Four Patch Stars Quilt Tutorial: Jenny Doan's Stunning Star Block Design

• 🔲 10" Square Layer Cake (prints for star points) — Shop Precuts
• ⬜ Background Fabric (white/cream, cut into 10" squares) — Shop Fabric
• 🎨 Charm Pack (5" squares for scrappy four-patches) — Shop Charm Packs
• 📐 Quilting Ruler — Shop Rulers
• ✂️ Rotary Cutter & Mat — Shop Rotary Cutters
• 🧵 Thread — Shop Thread
• 📌 Pins — Shop Pins & Clips
• ✏️ Fabric Marking Pen or Pencil
• 🔥 Iron & Pressing Surface

Step 1: Make Half Square Triangles (8 at Once!)

Take one print 10" square and one background 10" square. Place them right sides together, making sure edges match exactly. Using a ruler and marking pen, draw a diagonal line from corner to corner in both directions, creating an X. Sew a quarter inch on both sides of each drawn line. As Jenny explains: "We're keeping our presser foot lined up right along that line. Sew diagonally from one corner to the other."

Step 2: Cut Apart Your HSTs

Now make six cuts to liberate your eight half square triangles. Cut horizontally through the center, vertically through the center, and then cut on both drawn diagonal lines. You'll end up with eight beautiful HST units from just those two squares. Jenny's method is incredibly efficient: "We're going to make actually six cuts."

Step 3: Square Up Your HSTs

Press each HST open toward the darker fabric, then trim them to 4½" square. Accuracy here pays off in the final block, so take your time with the ruler. Line up the diagonal seam with the 45-degree line on your ruler and trim two sides, then rotate and trim the remaining two sides.

Step 4: Create Flying Geese Units

Pair up your HSTs with the white/background sides facing each other in the center. Sew them together along one edge to create flying geese units. As Jenny shows: "We're going to sew these together with our whites to the middle and it looks like a flying geese." Each star block needs four flying geese units, so sew all four pairs.

Step 5: Make Scrappy Four-Patch Centers

Take your charm pack squares (5" squares) and cut them in half both directions to get four 2½" squares from each. Mix up your lights and darks, then sew four contrasting squares together in a two-by-two grid to make each four-patch unit. Jenny reminds: "Make sure when you're picking through your blocks, that you pick lights and darks." Press seams in opposing directions so they nest together perfectly.

Step 6: Assemble the Star Blocks

Now arrange your block components: place the four-patch in the center, flying geese units on all four sides (points facing outward), and plain background squares in the four corners. Sew in rows — top row, center row, bottom row — then join the three rows together. Press carefully and admire your perfect star block!

Step 7: Build Your Quilt Top

Repeat the process to make as many star blocks as you need for your desired quilt size. Arrange them in rows, alternating star blocks with sashing or setting them side by side for an allover star effect. Sew blocks into rows, then join the rows. Add borders if desired, layer with batting and backing, quilt, and bind!

• Chain piece everything: Sew all your HST pairs, four-patches, and flying geese in assembly-line fashion to save time and thread.
• Press seams strategically: In the four-patch, press seams in opposing directions so they nest together. For the final block, press flying geese seams toward the center.
• Use a design wall: Lay out all your star blocks before sewing them together to balance color placement across the entire quilt.
• Try a two-color version: For a bold, graphic look, use just one print fabric and one background fabric throughout all blocks.
• Mix your precuts: Combine a layer cake (for star points) with a charm pack (for centers) from the same fabric line for a perfectly coordinated scrappy look.