Six-Pointed Stars Table Runner
Materials
Inspired by Honeycomb Stars from designer
Cindy Blackberg
Quiltmaker: Laura Boehnke
1/3 yards total assorted prints in purple, orange, teal, pink, blue, and green (Six-Pointed Stars)
1/2 yard light blue print (rows)
1/3 yard multicolor stripe (border, binding)
1/2 yard backing fabric
17x27" batting
Finished quilt: 13x22-3/4"
Quantities are for 44/45"-wide, 100% cotton fabrics.
Measurements include 1/4" seam allowances. Sew with right sides together unless otherwise stated. {C}Download this Project
Cut Fabrics
Cut pieces in the following order. Click on "Download this Project" for patterns, tips on making and using templates, as well as tips for sewing set-in seams.
From assorted prints, cut:
84 of Pattern A
From light blue print, cut:
30 of Pattern A
13 of Pattern B
From multicolor stripe, cut:
2-2-1/2x42" binding strips
2-2-1/4x191/4" border strips
2-2-1/4x13" border strips {C}Download this Project
Assemble Star Units and Hand-Piecing Tips
You may want to hand-piece the units because so many pieces must be set in. Hand-stitching from dot to dot on seam lines also ensures that seam allowances aren't sewn down, allowing you to choose the direction to press after you've pieced the quilt center.
If you prefer to machine-piece, be sure to start and end at the marked matching points.
As you piece star units, finger-press seams in the desired direction to help keep your work smooth. Trim points to reduce bulk. Press completed units, rows, and quilt center with an iron, pressing seams in directions that allow them to lie as flat as possible or that will enable you to quilt as desired without stitching through seam allowances.
1. Pin together two assorted print A diamonds, carefully aligning and pinning marked matching points (Diagram 1). Sew together between matching points, making sure you do not stitch into the 1/4" seam allowances and do not stretch bias edges, to make a diamond pair.
2. In the same manner, pin and stitch a third assorted print A diamond to one side of the diamond pair to make a star half (Diagram 2).
3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 to make a second star half.
4. Pin together star halves, carefully aligning matching points; join halves to make a Six-Pointed Star unit (Diagram 3). To ensure accurate star centers, stitch from one outer edge to center, then from opposite outer edge to center. With right side down, gently press seams in a counterclockwise direction.
5. Repeat steps 1–4 to make 14 Six-Pointed Star units total.
Hand-Piecing Tips
Needle: Thin needles such as sharps or betweens, are best; choose a size you can thread with ease.
Pins: Use extra-fine pins. Those with large diameters can leave holes in your fabric and distort seaming.
Seam: Sew only on marked lines, beginning and ending at marked matching points.
Stitches: Aim for 1/8" long or eight stitches per inch. Strive for even spacing.
Thread: Sew with a 12" length of thread.
Assemble Rows
1. Aligning matching points, sew together two light blue print A diamonds to make a blue diamond pair (Diagram 4). Repeat to make four blue diamond pairs total.
2. Referring to Diagram 5 for placement, lay out seven star units, two blue diamond pairs, and six light blue print A diamonds in a row. Aligning matching points as before, join pieces with set-in seams to make Row A. (For details, click on "Download this Project" for tips on Set-In Seams.) Repeat to make a second Row A.
3. Referring to Diagram 6, set seven blue print A diamonds into the star points along the top and bottom edges of one Row A to make Row B.
Assemble Quilt Top
1. Set three light blue print B hexagons into bottom openings of Row B (Diagram 7). When setting in each B hexagon, align reference line in the center of each edge with adjacent star points.
2. Rotate Row A 180°, then sew it to hexagons just added to Row B (Diagram 8). Add four light blue print B hexagons to bottom of Row A to make a joined row.
3. Set in remaining light blue print A diamonds and B hexagons (outlined in red on Quilt Assembly Diagram) to complete quilt center. Press seams toward light blue print pieces.
4. Using a rotary cutter and ruler, carefully trim edges of quilt center, leaving a 1/4" seam allowance on outer points of star units (Trimming Diagram). The quilt center should be 9-1/2x19-1/4" including seam allowances.
5. Sew long multicolor stripe border strips to long edges of quilt center. Join short multicolor stripe border strips to remaining edges to complete quilt top. Press all seams toward border.
Finish Quilt
1. Layer quilt top, batting, and backing; baste. Quilt as desired.
2. Bind with multicolor stripe binding strips
