Chained Star Quilt Block

Make a wish and it will come true with this Chained Star quilt block.

Get creative by mixing three fun fabrics, plus an extra dark one to create four-patches and quarter square triangles. You can then choose the perfect size for your dreamy design—whether that be 6", 9", 12", or 15".

The possibilities are endless - all you need is some thread (and maybe a sprinkle of pixie dust!).

Press each with the SA away from the lighter #1.

Use the chart below to check your 1/4” seam. Make any adjustments you need to it now before moving on.

StripSet Widths
Finished Block Size	Stripset Width after stitching	SubCut Width	4-Patch Dimensions
6"	2½"	1½"	2½" sq
9"	3½"	2"	3½" sq
12"	4½"	2½"	4½" sq
15"	5½"	3"	5½" sq

Again referring to the chart, find the Subcut Width that corresponds to your chosen Finished Size.

For our 9" finished sample, the subcut is 2".

Straighten a short edge on each stripset by aligning a straight line on your ruler with the seam line.

Then make your subcuts.

Stitch two like pairs of each together to form your nine patches.

To minimize bulk in their centers, undo the stitches in the center (do not cut these short thread tails off because they prevent the unit from coming apart) and twirl or fan their seams as shown below.

See how the seams form a little four patch in the center? Cool, eh?!!!

Press, use the chart above again to check your accuracy. Set these 4-patches aside for now.

For our sample block, I used the Quick Quarter ruler and an open toe appliqué foot.

Repeat for both pairs. 

Press flat to sets the seams, then cut in half between the two lines of stitching.

Finally, press the SA to the dark #5s.

Repeat this same marking on the backs of only two of the HSTs you just created.

While it doesn't get mentioned much, it's important that a straight line on your ruler (blue arrow below) lays directly on top of the line of stitching.

This ensures the angles at the center of your QSTs are 90°.

When they're 90°, your QSTs lay flat. 

It's for this very reason that I prefer to cut my QST patches oversized and then trim to perfection.

Once in a while, the line you draw doesn't exactly bisect the corner points with the ruler aligned. That's because either the initial cutting was off a bit or the  marking/stitching wasn't so straight. 

It happens.

We, quilters, are human. We don't have to be perfect to be a quilter. Thank goodness!

I could have used my Quick Quarter ruler again, but I didn't.

However, since I was retreating with my quilting buds (as usual it seems) I forgot to bring my regular 1/4” foot.

So, I adjusted the needle position to 1/4” with my open toe foot installed, lined up the edge of the press footer with the drawn line, and stitched 1/4” away from both sides of it on both pairs of #4/#5s. (There's always more than one way to get things done in quilting!)

Pins help hold the patches together. We want those seams to nest to assist us in matching the seam as we sew.

After completing all four seams, open the units up to check that you're happy with the way they match in the center.

Then, and only then, cut the pairs in half between the stitching lines to create four QSTs for your Chained Star quilt block.

All that's left is to check your accuracy or trim the QSTs to size if you cut oversized squares to start.

QST Dimensions
Finished Block Size	Center Measurement	Trim QST to…
6"	1¼"	2½"
9"	1¾"	3½"
12"	2¼"	4½"
15"	2¾"	5½"

Using the chart here, find the Center Measurement that corresponds to your block's finished size.

For our 9" sample Chained Star, the measurement is 1¾”.

Align that marking on your ruler with the very center of your QST. (No matter how much you added to the squares that you originally cut, this is the measurement.)

At the same time, align the 45° diagonal marking on the square ruler with the seam line (blue arrow).

Trim the two exposed sides.

Flip the QST 180°. (The two trimmed edges are now underneath the ruler.)

Align the ruler as before and, this time, align the 'Trim QST to…' measurement from the chart to the two trimmed sides of your QST that are underneath the ruler.

For our sample Chained Star, that number is 3½”.

Repeat for the remaining three QSTs.

If you cut your patches exactly from the Cutting Chart, you should be—at most—cutting away the tiniest of slivers of fabric.

Step 3: Assemble your Chained Star quilt block

Arrange your units to form the Chained Star design. The darker fabrics form a chain running from upper left to lower right. The medium square line up from upper right to lower left.

Pay careful attention to the QSTs. Their light #4 sides are towards the center and outside edges.

Sew the units in each row together, pressing the SA away from each QST.

And of course! Do as I say, not as I do. <heavy sigh!>

You caught me, didn't you?!!

It's sew-sew easy to get patches turned around as you pick them up to stitch. That's undoubtedly what I did, here in the middle row.

A quick un-sewing/resewing session put right my mistake right with my favorite seam ripper.

All that's left is to join the rows.

A good press with these last SAs pressed again away from the quarter square triangles. (Use my favorite pressing technique to totally tame any lumpiness in your block.)

Our Chained Star quilt block is no longer a wish.