Free Amish Star Quilt Block Tutorial

The Amish Star block is easier to construct than it looks. The design is based on a Nine Patch block with Half Square Triangles, Flying Geese and squares making up the patches. I always think of Amish quilts as being mostly solids but I put my own spin on the block by using prints and making it scrappy. Let's get started!

(Update: I now have this tutorial available as a PDF pattern for purchase in my Etsy shop. Click HERE to find out more.)

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

• Light/White: 1 - 4.5" square, 4 - 2.5" x 4.5" rectangles, 4 - 3" squares, and 8 - 2.5" squares
• Assorted Prints: 4 - 2.5" x 4.5" rectangles, 4 - 3" squares, and 8 - 2.5" squares

Sewing Directions:

Half Square Triangle Units:

Step 1:

Using the Light/White 3" squares and the Assorted Prints 3" squares, sew together 8 Half Square Triangle units as shown in the picture below. Trim/square up the units to 2.5" square. You can find the tutorial for making Half Square Triangles at https://fabric406.com/blogs/fabric406-blog/how-to-sew-a-basic-half-square-triangle-block If you are making multiple blocks, you can mix in more prints. Here you can see that I have 2 of each color fabric.

Flying Geese Units:

Step 2:

Next you need to sew together four Flying Geese patches using the 4 Assorted Prints 2.5" x 4.5" rectangles and 8 Light/White 2.5" squares like shown in the picture below. You can find a tutorial using my no-trim method for perfect Flying Geese at https://fabric406.com/blogs/fabric406-blog/how-to-sew-a-basic-flying-geese-block

Step 3:

Match up one Step 2 unit and one Light/White 2.5" x 4.5" rectangle and sew together as shown in the picture below. Press seam allowance toward the Light/White fabric.

Step 4:

Repeat Step 3 for a total of four Flying Geese units.

Corner Units:

Step 5:

Lay out two Half Square Triangle units and two Assorted Prints 2.5" squares as shown below.

Step 6:

The Corner unit will go together like a typical Four Patch block. First sew the patches into two rows and press the seam allowances toward the Assorted Prints 2.5" squares as shown in the picture below.

Step 7:

Then sew the two rows together and press the seam allowance as shown below.

Step 8:

Repeat Steps 6 and 7 for a total of four Corner units.

Putting It All Together:

Step 9:

Lay out the Flying Geese units, the Corner units, and the Light/White 4.5" square as shown in the picture below.

Step 10:

From here the Amish Star goes together just like a basic Nine Patch block. First sew the units into three rows as shown in the picture below.

Step 11:

And press the seam allowances away from the Flying Geese units as shown below.

Step 12:

Then you can sew the three rows together,

Step 13:

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

Layout Ideas:

 

 

 

 

 

Conclusion:

This was fun to sew together. It felt great to dig into my scrap stash and use up a few pieces! If you use the same fabrics in the Half Square Triangles and Flying Geese units, you would get an interesting diamond Square in a Square design when multiple blocks are joined together. All in all, it is an interesting block!