How to Create this Crowned Star Variation Quilt Block - a Free Tutorial

Let's sew together this variation of the Crowned Star quilt block. It is a very pretty traditional block that uses half-square triangles, modified flying geese, and snowball units. The original block appeared in Stitch 'n Sew Quilts but I altered the block a bit to make it easier to piece. Let's get sewing!

Fabric Requirements for a 14" Finished Crowned Star Variation Quilt Block:

• Light/White: 10 - 3" squares, and 4 - 2.5" squares
• Medium/Red: 2 - 4" squares, and 4 - 2" squares
• Medium/Blue: 1 - 4.5" square, 4 - 3.5" x 4.5" rectangles, and 2 - 4" squares
• Dark/Blue: 8 - 3.5" squares, and 10 - 3" squares

Sewing Directions:

Snowball Unit:

Step 1:

Using the Medium/Blue 4.5" square and the four Medium/Red 2" squares, sew together a Snowball unit. You can see the steps in the picture below and you can find my detailed tutorial for making a basic Snowball block at https://fabric406.com/blogs/fabric406-blog/how-to-sew-a-basic-snowball-block

Step 2:

You can see the finished unit in the picture below.

Half Square Triangle Units:

Step 3:

Using the picture below for reference, piece together two Half Square Triangle units using a Light/White 3" square and a Dark/Blue 3" square. Trim units to 2.5" square. You will find a detailed tutorial for making a basic Half Square Triangle block at https://fabric406.com/blogs/fabric406-blog/how-to-sew-a-basic-half-square-triangle-block

Step 4:

Repeat Step 3 for a total of 20 White/Blue Half Square Triangle units.

Step 5:

Repeat Step 3 only using the Medium/Blue 4" squares and Medium/Red 4" squares for a total of four Blue/Red Half Square Triangle units. Trim units to 3.5" square.

Modified Flying Geese Units:

Step 6:

Using two Dark/Blue 3.5" squares and a Medium/Blue 3.5" x 4.5" rectangle, make a Modified Flying Geese unit. The construction of the unit is basically the same as a regular Flying Geese block, just the size of the patches are different. For a detailed step-by-step tutorial for making a basic Flying Geese block, check out my blog post at https://fabric406.com/blogs/fabric406-blog/how-to-sew-a-basic-flying-geese-block.  In the picture below you can see the first four steps.

• Mark a diagonal line from corner to corner on the back of the Dark/Blue squares.
• Sew a Dark/Blue square to the Medium/Blue rectangle along the marked line (top left image)
• Match the corners of the Dark/Blue square and press (top right image).
• Trim away the excess seam allowance (bottom left image).
• Refold (bottom right image).

Step 7:

Repeat Step 6 with the other Dark/Blue square. 

Step 8:

Repeat Steps 6 and 7 for a total of four Modified Flying Geese units as shown in the picture below.

Star Unit:

Step 9:

Lay out the Center unit, the Red/Blue Half Square Triangles, and the Modified Flying Geese units as shown below. From here the block goes together like a basic Nine Patch block.

Step 10:

Sew the units together into three rows as shown.

Step 11:

Press the seam allowances toward the Modified Flying Geese units as shown in the picture below.

Step 12:

Sew the three rows together. (This would make a pretty block all by itself.)

Step 13:

Press the seam allowances away from the center. 

Strip Units:

Step 14:

• Lay out four White/Blue Half Square Triangles and a Light/White 2.5" square in a row (top image).
• Sew the units into a strip (middle image).
• Press the seam allowances toward the center (bottom image).

Step 15:

Repeat Step 14 for a total of four strips.

Putting It All Together:

Step 16:

Lay out the Star unit, the four Strip units, and four White/Blue Half Square Triangles as shown in the picture below.

Step 17:

Sew the units together into three rows as shown.

Step 18:

Press the seam allowances toward the strip units.

Step 19:

Sew the three rows together and...

Step 20:

Press the seam allowances away from the center of the block as shown in the picture below. All done!

Layout Options:

Here's a basic 4 x 4 layout. It's a little busy for my taste.

This example adds in sashing and cornerstones to highlight the blocks.

For this one I used an alternating Hourglass block.

Here I used a chain block for the alternating block.

And this one is a basic on-point layout.

And here's the on-point layout but using the chain block in between the Crowned Star block. I think this is my favorite!

Conclusion:

This variation of the Crowned Star block had a bunch of steps but was easier to sew together than I thought it would be. Plus it makes a 14" block - so fewer blocks to make a quilt!

I hope you have enjoyed this tutorial. If you like it and want to see more, just click HERE to sign up for my newsletter and receive a free PDF quilt pattern called "Chained Weathervane".

Happy Quilting!

Elaine

P.S. Check out my PDF patterns in the Etsy shop at https://www.etsy.com/shop/fabric406

P.P.S. You can learn how to piece the basic quilt blocks at https://fabric406.com/blogs/fabric406-blog/tagged/basic-blocks-tutorials