Monday, February 21, 2011

Hunter's Star tutorial

There have been several people interested in how I made my Hunter's Star quilt that I shared on the blogger's quilt festival.  There are probably many ways to do a Hunter's Star pattern, but this is how I did mine.

First, I highly suggest you print out this pic that I created in EQ - the arrangement of the little HST's can be confusing! (HST's = half square triangles)

Now, you will need six 5'' charm squares for each block (the block will be 9 1/2'' after assembly with a finished size of 9'' in your quilt).  3 charms need to be the same print/color and 3 charms need to be the same solid.
I highly recommend that you spray starch these blocks before you start sewing/cutting.  Take one of each charm and set them aside for now.  Take two pairs of charms and layer one print/dark on top of the light/solid.  Stitch around on all 4 sides of the charms with a 1/4'' seam.
Now, cut diagonally both ways to create 4 triangles on these squares

Then, take each triangle and open them up and press carefully to create 8 HST's.


Now comes the trimming!  Square each little triangle up so they end up 2 3/4'' square.



This rule is an 8'' square bias ruler from 'That Patchwork Place'  Love this ruler!
Now arrange them so you can assemble your block!

refer to the picture you printed out.  Notice that the 3 'inner' on each corner all point in the same direction.  Dark toward the dark block, light toward the light block.  The outer corners are the only one's that are rotated.
Sew the little HST's into pairs and then into the 4 patches.  Then, sew the triangle patches to each solid charm and then the two pairs together.




and now you have your finished Hunter's Star block!  You should be able to get 36 of these from 3 charm packs to create a 54x54'' quilt top with a 6x6 block layout.  Or, add a 4th charm pack and border the 36 Hunter's Star blocks with the whole charm squares to create a 63x63'' quilt top like I did below.  You will have leftovers for piecing a backing as well if you do it this way.  If you wanted to use all 40 charms from each pack on the front, you could do a 5x8 block layout and end up with a 45''x72'' quilt top without the 4th charm pack.  You could then add the 4th charm pack and bring that up to 54''x81'' which could be a single bed size or a nice size couch/lap quilt.

this quilt is now available for sale in my Etsy shop (with new better pics)


61 comments:

  1. What a great tutorial ,you've made the hunter star look so easy and I just love your quilt .

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  2. Thank You so very much for taking the time to write out a tutorial for your fabulous quilt! I was terrified of trying y seams and now I am so excited!! Printing as I type and sweeping everything else off of my table to give it a whirl. Thanks so much!

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  3. What a great idea - I have a special ruler for this block, but if I had seen this post first, I wouldn't have bothered!

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  4. You know, I bought the same ruler the other day and could have saved my money, too. Funny.
    Anyway, I am stoked to try this HST method - it is too cool!
    I can't wait to get started on a red and white combo for my daughter - thanks so much for the insipiration and the great tutorial!

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  5. I'm so glad I found this! Every other tutorial I have found has shown to cut eiter individually from templates, paper piecing, or one at-a-time HST's. I'm doing a Queen Size quilt; this will save me HOURS!!

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  6. Was looking for an easier way to make this block and I found it here on your site. Thanks for posting this.

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  7. Thank you! I've been wanting to try the hunter's star & was getting ready to purchase the 'tool' or paper piece. I don't usually buy the jelly rolls, charms, etc, but couldn't resist a recent good deal. Now I can try this method-although I do admit I'm bit nervous w/bias edges on hst so starching I will go! thank you again so very much!Danielle

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  8. A great method to add to my bag of tricks! Thank you! :-)

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  9. Thank you! What a great tutorial !!!

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  10. Great idea!! Keep up the good work!

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  11. Looks quite easy, will try this because I love the pattern.

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  12. How do you get 2-3/4 " HST with a 5 " block to start with? Should it of been a 6 " square?

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    1. look closely at the pics - yes, you get four 2 3/4'' HST's with two 5'' charms. The charms are cut on the DIAGONAL (bias), so the measurement is longer than if cut straight of grain. I used charm packs when I made my hunters star quilt.

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    2. Thanks, the math wasn't adding up! It's worth starching the squares first, worth the effort. Tks for your great tutorial.

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  13. Thanks I have been looking for a next quilt idea. This is it.

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  14. thanks for the great tutorial! Now I feel confident that even I can do it:)

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  15. I love your quilt and your tutorial makes it look so easy. I am just unsure about when to use the spray starch. Do I spray starch the two squares when they are together and before I sew them, or do I spray each one separately?
    Thanks from New Zealand.

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    Replies
    1. spray the squares before you start sewing/cutting

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  16. Thanks for a wonderful tutorial. That is a lovely quilt

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  17. Brilliant. Thanks for the step by step tutorial. I've got my charm packs on order and I am going to give this a try.

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  18. THANK you for this tutorial. I have been wanting to do this block for awhile :-)

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  19. I have been sick for a week with Pneumonia and this was the perfect tutorial for me to do Awesome job....I can't thank you enough! Your the best!

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  20. I love this quilt...thanks for the tutorial.

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  21. Thank you so much for this tutorial. I am in love with this pattern!

