The Double Star Quilt Block: It's Not Rocket Science 🚀

The Double Star block looks like it might take advance piecing skills. But don't let it fool you. 3-patch Quarter Square Triangles and Flying Geese are all it takes.

That. And some cut squares.

Seriously. That's it.

Remember to Pin this for later!

Now I have to admit. I was a doubting-Thomas when I first considered creating a tutorial for this block.

And...

 ...I was working on this while I was at a Bee-Treat—a quilting getaway with friends. And had some delicious Sangria. What retreat is truly a retreat without Sangria? <evil quilty grin!>

In reality, this block is nothing more than a bunch of steps, taken in order. That's it!

Later in the tutorial are variations on this block design.

Not sure if you want to commit to making this block?

Then check out these 10 different Double Star layouts for inspiration.

You CAN do this.

Without further ado, it's to cut up and sew!

Several abbreviations are used on this page. They are:

• SA - seam allowance
• RST - right sides together
• FG - Flying Geese
• 3P-QST - 3-Patch Quarter Square Triangle

1/4" SA are used through this tutorial.

 When instructed to press, first press the patches in the closed position just as they came off your sewing machine. This sets the seam, melding the fibers of the threads into the fibers of the fabric.

Then press the SA to the dark unless otherwise noted.

Starching the fabric with a liquid starch concentrate mixed 50/50 with water before cutting makes patches easy to fingerpress. A big time saver for our simple paper pieced units.

Learn more about starching fabric here.

✂️Cutting for a Double Star quilt block

Sample Size: 15" finished / 15½" unfinished

Grid: 10x10

Design Type: Uneven 9-patch, large center  |  Star

This design is all about pointy points—and matching points.

Choose two fabrics with plenty of contrast between their color and pattern so that those precious points don't get lost.

Ensure accurate identification by labeling each patch. These numbers will guide you throughout the tutorial.

Because the subcut HST and QSTs are so close in size, it's too darned easy to mix them up. (Ask me how I know!)

While they might fill the space, you end up with bias edges on the outside of your units—defeating the purpose of pre-cutting your patches.

To print a copy of the block design and cutting chart to use at your cutting table, click here.

			Cutting Chart for a Quilt Block ~ Includes Paper Piecing ~
Patch	Fabric	Qty	Finished Block Size				Sub Cut
			10''	15''	20''	25''
QST.1	Bac	1	3⅝'' x 3⅝''	4⅝'' x 4⅝''	5⅝'' x 5⅝''	6⅝'' x 6⅝''
QST.2	A	1	3⅝'' x 3⅝''	4⅝'' x 4⅝''	5⅝'' x 5⅝''	6⅝'' x 6⅝''
QST.3	A	2	3⅜'' x 3⅜''	4⅜'' x 4⅜''	5⅜'' x 5⅜''	6⅜'' x 6⅜''
Goose	Bac	4	3⅝'' x 3⅝''	4⅝'' x 4⅝''	5⅝'' x 5⅝''	6⅝'' x 6⅝''
Sky	A	16	2⅜'' x 2⅜''	2⅞'' x 2⅞''	3⅜'' x 3⅜''	3⅞'' x 3⅞''
6	A	1	2½'' x 2½''	3½'' x 3½''	4½'' x 4½''	5½'' x 5½''	---
7	Bac	12	1½'' x 1½''	2'' x 2''	2½'' x 2½''	3'' x 3''	---
8	Bac	4	3½'' x 3½''	5'' x 5''	6½'' x 6½''	8'' 8''	---
Unfinished Block Size			10½''	15½''	20½''	25½''	na
Grid Size			1''	1½''	2''	2½''	na

📥Download and print paper piecing patterns

You'll need the most current version of Adobe installed on your computer to download the pattern. (It's free for you to download.)

On the Adobe Print Menu page, under 'Page Size and Handling' set 'Custom Scale' to 100% before printing for accurate results. Click here to see what it looks like on the Print Menu page.

