- Home
- Free Quilt Block Patterns
- Double Star Block
Double Star Block
From our Free Quilt Block Pattern Library
This post contains affiliate links for which I receive compensation.
The Double Star block looks like it might take advance piecing skills. But don't let it fool you. 3-patch Quarter Square Triangles and Flying Geese are all it takes.
That. And some cut squares.
Seriously. That's it.
Now I have to admit. I was a doubting-Thomas when I first considered creating a tutorial for this block.
And...
...I was working on this while I was at a Bee-Treat—a quilting getaway with friends. And had had some delicious Sangria. What retreat is truly a retreat without Sangria? <evil quilty grin!>
In reality, this block is nothing more than a bunch of steps, taken in order. That's it!
Later in the tutorial are variations on this block design.
Not sure if you want to commit to making this block?
Then check out these 10 different Double Star layouts for inspiration.
You CAN do this.
Without further ado, it's to to cut up and sew!
General Instructions
Several abbreviations are used on this page. They are:
- SA - seam allowance
- RST - right sides together
- FG - Flying Geese
- 3P-QST - 3-Patch Quarter Square Triangle
1/4" SA are used through this tutorial.
When instructed to press, first press the patches in the closed position just as they came off your sewing machine. This sets the seam, melding the fibers of the threads into the fibers of the fabric.
Then press the SA to the dark unless otherwise noted.
Starching the fabric with StaFlo concentrate mixed 50/50 with water before cutting makes patches easy to fingerpress. A big time saver for our simple paperpieced units.
The newest quilt fabrics to tickle your fancy...
Click the images below to see the full collection. We share any commercial and/or free patterns that showcase them, too. (For inspiration, of course!)
Step 1: Cutting for a Double Star quilt block
Double Star designSample Size: 15" finished / 15½" unfinished
Grid: 10x10
Design Type: Uneven 9-patch, large center; Star
This design is all about pointy points—and matching points.
Choose two fabrics with plenty of contrast between their color and pattern so that those precious points don't get lost.
Make sure to label your patches as they are cut, especially after subcutting.
Because the subcut HST and QSTs are so close in size, it's too darned easy to mix them up. (Ask me how I know!)
While they might fill the space, you end up with bias edges on the outside of your units—defeating the purpose of precutting your patches.
 | Cutting Chart for a~Paper Piecing + Traditional Piecing ~ | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patch | Fabric | Qty | Finished Block Size | Sub Cut | ||
| 10" | 15" | 20" | ||||
| QST.1 | Light | 1 | 3¾" x 3¾" | 4¾" x 4¾" | 5¾" x 5¾" |  |
| QST.2 | Dark | 1 | 3¾" x 3¾" | 4¾" x 4¾" | 5¾" x 5¾" | |
| QST.3 | Dark | 2 | 3⅜" x 3⅜" | 4⅜" x 4⅜" | 5⅜" x 5⅜" |  |
| Goose | Light | 4 | 3⅝" x 3⅝" | 4⅝" x 4⅝" | 5⅝" x 5⅝" | |
| Sky | Dark | 16 | 2⅜" x 2⅜" | 2⅞" x 2⅞" | 3⅜" x 3⅜" | |
| 6 | Dark | 1 | 2½" x 2½" | 3½" x 3½" | 4½" x 4½" | -- |
| 7 | Light | 12 | 1½" x 1½" | 2" x 2" | 2½" x 2½" | -- |
| 8 | Light | 4 | 3½" x 3½" | 5" x 5" | 6½" x 6½" | -- |
| Unfinished Block is... | 10½" | 15½" | 20½" | na | ||
| Grid Size | 1" | 1½" | 2" | na | ||
Download and print paper piecing patterns
You'll need the most current version of Adobe installed on your computer to download the pattern. (It's free for you to download.)
On the Adobe Print Menu page, under 'Page Size and Handling' set 'Custom Scale' to 100% before printing for accurate results. Click here to see what it looks like on the Print Menu page.
Choose your finished block size from the chart below and print the corresponding number of pages for a total of 16 Flying Geese and four 3-Patch Quarter Square Triangles units.
PaperPiecing Patterns to Print | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Finished Block Size | # of copies | 3 Patch QSTs | Flying Geese |
| 10" | 1 3PQST 4 FG | 2" | 1" x 2" |
| 15" | 1 3PQST 4 FG | 3" | 1½" x 3" |
| 20" | 2 3PQST 4 FG | 4" | 2½" x 4½" |
After printing, use the 1" square graphic on the printed page(s) to confirm the patterns printed correctly.
Not sure which paper to use?
Have a look at my review of several of the most popular brands available to us quilters on the market.
My personal preference is for a super-easy paper to tear away—less stress on the stitches.
Step 2: Assemble units for your Double Star
The dashed placement lines on the paperpiecing patterns save us a lot of extra trimming—in fact, you shouldn't need to trim any patches until the Flying Geese and 3P-QSTs are completely sewn.
Love it!
General Sewing Machine Setup for Paperpiecing
- Reduce your stitch length to 16–20 stitches per inch (1.3-1.6 mm). This perforates the paper. It also stabilizes the seam when you remove the pattern. [Learn more about stitch length here.]
- Reduce your machine's speed or just plain slow down when you stitch. Sew only as fast as you can stay on the stitching lines.
