Friendship Star Variation

Hello everyone!

Today, we will be showing you all a variation on the friendship star.

If you have made any of the fun maverick stars that have been floating around, this construction technique will be familiar to you.

Cut List for a 12.5" block:

- One 16" square of your background fabric

- Various scraps for the points; must be bigger than the point you're creating

Step 1: Cut your background piece into nine squares; make two randomly spaced horizontal cuts and two randomly spaced vertical cuts.

Step 2: Using your center square as a template, cut a piece of patterned fabric the same size of your center square.

Replace the background fabric center with the patterned fabric one.

Step 3: Making the points of the star

Take one of the background pieces for an arm of the star. Pick a scrap of fabric large enough to cover the corner of this piece.

Put your scrap fabric and your background fabric right sides together. Draw a line from the corner to midway along the side of the block. Make sure that you arrange the pieces so that when opened the two pieces will form a complete rectangle.

Sew along your pencil line.

Trim away the excess fabric, open up, and press.

 

Square up the rectangle, by trimming the excess print fabric.

Next, make three more points in the same fashion. As you make them, double check that all your points are orientated in the same direction. For me, this is definitely the most difficult part of the block.

Step 3 (Alternative): Some people might find it easier to trim the background fabric before sewing on the print points. This method make its easier to ensure that the points are all pointing the same way.

To make the points this way, draw a diagonal line from the corner to one side of the rectangle and trim along it.

Then, like before, match the wrong sides together, and sew along the diagonal seam.

Open up and press.

Trim the excess patterned fabric.


Consider piecing together different prints for some of the points.

Step 4: Assemble

Sew together your 4.5" squares into three rows.

Next sew together those three rows and you have a completed block! 
 Be sure to match up the center seams while sewing the rows together.

Step 5: Square up your block

Trim your block to 12.5" square. The triangles eat up quite a bit of fabric, so starting with 16" square will give you some wiggle room for a 12.5" square.

As you can see in this other block I made, changing the location of your initial cuts can really change up the look of the block. You can also make the star more off-centered.

If you have any questions, leave 'em in the comments!

As always, post your pictures to the Block Party flickr group.