From our Free Quilt Block Pattern Library
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Skill Level: Beginner
Grid: 3x3
The interwoven points of the Twin Star quilt block are much easier to make than they look.
3-patch quarter square triangles make it happen. Paper piecing is the key to perfect points and seam allowances. All you need to be able to do is stitch on a line. Easy Peasy!
Do you hate paper piecing? Not to worry. If you prefer traditional piecing, there's a cutting chart and instructions for that at the bottom of this page.
Let's get started!
I like to use an open toe applique foot for paper piecing because there's nothing between my eyes and the stitching line.
I also prefer to prewash and then starch my quilt fabric. Starched fabric allows you to get a good fingerpress which helps you minimize trips back and forth to the iron.
If you prefer traditional piecing, click here to go directly to that cutting chart further down on this page and skip printing any patterns.
To download the free patterns, YOU must have Adobe installed on your computer. You can get it here if you don't already have it.
WHY ADOBE?
It's simple. My patterns have dashed placement guides to make the positioning of the first patch virtually foolproof. With Adobe, they show exactly as intended—a dashed line. In other programs they render as solid lines. That can make it confusing, especially for the beginning quilter.
Choose your finished block size from the table below and print the corresponding pattern.
Finished Block Size | # of copies to print | Link to PDF Pattern |
---|---|---|
6” | 1 | 2" unit |
7-1/2” | 1 | 2-1/2" unit |
9” | 1 | 3" unit |
12” | 2 | 4" unit |
To print blocks at the correct size, under 'Page Sizing and
Handling' in Adobe's print menu, set 'Custom Scale' to 100%. Click here to see where it's at on the Print Menu page.
If you use something other than Adobe, you'll need to set 'Page Scaling' to 'None' to print at '100%'. Printing at 'Actual Size' tends to print blocks at weird sizes. (Don't know why, it just does.)
Click any of the images below to see the full collection and find pricing and ordering information.
To see all the fabric lines currently displayed on this site on a single page, click here.
Sample Size:
Grid: 3x3
Design Type: Star
NOTE: If you prefer traditional piecing, click here to go to that information further down on this page.
You can use this same pattern and with different placement of the light and medium fabrics create a star that 'spins' in the opposite direction.
In this version, the #1 patch is a light background fabric. This fabric placement is what we'll use for our sample block in the following tutorial.
To make the Twin Star spin in the other direction, swap in a medium fabric for #1. Use a light for the #2 patch. (Click here to see how this changes the design.)
Don't forget to subcut Patches #QST.1-3.
![]() | Cutting Chart for a~ Paper Piecing ~ | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Patch | Fabric | Qty | Finished Block Size | Sub Cut | |||
6'' | 7½'' | 9'' | 12'' | ||||
QST.1 | Bac | 1 | 3¾'' x 3¾'' | 4¼'' x 4¼'' | 4¾'' x 4¾'' | 5¾'' x 5¾'' | ![]() |
QST.2 | Light | 1 | 3¾'' x 3¾'' | 4¼'' x 4¼'' | 4¾'' x 4¾'' | 5¾'' x 5¾'' | ![]() |
QST.3 | Dark | 2 | 3⅜'' x 3⅜'' | 3⅞'' x 3⅞'' | 4⅜'' x 4⅜'' | 5⅜'' x 5⅜'' | ![]() |
4 | Bac | 5 | 2½'' x 2½'' | 3'' x 3'' | 3½'' x 3½'' | 4½'' x 4½'' | --- |
Unfinished Block Size | 6½'' | 8'' | 9½'' | 12½'' | na | ||
Grid Size | 2'' | 2½'' | 3'' | 4'' | na |
Learn more about my favorite, new quilting tool, the Magic Pressing Mat—read my review. A valuable addition to your quilting tools regardless of the piecing technique you use.
It's that terrific!
Make 4
NOTE: Since this is an asymmetrical design, the paper piecing pattern may look backwards to you. Don't worry. The printed side of the pattern is actually the backside of the block and it should look backwards.
It works. I promise!
Install an open toe applique foot if you have one.
Reduce your stitch length to 15-18 stitches/inch. The reason is two-fold:
Cut out four QST patterns—cut just beyond the outside dashed line.
With a tiny bit of Elmer's Washable glue stick (goes on purple/dries clear) position QST.1, wrong side of the fabric to the unprinted side of the pattern.
With RST, position QST.2 exactly on top of it.
Stitch, starting before the solid line begins and after it ends, on the line between the first two patches.
Press. If you've starched your fabric, you may be able to simply fingerpress this seam. (I did.)
Trim away this little thread tail, it'll be covered by the next patch.
With RST, align the long edge of QST.3 with the sewn patches.
Stitch on the line, starting and stopping past the outside dashed lines.
Press.
Trim the block to size by positioning the quarter inch line on your ruler with the solid black outline of the block. Trim. Repeat for the other three sides. This also trims away all the thread tails at the outside edge of our Twin Star quilt block.
Repeat for a total of 4.
Remove the paper.
Install your standard quarter inch foot—the seam allowances are 1/4" for the rest of the block. Return your stitch length your normal piecing length.
Arrange the units into the Twin Star design. The light, background patch is on the outside edge of our Twin Star block. The QSTs are rotated a quarter turn as you move clockwise around the block.
Stitch the rows together. Seams are pressed toward the solid squares.
And finally, stitch the rows together. Use pins to match the seams if needed.
Click here to see what your Twin Star quilt block looks like if you swapped the light and medium patches.
As promised, this is the cutting chart for a Twin Star quilt block with traditionally pieced QSTs.
The measurements in the table are exact. Personally, I prefer to use oversized patches and then after stitching, trim them to a perfect square. I add a 1/4" to each of the QST.1 thru QST.3 patches and then cut them.
![]() | Cutting Chart for a~ Traditional Piecing ~ | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Patch | Fabric | Qty | Finished Block Size | Sub Cut | |||
6'' | 7½'' | 9'' | 12'' | ||||
QST.1 | Bac | 1 | 3¼'' x 3¼'' | 3¾'' x 3¾'' | 4¼'' x 4¼'' | 5¼'' x 5¼'' | ![]() |
QST.2 | Light | 1 | 3¼'' x 3¼'' | 3¾'' x 3¾'' | 4¼'' x 4¼'' | 5¼'' x 5¼'' | ![]() |
QST.3 | Dark | 2 | 2⅞'' x 2⅞'' | 3⅜'' x 3⅜'' | 3⅞'' x 3⅞'' | 4⅞'' x 4⅞'' | ![]() |
4 | Bac | 5 | 2½'' x 2½'' | 3'' x 3'' | 3½'' x 3½'' | 4½'' x 4½'' | --- |
Unfinished Block Size | 6½" | 8'' | 9½" | 12½'' | na | ||
Grid Size | 2'' | 2½'' | 3'' | 4 '' | na |
After cutting, click here to go to Step 2: Assemble the units on the Double Pinwheel quilt block tutorial (this page will stay open underneath.)
Use this chart to check the accuracy of your units and trim your units to perfection.
QST Dimensions | ||
---|---|---|
Finished Block Size | Center Measurement | Trim QST to… |
6" | 1¼" | 2½" x 2½" |
7½'' | 1½" | 3" x 3" |
9" | 1¾" x 1¾" | 3½" x 3½" |
12 '' | 2¼" x 2¼" | 4½" x 4½" |
After completing your QSTs, return to this page with the 'Back' button on your browser bar and continue on with Step 4: Assemble your Twin Star quilt block on this page.
Enjoy!
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This article was printed from Generations-Quilt-Patterns.com