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  22. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  23. thank you for this pattern I love it but can you tell me what I do wrong when I sew the block together and sew it and then cut it and then start to put the pattern together the HST are not even one is right the point comes to the bottom and the other one is half way up the HST what am I doing wrong please help me I am a new quilter for only a year now thanks and keep up the good work the points don't come together right

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    1. you will have to look at the finished quilt as the 'diagram'. If you do the correct 1/4'' seam allowance, the points will come out perfect.

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  24. Hi and thanks for the tutorial I have a question when you lay our the blocks how do you start there is no diagram on here as to how you lay out the blocks I am fairly new to quilting I know you add the blocks to each where the stars are but how many in a row and how many rows do you do? I know its according to how big you want it

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  25. Look at the pic and you can see how to lay them out. I just started this in blue and white. Good luck. You must be precise with your measuring and cutting the HTS. I cut the firstvside at 2 7/8 and the second sides at 2 3/4 and make sure your 45 degree line is on the seam line.

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  26. I Love it! It's definitely quick and easy, and it still looks like a Hunter's Star.

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  27. Muchas gracias por el tutorial...hace tiempo buscaba como hacer ese bloque.
    Saludos desde Costa Rica

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  28. Karin, thanks for sharing your pattern of the hunters star.I was wondering what ruler you used to square up your squares? thanks again

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  29. I love the fabrics! What are they? Could I make this as a queen sized quilt? How?

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    1. The fabrics in the finished quilt are ''Dandelion Girl'' by Fig Tree and Co. for Moda - but, this is a very old fabric collection. Fig Tree tends to have these same muted colors for all their fabric lines.... so, if you love this collection, you will probably love all Fig Tree collections!

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  30. I am wanting to use fabric that I already have for this. Can you tell me how many different patterns you would recommend?

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    Replies
    1. You can use as few as two fabrics for this quilt - or as many as you like :)

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  31. This is the easiest tutorial for a Hunter's Star I have ever seen. Been looking for an easier pattern for this for a couple of years, and so grateful for finding yours! Thank you for sharing so graciously and teaching so many of us! Now I do not need to purchase a new triangle ruler or little paper strips. Bless you!

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  32. Because of the direction that the grain of the fabric runs, this actually makes them quarter-square triangles rather than half-square triangles.

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  33. Did you use the same background fabric for all of your blocks? Loved your color arrangement.

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  34. If you use the same background fabric throughout, how much yardage would you need for a quilt of this size?

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    1. 3 yards of solid and 3 yards of prints (or 1 layer cake cut into quarters - or 4 charm packs)

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  35. Oh, WOW. LOVE your easy version of Hunter Star. First set of instructions I ever saw called for strips diagonally cut - ouch. Now this could be my next project, no doubt! Gotta print out your easy directions. Thank you sew, sew much. Also will be easy enuf to increase size for a twin bed.

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  36. I am fairly new to quilting and wanted to let you know that this tutorial was wonderfully put together and easy to understand. I am thrilled with what I have started. Thank you for putting this together...

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  37. I was wondering, if you only use 2 Fabrics, how many yards you would need of each to make the 5x8 layout? I can't figure it out with the charm pack reference.

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    1. 2 1/2 yards each color w/o the border - or 3 yards each color with the border.

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  38. Oh my gosh...this is absolutely beautiful! I can't wait to make one for myself! Thank you!

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  39. Could you please make this a pdf? It would protect your rights and make it easier to print out and use.
    You did a fantastic job on the tutorial, have you considered submission to Moda Bake Shop for a Chef recipe? It's very easy to do!

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  40. THANK YOU for this lovely tute! Have been wanting to make a Hunter's Star for some time, your blog came up in a Google search pretty quick! Ani in NC

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  41. I am working on my hunters star quilt. I am a beginner quilter and this tutorial made it look so easy. I love how it is coming along so far. The process is quite easy using charm packs. My only issues is that some of my stars are not exactly pointed on the ends? I am very careful to use 1/4" seam allowance. However, I did not starch (as I mentioned, I am a beginner and maybe this was a mistake?) For all you experienced quilters out there, starch or no starch? I didn't want to deal with the mess starching creates. I can live with the ends not being exactly pointed, my center stars are looking great! Again, I love this tutorial, I had tried another hunters star using trapezoids and I thought the process was too long and I did not like the outcome.

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  42. Thank you so much; this tut' has helped a lot. xx

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  43. Thank you very much!!!. I made a beautiful table runner in multiple colours + red & brown. I'll go now for a queen size blanket + cushions in 2 colours. You made the block really easy!!!! Thanks again.

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  44. Hello - thank you for a great tutorial. I'm a beginner quilter and would love to make hunter's star baby quilt. What would my layout be? Thanks

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  45. Did you do the back the same or is it a different pattern and if so how many yards did you use also what kind of batting. I'm still fairly new to quilting. Sorry for so many questions.

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  46. Beautiful, what fabric did you use in the hunters star

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  47. What size is the finished star block please? I need to make a 16 inch block for a 16" pillow insert. What size half square triangles would I need to start with to do this please?

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  48. Hi! I am new to quilting (nt to sewing) and am wanting to make this pattern with essex linen. As sewing with linen, I would like to leave a 1/2 inch seam allowance - what size squares would I need to start with to still end with a 9' block in my quilt?

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    1. I believe you will need to start with 6'' squares. I would do a test to be sure though. Good luck.

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