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Squaring Up 8-Pointed Stars from the book,
Everyone Can Quilt by Kaye Wood Four corner squares and four triangles are used to square up this star. the grain line of each peice should go in the same direction (up and down in the block). This will help keep your block square. |
| Cut and mark the squares.
1. Measure the width of the entire strip set used for the star diamonds. It should be approximately 3-1/2"
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Corner Squares
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| 2. Add 1-1/2" to this measurement and mark it on a ruler using tape or a piece of Static Sticker. |
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| 3. Cut strips using the measurement in Step 2. |
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| 4. Cut these strips into squares.
5. Mark the top of each square with a pin
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| Line up the edges and sew the seam.
1. Place the squares in the corners of the star. the pins should be at the top in each corner. |
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| 2. Crease-mark the squares. Fold and crease the squares, right sides together, so the diagonal crease lines up with the seamline between the points of the star. These crease marks will help to line up the squares with the points of the star.
3. Place a square, right sides together, under the star point, with the right-hand sides lined up. |
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| 4. Insert the pin into the seamline between the star poiknts, exactly 1/4" from the edge. The pin shoul d go through to the square and come out on the creased line. |
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| 5. Bring the point of the pin up through the square back up into the star point at right angles to the sides. From the back, the pin in the square will look like this: |
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| 6. Sew the square to the point, starting at the pin (on the seamline 1/4" from the edge). Lock stitch oon the seamline and sew to the end.
Note: The bottom edges will not line up because the square was cut slightly larger than needed so the star block can be trimmed later. 7. Press the seam allowances toward the star. |
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| Sew the second side of the square.
1. Fold the star, right sides together. 2. Line up the side of the square with the other side of the star point. 3. Place a pin through the starting point (in the crease lined up with the first seam). Check to make sure all the fabric is out of the way. 4. Lock stitch at the crease and sew all the way to the edge. 5. Press the seam allowances toward the star. Do NOT trim the edges. They will be trimmed after the triangles are added. |
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Triangles To keep the quilt block square, it is best if the outside edges of each triangle are cut on the straight of grain of the fabric. To do this, first cut a fabric square and then cut the square into four triangles. Trim and mark the fabric. 1. Measure the width of the entire strip set used for the star diamonds. It should be approximately 3-1/2". |
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2. Add 2" to this measurement; double this and mark it on a ruler using tape or a piece of static sticker. |
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3. Take the rest of the background fabric and trim the top and left-hand side to straighten the edges and remove the selvedges.
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4. Turn the Starmaker 8 so the bottom of it lines up with the top of the fabric. The 8 angle of the Starmaker 8 should be in the upper left corner.
5. Using the measurement from Step 2, place a mark along the diagonal edge of the Starmaker 8. |
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Cut the square into triangles. 1. Slide the Starmaker 8 over so the right-hand edge lines up with the mark. 2. Cut along the right-hand side of the Starmaker 8 from the top of the fabric down to the mark. |
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| 3. Turn the Starmaker 8 so the 4 angle is at the mark.
4. Cut along the bottom of the Starmaker 8. This will give you the size square needed. |
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| 5. Cut the square diagonally from corner to corner using the Starmaker 8. |
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| 6. Turn the Starmaker 8 to cut the square diagonally in the opposite direction. This will give you the four triangles needed for one star square.
Place the triangles in position. 1. Mark the triangles with A, B, C, and D with self-stick notes. 2. Crease-mark the triangle: fold and crease the triangles, right sides together, from the point to the center of the side. These crease marks will help to line up the triangles with the points of the star. 3. Place the triangles in position. The straight of grain will be on the outside edge of the triangles. The crease line lines up with the seamlines between the star points. |
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| Sew the first seam.
1. Place a triangle, right sides together, under the star point with the right-hand sides lined up. 2. Insert a pin into the seamline between the star points exactly 1/4" from the edge. The pin should go through to the triangle and come out on the creased line of the triangle. |
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| 3. Bring the point of the pin up through the triangle and into the star point at the right angles to the sides.
4. Sew the triangle to the point, starting at the pin (on the seamline 1/4" from the edge). Sew all the way to the outside edge of the star point. 5. The seam allowance of the square should be laying toward the star point. Sew over it so it stays in the direction it was pressed. |
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Sew the second side of the triangle.
1. Fold the star, right sides together. 2. Line up the side of the triangle with the other side of the star point. 3. Place a pin through the starting point (in the crease lined up with the first seam). Check to make sure all the fabric is out of the way. 4. Lock stitch at the crease and sew all the way to the edge. |
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5. Press the seam allowances toward the star.
6. Trim each side of the star block 1/4" beyond the points of the star.
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Copyright Kaye Wood, Inc. 2007
