Friendship Star Block: Favorite Blocks for Little Quilts

The friendship star quilt block is probably the easiest star block of all. It’s constructed like a nine patch and only has four points which are made from half square triangles (hst). But like all quilts, when you add your favorite fabrics, the magic happens. In this post, we will start with a short tutorial on how to make the friendship star block and then go into instructions for turning the simple star blocks into a bright and festive little quilt.

I want to start with a quick explanation of how this post is going to work. I did a Instagram post asking if anyone wanted to make Liberty’s Sparklers, a little quilt from the friendship star block. Some did so we organized a sew along weekend for this weekend, Jun 21-23. You should easily be able to make the quilt top over three days (some will probably do it in one) but you don’t have to make it that fast. Do what you can.

The instructions will be posted in steps here on the blog and once they are complete, will stay on this post. You can make the quilt whenever you have time and motivation. I do hope you like it.

Keep reading for all the instruction or grab your pattern now. It’s free!

How to make the friendship star block

What you need to make one block:

Since this is a block in the series “Favorite Blocks for Small Quilts” our block will be a small one, 3″ finished. You will need a piece of background fabric and a piece of print fabric for the star.

• Cut (4) squares of background 1-1/2″
• Cut (1) square of star print 1-1/2″
• Cut (2) squares of background 2″
• Cut (2) squares of star print 2″

Using the two at a time method for making half square triangles (hst), make (4) hst blocks. Lay them out as illustrated below.

As you can see, this block is a variation of a nine patch. Sew the rows together first. Then, sew the first and second rows to each other followed by the third row to the first two.

I like to press my seams open when making little blocks. They lay much flatter that way. But, you press the way that you prefer.

The block should look like the image below. Since it’s unfinished (not sewn into a quilt yet) it should measure 3-1/2″.

Quick note about which way the friendship star “spins.” It doesn’t matter which way the blocks looks like it’s spinning. The star points can point the other way. Just be consistent whichever way you sew it together. Double check yourself as you make your blocks.

Liberty’s Sparklers Pattern

Welcome to day 1 of the Summer Weekend Sewalong!

Friday is cutting day. Gather together five different red fabrics, five different blue fabrics and one cheddar fabric. You’ll also need a gold fabric, a background fabric, another blue to use for the border and another red for the binding. Amounts and cutting sizes are listed below.

Fabric requirements:

• Fat 1/8 or 1/8 yard of four different reds and 1/4 yard of a fifth red for blocks and binding
• Fat 1/8 or 1/8 yard of five different blues
• Fat 1/8 or 1/8 yard of cheddar fabric for 4 stars and center square of quilt
• 1/2 yard of cream colored background
• Fat quarter of gold for sashing
• 1/4 yard dark blue for border

Cutting instructions:

There are 36 friendship star blocks in the quilt, nine in each quadrant separated by a sashing strip. I used five different reds, five different blues and one cheddar to make 4 cheddar stars, 16 red stars and 16 blue stars. Examine the quilt illustration to see how the colors are arranged.

If you follow the instructions, you will wind up with enough fabric cut to make 20 red and 20 blue stars. I wanted each quadrant of the quilt to have a little variety in which fabrics were used. I wanted each to be a little different. So, I made the extra blocks and will probably use them in another project one day.

For the friendship star blocks:

Star fabric:

• From each of the five reds and blues and the single cheddar fabric, cut (4) 1-1/2″ squares and (8) 2″ squares.

background fabric:

• From the light background fabric, cut (144) 1-1/2″ squares and (72) 2″ squares.
• You’ll need (4) 1-1/2″ and (2) 2″ squares from the background fabric for each star block.

For the sashing:

sashing:

• From the cheddar fabric, cut (1) 2″ square.
• From the gold fabric, cut (4) 2″ x 9-1/2″ rectangles. If you are using a stripe you can choose whether you want the stripes to run lengthwise or crosswise and can get all four gold pieces for the sashing from a fat quarter. If you are using a regular 1/4 yard cut of fabric you won’t have the option to do a lengthwise stripe.

For the borders:

It is best to wait until you finish piecing the center portion of the quilt and measure that to get the exact size border you need. If all of your blocks come out exactly the size as designed, Your cutting measurements are as follows.

Borders:

• (2) strips of dark blue that measure 2-1/2″ x 20-1/2″ for the side borders, and
• (2) strips of dark blue that measure 2-1/2″ x 24″ for the top and bottom borders.

binding

• Cut (3) 1-1/2″ by width of fabric strips from the quarter yard piece of red fabric.

In this case, a regular quarter yard cut is better than a fat quarter because you’ll have less seams in your binding. I’ve made it work plenty of times using a fat quarter, though. It just means more seams.

Quilt assembly:

Using your favorite technique for half square triangle blocks, make:
16 hst from each of the five reds
16 hst from each of the five blues
16 hst from the cheddar fabric
Scroll up to see the instructions for making the friendship star block.

Make 36 friendship star blocks. Sew 9 blocks together as you would a nine patch. I alternated the layout so red was the corner blocks for 2 of the 9 block sections and blue was the corner blocks for the other two sections. See the illustration below. These 9 patch sections should measure 9-1/2″ unfinished. It’s important to get that size accurate so the sashing strips fit properly.

Sashing:

Layout the four blocks as illustrated below. Attach one gold sashing strip between the two top sections and another to the two bottom sections. Attach a gold sashing strip to either side of the center cheddar 2″ square. Sew the top to the middle and then to the bottom sections. This is what your quilt center looks like before adding the borders. It should measure 20″ square unfinished. This section is considered unfinished because we still need to attach the borders.

Next step in the “Summer Weekend Sewalong” is the border section. You’re nearly finished and those instructions will be posted later today. If you are ahead, you can get the whole pattern at the link near the top of this post.