Sampler Quilt
Workshop notes - Block 3
Friendship Star and variation
In its simplest form this 9-patch block consists of 4 plain squares of background fabric; 1
square of feature fabric (for the centre) and 4 units made up of half-square triangles using
background fabric and feature fabric.
The centre square is cut 4 ½”
The four corner squares of background fabric are cut 4 ½”
And the four half-square triangle units are made from 2 squares of each fabric cut at 5”.
To make the Half-Square Triangle Units:
On the back of the palest 5” squares draw a diagonal line – then, if you aren’t able to sew a
¼” either side of this with the aid of your machine, you need to draw thesewing line in;
Place this pale fabric right side down ontop of the other coloured square and sew; make
sure that when you sew you are sewing a ‘scant’ ¼” seam (not a generous one!)
When you have sewn, cut up between the lines of sewing; press the fabric to the darker
side and square up to an accurate 4 ½” – you should only be trimming off a scant amount
but it makes all the difference to accurate piecing later.
When they are all trimmed, lay out the pieces to make up the block and sew together in
rows, with a ¼” seam allowance; remember that when you sew you will loose the point this is fine!
NOTE: if you make more than one block do make sure that the stars all spin in the same
direction!
Alternative 4 patch corners (and maybe even the centre)
These are made from strips cut 2 ½” wide in the two colourways; you need to sew at least
20” together.
Lay them on the board in front of you still closed; Trim off the selvedge edge to give
yourself a straight edge and then using the ruler cut across in 2 ½” segments - you will
need 8 (or 10 if you are putting a 4 patch into the centre).
Workshop notes - Block 3 - Friendship Star and variation
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Open up the segments and make into 4patches (as we did before)
Lay the block out as before and sew together in rows and then the rows together. – take
care on the joins that the intersection is nice and crisp.
TO SEW BY HAND:
Basic Friendship star unit:
Cut 4 background squares at 4 ½” and 1 feature fabric at 4 ½”
Cut 2 background squares at 5” and 2 feature fabric squares at 5” and then cut these once
on the diagonal to give yourself triangles.
Sew these triangles together with a small running stitch and ¼” seam allowance; press
seams to one side (to the darker fabric) and then using the 4 ½” square up ruler you can
trim these back carefully making sure that you don’t cut through any stitching (or finishing
knot!!!)
Place the units out in front of you as per the block picture and sew together with ¼” seam
into rows and then the rows together (just as we do by machine)
Variation:
For the 4 patch units you will need to cut 8 squares of each colour at 2 ½” and sew them
together with ¼” seam allowance
Workshop notes - Block 3 - Friendship Star and variation
2
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