patterns.

From black floral, cut:

• 20 of Pattern B

From black print, cut:

• 11--2-1/2x21" strips

From red print, cut:

• 15--2-1/2x21" strips
• 29--2-1/2" squares

From tan print, cut:

• 10--2-1/2x21" strips
• 38--2-1/2" squares
• 20 each of patterns A and A reversed

From green print, cut:

• 5--2-1/2x42" binding strips
• 2--2-1/2x34-1/2" inner border strips
• 2--2-1/2x30-1/2" inner border strips
• 4--2-1/2x18-1/2" strips for outer border
• 5--2-1/2x21" strips

1. Aligning marked matching points, sew tan print A and A reversed triangles to long edges of a black floral B triangle to make a star point unit (Diagram 1). Press seams toward A pieces. The star point unit should be 2-1/2" square including seam allowances. Repeat to make 20 star point units total.

2. Referring to Diagram 2, sew together four tan print 2-1/2" squares, four star point units, and one red print 2-1/2" square in three rows. Press seams toward star point units in each row. Join rows to make a block center. Press seams away from center row. The block center should be 6-1/2" square including seam allowances. Repeat to make five block centers total.

3.  Join two red print 2-1/2" squares and one tan print 2-1/2" square to make a side unit (Diagram 3). Press seams toward tan print square. The side unit should be 2-1/2x6-1/2" including seam allowances. Repeat to make 10 side units total.

4. Referring to Diagram 4, join two black print, two red print, and one tan print 2-1/2x21" strips to make strip set A. Press seams away from tan print strip. Repeat to make a second Strip Set A. Cut strip sets into ten 2-1/2"-wide A segments.

5. Sew side units to opposite edges of a block center (Diagram 5). Press seams toward block center. Add A segments to remaining edges to complete a star block. Press seams toward block center. The block should be 10-1/2" square including seam allowances. Repeat to make five star blocks total.

In assembling these blocks, the pressing direction is critical. It ensures that segments and finished blocks have seams that "nest" together, making final construction easier. Carefully follow that direction in each step.

1. Referring to Diagram 6, join two green print, two black print, and one red print 2-1/2x21" strips to make Strip Set B. Press seams away from center row. Cut strip set into eight 2-1/2"-wide B segments.

2. Referring to Diagram 7, join three black print and two green print 2-1/2x21" strips to make Strip Set C. Press seams toward center row. Cut strip set into eight 2-1/2"-wide C segments.

3. Referring to Diagram 8, join two red print, two black print, and one green print 2-1/2x21" strips to make Strip Set D. Press seams away from center row. Cut strip set into four 2-1/2"-wide D segments.

4. Join two B segments, two C segments, and one D segment to make a 25-Patch block (Diagram 9). Press seams toward center vertical row. The block should be 10-1/2" square including seam allowances. Repeat to make four 25-Patch blocks total.

1. Lay out star blocks and 25-Patch blocks in three rows, alternating blocks (Quilt Assembly Diagram). Sew together blocks in each row. Press seams toward 25-Patch blocks.

2. Join rows to make quilt center. Press seams in one direction. The quilt center should be 30-1/2" square including seam allowances.

1. Sew short green print inner border strips to opposite edges of quilt center. Add long green print inner border strips to remaining edges. Press all seams toward border.

2. Referring to Diagram 10, join two red print and two tan print 2-1/2x21" strips to make Strip Set E. Press seams in one direction. Repeat to make four total of strip set E. Cut strip sets into twenty-six 2-1/2"-wide E segments.

3. Referring to Quilt Assembly Diagram, sew together four E segments in a row; press seams in one direction. Add a tan print 2-1/2" square to one end to make a short middle border strip. Press seams toward center of row. Repeat to make a second short middle border strip.

4. Sew together five E segments in a row; press seams in one direction. Add one tan print 2-1/2" square to one end to make a long middle border strip. Press seams toward center of row. Repeat to make a second long middle border strip.

5. Referring to Quilt Assembly Diagram, join two E segments and one green print 2-1/2x18-1/2" strip to make a short outer border strip. Press seams toward E segments. Repeat to make a second short outer border strip.

6. Referring to Quilt Assembly Diagram, join two red print 2-1/2" squares, two tan print 2-1/2" squares, two E segments, and one solid green 2-1/2x18-1/2" strip to make a long outer border strip. Press seams toward E segments. Repeat to make a second long outer border strip.

7. Sew together short middle border and short outer border strips to make a pieced short border unit; press seams toward outer border strip. Repeat to make a second pieced short border unit. Sew pieced short border units to opposite edges of quilt center. Press all seams toward inner border. TIP: If the pieced borders don't quite fit, take in or let out a few random seams.

8. Sew together long middle border and long outer border strips to make a pieced long border unit; press seams in one direction. Repeat to make a second pieced long border unit. Sew pieced long border units to remaining edges of quilt center to complete quilt top. Press all seams toward inner border.

1. Layer quilt top, batting, and backing; baste. Quilt as desired.

2. Bind with green print binding strips.