- Install an open toe appliqué foot (sometimes called an 'embroidery' or 'satin stitch' foot) if you have one (it's easier to see where you're stitching with one installed).
- Use a larger needle (90/14) if you have problems removing the pattern.
- If your machine has a needle stop up, use it. The stitching goes faster when you don't have to lift the presser foot with every seam.
- As you stitch each seam, start and stop a generous 1/4” before and after the solid stitching lines. ALWAYS. Future lines of stitching secure the ends.
After adding each patch, press the unit as it was sewn to set the seam and then open. The SA is automatically pressed towards the last patch added.
Before adding the next patch, take a look to make sure the one you just added covers the space plus seam allowance that it is supposed to.
Steam is optional and usually curls the pattern.
If that bothers you, don't use steam. Sometimes I do. Sometimes I don't.
It truly depends on my mood.
Remember, as you follow this paper piecing tutorial, the printed and the fabric sides of this block are mirror-images of each other.
At last!
Let's sew!
Flying Geese (FG)
Make 16
Use a dot of Elmer's Washable Glue stick to stick the backside of the Goose patch to the unprinted side of the pattern. Use the dashed placement guides to position it.
Close is good enough!With RST, align the long edge of a Sky patch to the Goose patch.
You can just barely make out the placement guide (blue arrow)Stitch on the line between the Goose and Sky, starting and stopping a generous 1/4" before and after the line.
Press. At this point there's no reason to trim anything. Not even thread tails. Those pesky tails are gone once the finished unit is trimmed to size at the end.
Add the second Sky patch in the same manner and press.
To trim to size, I like to lay as many FG as I can on my mat and trim en masse.
Chocolate (blue arrow) is a good thing to have around when there's a lot of trimming to do. Need something to keep up our strength! :DTrim all four sides. Line up the quarter inch line on your ruler with the solid outline of the FG unit.
All trimmed. Not a lot of fabric sacrificed for perfect little units.All that's left to do is remove the paper.
Ready to use in our Double Star block.Check your accuracy...
| Finished Block Size | FGs measure... (from edge-to-edge) |
|---|---|
| 10" | 1½" x 2½" |
| 15" | 2" x 3½" |
| 20" | 2½" x 4½" |
3-Patch Quarter Square Triangles (3P-QSTs)
Make 4
With just a tiny dab of Elmer's Washable Glue Stick, adhere the backside of QST.1 to the unprinted side of the pattern.
Use the dashed placement lines to position the patch as shown below.
Again. Close is good enough.With RST, align the edges of QST2 with QST1.
This time you're aligning a short side—that way the straight of grain is on the outside of the block.On the printed side, stitch starting and ending (blue arrows) a good 1/4" before and after the solid stitching line between QST.1 and QST.2.
Press. Here I've been able to simply fingerpress because my patches are heavily starched and hold and excellent crease.
These two patches form a nice straight edge for aligning QST.3With RST, align the edges of the QST1/QST2 and QST.3. Stitch as before starting and ending a generous 1/4" past the solid stitching line.
Press.
Trim the 3P-QSTs to size by placing the 1/4" line of your ruler on the solid outside line of the unit. Trim all four sides of each unit.
Remove the paper.
When completed they look like this.
Make 4 for each Double StarUse the table below to check your accuracy.
| Finished Block is... | 3P-QSTs measure... (from edge-to-edge) |
|---|---|
| 10" | 2½" x 2½" |
| 15" | 3½" x 3½" |
| 20" | 4½" x 4½" |
Return your sewing machine to your everyday settings.
We stitch the remainder of the block with traditional techniques.
Install your favorite quarter inch presser foot. Adjust the needle position if needed. Increase to your normal piecing stitch length.
FG Borders
Make 6
With RST, stitch a #7 to each side of a single FG.
Make 6 for each Double StarAll ready for the next step.
After stitching check for accuracy...
| Finished Block is... | FG Borders measure... (from edge-to-edge) |
|---|---|
| 10" | 1½" x 4½" |
| 15" | 2" x 6½" |
| 20" | 2½" x 8½" |
What's Next...
- Continue with instructions to make this Double Star block or...
- Check out 10 unique Double Star Quilt Designs for inspiration with what to do with your blocks
Looking for something truly stellar?
You've finished your star quilt block, and you're ready for more!
Browse our collection of 40+ stellar star quilt block patterns. All have instructions and cutting charts in multiple sizes. If templates or paper piecing is used in the tutorial, there's a free download for you of those materials.
Eeny. Meenie. Miney. Mo.
Which star quilt block will you sew?
For a star-studded quilting experience, choose from almost 70 bedazzling star quilt patterns—for beginners and beyond—click here.
For EVEN MORE blocks to make, visit our Free Quilt Block Pattern Library with over 200 blocks to choose from in multiple sizes.
Free downloads are included in all sizes for any blocks require paper piecing patterns or templates.
For even more blocks to make...
For you, are quilt block patterns like potato chips?
You can't have just one?!!
Check the fantastic resources I rely on for the majority of the quilt block designs you see on this website.
To see if they're worthy of a spot in YOUR quilting library, read about them HERE.
NOTE: All the attribution and alternate names shared in the Free Quilt Block Patterns Library came from these four resources.
- Home
- Free Quilt Block Patterns
- Double Star Block
Yummy fabrics
to drool over
Click any image below to see the full collection and find pricing and ordering information.
