The Birds and Star Quilt Block Free Tutorial
Welcome to the Birds and Star quilt block tutorial! In this guide, we will create a stunning 12" finished block using only half-square triangles and square-in-a-square units, perfect for the confident beginner. The versatility of this pattern allows you to easily change its appearance by switching light and dark fabrics, making it a delightful addition to any quilt. Grab your fabric and let's start quilting!
I did modify the traditional star pattern of this block to make it more beginner-friendly. The original block uses a lone star in the center.
Fabric Requirements for a 12" Finished Birds and Star Quilt Block:
- Light/Cream: 4 - 4.5" squares, and 2 - 3" squares
- Yellow: 6 - 3" squares
- Light Gold: 2 - 3" squares, and 4 - 2.5" squares
- Dark Gold: 2 - 3" squares, and 4 - 2.5" squares
- Dark Orange: 8 - 3" squares, and 8 - 2.5" squares
Sewing Directions:
Half Square Triangle Units:
Step 1:
Using 6 Dark Orange 3" squares and 6 Yellow 3" squares, make Half Square Triangle units. Here are the steps corresponding to the images in the picture below by going from left to right, top to bottom.
- Match up a Dark Orange square and a Yellow square right sides together. Mark a diagonal line from corner to corner on the back of the Yellow square and sew 1/4" (or a little less) on each side of the line.
- Cut along the diagonal line. You will have 2 half-square triangle patches.
- Open up the patch and press the seam allowance toward the Dark Orange fabric.
- Square up/trim the units to 2.5" square.
Step 2:
Repeat for a total of 12 Orange/Yellow Half Square Triangle units.
You can find a detailed tutorial for sewing Half Square Triangles (HST) at https://fabric406.com/blogs/fabric406-blog/how-to-sew-a-basic-half-square-triangle-block
Step 3:
Repeat Step 1 only using two Dark Orange 3" squares and the two Light/Cream 3" squares for a total of four Dark Orange/Cream half square triangle units as shown in the picture below.
Step 4:
Repeat Step 1 only using the two Dark Gold 3" squares and the two Light Gold 3" squares for a total of four Dark Gold/Light Gold half square triangle units as shown in the picture below.
Center Unit:
Step 5:
Lay out the Step 4 Dark Gold/Light Gold half square triangle units as shown below.
Step 6:
Sew the half square triangle units together to make a pinwheel as shown in the picture below. You can find my directions for sewing a basic Pinwheel block at https://fabric406.com/blogs/fabric406-blog/pinwheel-quilt-block-pattern
Square in a Square Units:
Step 7:
Next you can sew together four Square in a Square units using the four Light/Cream 4.5" squares, eight Dark Orange 2.5" squares, four Light Gold 2.5" squares, and four Dark Gold 2.5" squares as shown in the picture below. You can find my tutorial for making the Square in a Square quilt block at: https://fabric406.com/blogs/fabric406-blog/how-to-sew-a-basic-square-in-a-square-block
(I just noticed I have the bottom left image turned around - oops.)
Step 8:
Repeat Step 7 for a total of four Square in a Square units like the ones in the picture below.
Corner Units:
Step 9:
Lay out three of the Dark Orange/Yellow half square triangle units and one Dark Orange/Cream half square triangle unit as show in the picture below.
Step 10:
Sew the units into two rows and press the seams as shown in the picture below.
Step 11:
Sew the two rows together and press the seam allowance. I pressed the seam allowance using the tweak/twirl/furl method as you can see in the picture below.
Step 12:
Repeat Steps 9 - 11 for a total of four Corner units.
Putting It All Together:
Step 13:
Lay out the Center unit, the Square in a Square units, and the Corner units as shown in the picture below. From here on, the block goes together like a typical Nine Patch block.
Step 14:
Sew the units into three rows.
Step 15:
Press the seam allowances toward the Square in a Square units as shown.
Step 16:
Sew the three rows together to complete the block.
Step 17:
Press the seam allowances away from the center of the block as shown in the picture below. All finished!
Layout Ideas:
Here's the basic 4 x 4 layout using colors similar to the tutorial. Lovely!
The same layout but with sashing and cornerstones added. This breaks it up a bit but still has a pretty secondary design.
In this example I used a large Hourglass block as an alternating block.
And this version uses a simple chain block as an alternating block.
Here is an example of a monochromatic on-point layout with plain setting triangles.
This on-point layout has a chain block as an alternating block and for the setting triangles.
In this example, I switched the dark and light fabrics for the alternating block.
Of course I had to see what a scrappy version would look like.
And here is a scrappy on-point layout with dark sashing and cornerstones, along with light setting triangles.
Conclusion:
Okay, there are a lot of pieces and steps in this block but the individual units are quite easy. I love the secondary design the block makes and I really love the scrappy versions! I hope you will give it a try!
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. Want to see more star blocks? Check out this post: https://fabric406.com/blogs/fabric406-blog/30-of-the-best-star-quilt-block-patterns There's way more than 30 now!
P.P.S. Check out my Etsy shop at https://www.etsy.com/shop/fabric406