Star Flare: A Simple Tutorial

While I was making my Star Flare quilt, I had thought about making a tutorial for it but really wasn't sure if anyone would be interested. Well, when Dana put in her request I knew I needed to listen! 

This is a simple quilt to make and though mine is in solids, I think it would look really cool in prints, too. 

In this tutorial, I'll be referring to the fabrics we use as F1 through F5, with 1 being the inner star and working out from there. In my original version of the quilt, the fabrics that I used were Kona Cheddar (F1), Bella in Clementine (F2), Kona Tomato (F3), Kona Pomegranate (F4), and Kona Berry (F5).

Materials:

F1: Fat Eighth or Fat Quarter

F2: Fat Eighth or Fat Quarter

F3: 1/2 yard

F4: 1 yard

F5: 1.5 yards

Finished size: 48" square

Seam Allowance: scant 1/4"

Cutting:

F1: (1) 3.5" square, (4) 2.5" squares 

F2: (4) 2" squares, (4) 2.5" squares, (4) 4" squares

F3: (4) 3.5" squares, (4) 4" squares, (4) 7" squares

F4: (4) 6.5" squares, (4) 7" squares, (4) 13" squares

F5: (4) 12.5" squares, (4) 13" squares

      

Instructions:

1. Pair up your F1 and F2 2.5" squares, right sides together. Draw a diagonal line through the center of each pair and sew a line a scant 1/4" on either side of your drawn line. Cut on the drawn line and press your seams. Trim the resulting HSTs to 2". 

2. Sew the 2" squares of F2 to either side of the HSTs as shown in the diagram, then assemble your first star. Trim to 6.5" square.

3. Pair up your F2 and F3 4" squares and make four HSTs as described in Step 1, but trim to 3.5" square. Using your block from Step 2 as the center square, assemble the next round as shown using the 3.5" squares of F3. Trim block to 12.5"

Sorry for the bad lighting... it's raining. But you won't hear this farmer's wife complaining!

4. Pair up your F3 and F4 7" squares, make HSTs, and trim to 6.5". Use your block from Step 3 as the center and assemble the next round the same way that you did previously, with the 6.5" squares of F4 on either side of your 6.5" HST. Your block should now be 24.5".

That rain didn't last long, did it?

5. Pair up your 13" squares of F4 and F5, make HSTs and trim to 12.5". Using your block from Step 4 and the 12.5" squares of F5, assemble your final round. 

6. Assemble your backing, baste, and quilt as desired.

 If you need help finishing your quilt, Amy Smart from Diary of a Quilter has an excellent Beginning Quilter Series with tutorials for all the steps you'll need. If you have any other questions, I'm always here to help, too. My contact info should be up there at the top of the page.

I would love to see pictures of your quilts if you make one using my tutorial! 

Feel free to email me or leave a link in the comments!