Quilt Patterns - Four Patch Star Quilt Pattern

Four Patch Star Wallhanging
12" Finished Quilt Block
36" Finished Wallhanging

Even beginning quilters can put this little star wallhanging together in a flash when they use basic quick piecing techniques to assemble the blocks.

Use the block layout that's illustrated as a starting point, but don't be afraid to customize your blocks and your quilt by changing the way blocks are arranged or by sewing with a scrappy assortment of fabrics.

Experiment with color and color value, placing light and dark fabrics in different positions. You can see how much different the quilt looks when dark blue squares replace light blue squares in some block corners. That one simple change makes the stars appear to flow diagonally, which adds a bit of visual movement to the quilt. Placing warm red fabric around four stars in the drawing on the right creates another look.

Quilt Variations
Customize your quilt by sewing on multiple borders or using a border print for ready-made visual appeal. Or how about a solid inner border to define the quilt top and a pieced outer border to finish things off? The final look is totally up to you.

Cutting Chart to Make 9 Star Blocks

A Light squares for corners -- (36) 3-1/2" squares

For strip pieced center four-patch units
(1) dark strip, 3-1/2" x 42"
(1) dark strip, 3-1/2" x 26"
(1) light strip, 3-1/2" x 42"
(1) light strip, 3-1/2" x 26"

Choose light and dark fabric squares and strips that are similar in value, but not necessarily the same fabric.

For Half Square Triangle Units (star points)
(36) 3-7/8" light squares
(36) 3-7/8" dark squares

Choose a scrappy assortment of light and dark squares
Straight grain should run parallel to the outer edges of all pieces
Use an exact 1/4" seam allowance for all seams

Assemble the Four Patch Center Units

1. Use an exact 1/4" seam allowance to sew the longest dark strip to the longest light strip. Repeat for shorter strips. Press seam allowances toward the dark strips. (See Pressing Basics)

2. Use rotary cutting equipment to square up one end of the strip pieced units, then cut a total of (18) 3-1/2" segments. Check often to make sure the leading edge remains at a 90 degree angle to the lengthwise edge. If necessary, square up the leading edge before cutting more segments. (See Rotary Cutting Strips)

3. Sew two segments together, reversing one so that dark portions are opposite light portions. Seams should butt into each other nicely at the center to help you achieve a perfect match. Press. Repeat to make a total of nine 4-patch units.

Assemble the Half Square Triangle Units

To view diagrams for this process, see the instructions included with Grandma's Choice.

1. Use a pencil or permanent marker to draw a diagonal line, from corner to corner, on the reverse side of each 3-7/8" light square.

2. Align a light square with a dark square, right sides together and sides matched, marked square on top.

3. Sew a seam exactly 1/4" from each side of the marked center line. Cut the squares apart on the center line, then press the units open. Each unit should measure exactly 3-1/2" square.

Did You Know?
Chain piecing speeds up repetitive sewing tasks. Feed one unit after another through the sewing machine, without cutting strings. When finished, cut strings between the units. For half-square triangle units, reverse and sew seams on opposite side.

Assemble the Star Blocks

Press adjoining seams in opposite directions when possible

1. Sew the outer components of rows together into four units as shown here.

2. Sew the two vertical rows to the sides of the 4-patch unit.

3. Add the top and bottom rows to complete the block. Press. Make a total of 9 star blocks.

4. Sew blocks together in rows, then sew rows together, matching seam intersections carefully.

Add borders as desired.

For an alternative way to assemble the star points, see Assemble Quick Pieced 'Geese' Units in the pattern Not So Much of a Trick.