Choose your finished block size from the chart below. Print the corresponding number of pages for a total of:

• 16 Flying Geese
• 4 3-Patch Quarter Square Triangles

After printing, use the 1" square graphic on the printed page(s) to confirm the patterns printed correctly.

Not sure which paper to use?

Take a look at my review of several of the most popular brands available to us quilters on the market.

You want a super-easy paper to tear away—less stress on the stitches. 

🪡Stitch the units for your Double Star

The dashed placement lines on the paperpiecing patterns save us a lot of extra trimming—in fact, you shouldn't need to trim any patches  until the Flying Geese and 3P-QSTs are completely sewn.

Love it!

Set-up your sewing machine for paper piecing

Flying Geese (FG)

Make 16

Use a dot of Elmer's Washable Glue stick to stick the backside of the Goose patch to the unprinted side of the pattern. Use the dashed placement guides to position it.

Close is good enough!

With RST, align the long edge of a Sky patch to the Goose patch.

You can just barely make out the placement guide (blue arrow)

Stitch on the line between the Goose and Sky, starting and stopping a generous 1/4" before and after the line.

Press. At this point there's no reason to trim anything. Not even thread tails. Those pesky tails are gone once the finished unit is trimmed to size at the end. 

Add the second Sky patch in the same manner and press.

To trim to size, I like to lay as many FG as I can on my mat and trim en masse.

Chocolate (blue arrow) is a good thing to have around when there's a lot of trimming to do. Need something to keep up our strength! :D

Trim all four sides. Line up the quarter inch line on your ruler with the solid outline of the FG unit. 

All trimmed. Not a lot of fabric sacrificed for perfect little units.

All that's left to do is remove the paper.

Ready to use in our Double Star block.

Check your accuracy...

3-Patch Quarter Square Triangles (3P-QSTs)

Make 4

With just a tiny dab of Elmer's Washable Glue Stick, adhere the backside of QST.1 to the unprinted side of the pattern.

Use the dashed placement lines to position the patch as shown below.

Again. Close is good enough.

With RST, align the edges of QST2 with QST1. 

This time you're aligning a short side—that way the straight of grain is on the outside of the block.

On the printed side, stitch starting and ending (blue arrows) a good 1/4" before and after the solid stitching line between QST.1 and QST.2.

Press. Here I've been able to simply fingerpress because my patches are heavily starched and hold and excellent crease.

These two patches form a nice straight edge for aligning QST.3

With RST, align the edges of the QST1/QST2 and QST.3. Stitch as before starting and ending a generous 1/4" past the solid stitching line.

Press.

Trim the 3P-QSTs to size by placing the 1/4" line of your ruler on the solid outside line of the unit. Trim all four sides of each unit.

Remove the paper.

When completed they look like this. 

Make 4 for each Double Star

Use the table below to check your accuracy.

FG Borders

Make 6

With RST, stitch a #7 to each side of a single FG.

Make 6 for each Double Star

All ready for the next step.

After stitching check for accuracy...

What's Next...

• Continue with instructions to make this Double Star block or...

• Check out 10 unique Double Star Quilt Designs for inspiration with what to do with your blocks

📌Don't let this Double Star tutorial get lost in the black hole of the internet 🌑

Pin it for later! ✅

🔭 Looking for something truly stellar? 

You've finished your star quilt block, and you're ready for more!

Browse our collection of 60 stellar star quilt block patterns. All have instructions and cutting charts in multiple sizes. If templates or paper piecing is used in the tutorial, there's a free download for you of those materials.

Eeny. Meenie. Miney. Moe.

Which star quilt block will you sew?

For even MORE blocks to make... 🧩🎨

...visit our Free Quilt Block Pattern Library, with over 230+ blocks to choose from in multiple sizes.

Free downloads are included in all sizes for any blocks require paper piecing patterns or templates.

This article was printed from Generations-Quilt-Patterns.com

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