Double Star Quilt Block Pattern

A Lesson in Partial Seams Piecing

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Skill Level: Confident beginner

The Double Star quilt block pattern is made from a hybrid of a half and quarter square triangles, and rectangles and a square. It uses four fabrics.

In order to piece the unit we'll use a technique known as 'partial seams' or 'puzzle piecing'. No special tools, rulers or templates are required. The patches are all rotary cut.

It's a fun little block to make that looks more complicated than it is. A couple of pins makes everything easy.

Another Double Star quilt block variation...

Not the Double Star pattern you were looking for?

'Double Star' is a common block name. There are many others.

Check out the instructions to make the variation shown here.

General Instructions

All seam allowances (SA) are 1/4".

Several common abbreviations are used on this page. They are:

  • SA - seam allowance
  • QST - quarter square triangle
  • RST - right sides together
  • BAC - Background fabric

When you are instructed to press, first press the pieced unit flat to set the seams.

Then open the patch, pressing from the front.

The direction to press the SA is included at each step in this tutorial.

The fabric used in this tutorial was starch before cutting with a 50/50 mix of StaFlo starch liquid concentrate and water. Stiff fabric is easier to cut accurately and finger presses beautifully.

Best Press is a nice alternative; however, the resulting fabric is 'crisp' rather than 'stiff'.

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: Cut the Double Star patches

Double Star quilt block designDouble Star design

Sample Size: 7½" finished / 8" unfinished

Grid: 5x5

Attributed to: Nancy Cabot

AKA: Hope of Hartford (Farm Journal)

Design Type: Partial Seams/Puzzle Piecing, Star

For QST units, I like to start with over-sized patches and trim to actual size after stitching.

For the patches marked with an asterisk (*) in the chart below, I added an extra 3/8" to the listed dimensions before cutting.

After stitching, I cut them down to the perfect size (there's a chart in the instructions right where you need this information.)

While the block design is colored with a light (white) background above, in the sample I chose a medium blue value for the effect that I wanted. 

Choose fabrics in the colors that work best for you! You want fabrics with enough contrast so that your piecing handiwork shows!

As always, as you cut label your patches for easy identification throughout the piecing process.

Generations Quilt Patterns logo

Cutting Chart for a
Double Star Quilt Block

~Traditional Piecing ~

PatchFabricQtyFinished Block SizeSub
Cut
7½" 10" 12½" 15"
*1 BAC 1 4¼" x 4¼" 5¼" x 5¼" 6¼" x 6¼" 7¼" x 7¼" Symbol for a quarter square triangle
*2 Med 1 4¼" x 4¼" 5¼" x 5¼" 6¼" x 6¼" 7¼" x 7¼" Symbol for a quarter square triangle
*3 Light 2 3⅞" x 3⅞" 4⅞" x 4⅞" 5⅞" x 5⅞" 6⅞" x 6⅞" Symbol for a half square triangle
4 BAC 4 2" x 3½" 2½" x 4½" 3" x 5½" 3½" x 6½" na
5 Dark 1 2" x 2" 2½" x 2½" 3" x 3" 3½" x 3½" na
Unfinished Size 8" 10½" 13" 15½" --
Grid Size 1½" 2" 2½" 3" --

90% Faster Than Rotary Cutters

In the photo below I have not yet sub-cut the Large Star Points (yellow print) squares.

These are the patches needed for this 7-1/2 inch Double Star quilt block

Step 2: Assemble the Double Star units

QST units

Make 4

The QST units in this block are pieced from individually cut patches. The units are identical. There is no mirror imaging.

With RST, align the edges of one background triangle (#1) to one Small Petal triangle (#2). Double check the position of the patches to insure they are in the right position. Stitch.

Repeat for the three remaining pairs. To prevent sewing errors, keep the patches in the same order—the blue background fabric is always on top in the photo.

Sew the QSTs firstThe red arrow points to my anchor cloth

Press SA toward the darker patch. In this sample block it's toward the blue #1. If you use a lighter background fabric this may be toward #2 instead.

You're ready for the next seam.

Patches ready to assemble for the next step

Align the long edge of this pieced #1/#2 unit with the long edge of the Large Petal triangle (#3). Stitch.

Stitch the second seam of the QST unit

Press SAs toward the larger triangle(#3) to reduce bulk.

If you cut your QST patches larger, like I did, you'll need to trim them to size. Use the chart below to find the needed measurements.

If you cut them exactly to size, use the chart to check your accuracy using the far right column. Make any adjustments needed.

For a refresher on trimming QST units to size, click here to review this technique in Quarter Square Triangle, Technique #1, Steps 6-7. 

The center measurement for this QST in our 7-1/2" finished Double Star quilt block is 1-3/4". 

Finished
Block Size
The center of the QST unit is at… Trim QST unit to...
7 1/2" 1 3/4" 3 1/2"
10" 2 1/4" 4 1/2"
12 1/2" 2 3/4" 5 1/2"
15" 3 1/4" 6 1/2"

After trimming/checking for accuracy and pressing, with RST add the #5 background rectangle to the QST.2 side of each QST unit as shown below.

Add the background rectangle to the quarter square triangle unitThe units are stitched together with the pieced QST on top. That way, I can ensure that the seam allowances don't flip over and twist during stitching.

Press. SA toward the background fabric. Repeat for the 3 remaining pairs.

Step 3: Assemble the Double Star block

To construct this block the first seam is a partial one. This is done to create an edge equal in length to the remaining units.

With RST, align the center square (#5) with the corner of the Large Petal fabric. Pin if needed. You will stitch along the long side of the QST unit for a little more than half the length of the center square.

Our stitching is between the black lines.

Sew a partial seam to attach the center squareSew a bit more than half the seam to attach the center
square to the first quarter square triangle unit

Press with SA towards the center square.

With RST, align the next QST unit with the edge of the Center/QST unit. Stitch.

Press.

Seam allowance towards the QST.

Stitch the second QST unit to the first one

Repeat for the third unit, pressing towards the center square.

Repeat for the third QST unit

Add the fourth. Pins were helpful to keep the layers evenly together during sewing. Press the sewn SA away from the center.

Stitch the fourth unit to the first three

This is how the block looks from the front before pinning the last, partial seamline.

The unit before stitching the last seam

Now things can get a bit lumpy. Nothing that a few pins can't tame.

In the photo below, you can see how I've pinned to align and hold the edges. The far right pin is inserted past the original stitching line. This is to help hold things flat and out of the way.

Pinning the partial seam

Stitch this final bit.

Press, SA towards the center square.

This is how the block looks from the back.

Double Star block from the back side

Your finished Double Star Quilt Block from the front.

The finished Double Star quilt block

Looking for something truly stellar?

To browse all the star quilt block patterns in one place, click here

You've finished your star quilt block, and you're ready for more!

Browse our collection of 50+ 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. Moe.

Which star quilt block will you sew?


There's more quilt blocks to make

For EVEN MORE blocks to make, visit our Free Quilt Block Pattern Library, with over 220+ blocks to choose from in multiple sizes.

Free downloads are included in all sizes for any blocks require paper piecing patterns or templates.


What about a different quilt block?

For a list of all the 215+ quilt block patterns on this site, start here.

If you know the name of the block, shorten your search by using these links:

A-D

E-M

N-Z

Click here if you're looking for blocks with at least some paper piecing.

Click here if you're looking for the basic building blocks of quilting, i.e., Flying Geese, half square triangles, quarter square triangles, etc., along with several techniques to make each.

And finally, use these links to find blocks in these finished sizes:


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