Another Morning Star Quilt Block Pattern

Today let's look at another Morning Star quilt block. I have a tutorial on a different Morning Star block (which you can find here: https://fabric406.com/blogs/fabric406-blog/free-quilt-block-pattern-morning-star) and a quick Google search showed at least two more blocks with the same name. Confusing, right? Let's get started!

Fabric Requirements for a 12" Finished Morning Star Quilt Block:

• Light/Ivory: 1 - 5.5" square, 1 - 4.5" square, and 8 - 2.5" squares
• Medium 1/Green: 1 - 5.5" square, and 4 - 2.5" squares
• Medium 2/Tan: 4 - 4.5" squares
• Dark/Purple: 2 - 5.5" squares

Sewing Directions:

Hourglass Units:

Step 1:

Using the 2 Dark/Purple 5.5" squares, the Light/Ivory 5.5" square, and the Medium 1 5.5" square, make four Hourglass units as shown in the picture below. I have a tutorial for making the Hourglass block which you can find here: https://fabric406.com/blogs/fabric406-blog/how-to-sew-a-basic-hourglass-or-quarter-square-triangle-block.

In this case you will be using three fabrics, so I'll do a quick rundown of the differences. Match the Light/Ivory square with one of the Dark/Purple squares and match the Medium 1/Green square with the other Dark/Purple square. Make two Half-Square triangles with these pairs and press the seam allowances toward the Dark/Purple fabric. Then match up one of the Light-Dark half square triangles with one of the Medium 1-Dark half square triangles and sew together for the Hourglass unit. Press the seam allowance toward the Medium 1/Green fabric.

Repeat for a total of four Hourglass units.

Corner Units:

Step 2:

This is a fun little unit to make. It is similar to the Birds in the Air block. First you need to make a simple two-patch unit with a Light/Ivory 2.5" square and a Medium 1/Green 2.5" square. Press the seam allowance toward the Light/Ivory square.

Step 3:

Now you can sew another Light/Ivory 2.5" square to an adjacent side of the Medium 1/Green square as shown in the picture below. Press the seam allowance toward the Light/Ivory square.

Step 4:

Here is where it gets fun! Match up the Step 3 unit with a Medium 2/Tan 4.5" square. Now you can mark a line on either the back side of the Step 3 unit or the Medium 2 square and sew on the marked line. I prefer to sew right next to the marked line as you can see in the picture below. This method takes into account the thickness of the fabric and thread when opening up the block.

Step 5:

Now you can fold the Medium 2/Tan square along the marked line, matching the corners, and press.

Step 6:

Next you will unfold the Medium 2/Tan square and trim off the seam allowance and fold it back in place as you can see in the picture below.

Step 7:

Repeat Steps 2 through 6 for a total of four Corner units.

Putting It All Together:

Step 8:

Lay out the Hourglass units, the Corner units, and the center Light/Ivory 4.5" square as shown in the picture below. From here the Morning Star block goes together like a simple Nine-Patch block.

Step 9:

First sew the units into three rows as shown in the picture below.

Step 10:

Press the seam allowances away from the Hourglass units as you can see in the picture below.

Step 11:

Now you can sew the three rows together.

Step 12:

And press the seam allowances toward the center of the block as shown in the picture below. You're done!

Layout Ideas:

Here's a typical 4 x 4 layout of the block:

For this example, sashing and cornerstones were added:

Here's a 5 x 5 layout with an alternating chain block:

And here's an on-point layout with an alternating hourglass block:

For an easy on-point layout you could try this one:

This idea is another on-point layout with some applique blocks in the center and plain blocks for the setting triangles.

Conclusion:

The Morning Star quilt block was fun to put together. I like how the green fabric gives the illusion of a square behind the star points. And when these blocks are put together in a quilt, you will get a diamond shape where ever four corners meet. You should give it a try!

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Happy Quilting!

Elaine

P.S. For more star blocks, check out this roundup blog post: https://fabric406.com/blogs/fabric406-blog/30-of-the-best-star-quilt-block-patterns