Chained Star Quilt Layouts

Recently a follower asked how much of each color fabric would be needed to make a queen-sized quilt using the Easy Chained Star quilt block in the picture below. (You can find my tutorial on this block at: https://fabric406.com/blogs/fabric406-blog/easy-chained-star-quilt-block-pattern.)

Since there are many different ways to lay out a quilt, I decided to do a little post about four different layout options and their fabric requirements. I used the EQ program to figure out these fabric requirements and usually it is accurate. However, if you're concerned, you could always get a few more inches of each fabric.

Option 1 - Simple Layout with Two Borders:

In this layout you need 56 blocks (7 across, 8 down) with a 2" wide inner border and a 4" outer border. The quilt will have a finished size of 96" x 108".

Fabric Requirements:

• Light/Background: 4+1/2 yards
• Light Pink: 1+5/8 yards
• Light Blue: 1+5/8 yards
• Dark Pink/Inner Border: 7/8 yard
• Dark Blue/Star Points: 2+3/8 yards
• Medium Blue/Outer Border: 1+5/8 yards

I found this layout to look "busy" and the stars got lost in the confusion.

Option 2 - Layout with 2" Sashing and Cornerstones

In this layout you need 42 blocks (6 across, 7 down), 2" sashing with cornerstones, a 2" wide inner border, and a 4" wide outer border. This version finishes at 94" x 108".

Fabric Requirements:

• Light/Background & Inner Border: 5+3/4 yards
• Light Pink: 1+1/4 yards
• Light Blue: 1+1/4 yards
• Dark Pink/Cornerstones: 1/4 yard
• Dark Blue/Star Points: 1+3/4 yards
• Medium Blue/Outer Border: 1+1/2 yards

In this version the stars are clearly visible with the light sashing between them.

Option 3 - Alternating Layout with 2" Inner Border and 4" Outer Border

With this option, you only need 28 blocks, 28 - 12" light squares, a 2" wide inner border, and a 4" wide outer border. This quilt would finish at 96" x 108".

Fabric Requirements:

• Light/Background, Inner Border: 6+5/8 yards
• Light Pink: 7/8 yard
• Light Blue: 7/8 yard
• Dark Blue/Star Points: 1+1/4 yards
• Medium Blue/Outer Border: 1+5/8 yards

I found this to be a very pleasing look and it doesn't require as many blocks so it would be quicker to put together.

Option 4 - Layout with 4" Wide Sashing & Cornerstones, a 2" Wide Inner Border With Half Cornerstones, a 2" Wide Middle Border, and a 4" Wide Outer Border. 

With this option you will need to make 30 blocks (5 across, 6 down), 4" wide sashing with Four-Patch cornerstones, an inner border that has Two-Patch units, a 2" wide middle border, and a 4" wide outer border. This layout will give you a quilt that is 92" x 108".

Fabric Requirements:

• Light/Background, Inner Border, Middle Border: 5+7/8 yards
• Light Pink: 1+1/8 yards
• Light Blue: 1+1/8 yards
• Dark Blue/Star Points: 1+3/8 yards
• Medium Blue/Outer Border: 1+1/2 yards

So this one is my favorite. There's a little bit more work involved with the inner border but you don't have to make quite so many blocks. 

Conclusion:

All these quilt layouts also require:

• Binding: 7/8 yard
• Backing: 8+2/3 yards (40/44" wide) or 3+1/4 yards (108" wide)

It's important to remember that these little pictures can look quite different from a finished 90" x 108" quilt. So while the last Chained Star example is my favorite, I think all of the versions would be pretty when completed.

I hope you've enjoyed these layouts! If you like this tutorial and want to see more, simply click HERE to receive my newsletter and receive a free PDF quilt pattern called "Chained Weathervane".

Happy Quilting!

Elaine