FEATHERED STAR QUILT BLOCK TWO WAYS:
TRADITIONAL OR TECHY

Feathered Star Block

The Absolute Easiest Way
To Make The Feathered Star Quilt Block

The feathered star block is a beautiful but complicated nine-patch block that is typically a showpiece for advanced quilters who really, really love piecing. The half square triangle ‘feathers’ may seem intimidating, but never fear, I’ll show you the absolute easiest way to make them. Grab your favorite red, green and yellow holiday fabrics and make this gorgeous block. No one will know how simple it is to make! In my method, there are no y-seams and you won’t piece 60 tiny half square triangle blocks either.

And this blog shows two ways to make the half square triangle ‘feathers’ based on whether you are a traditional or techy quilter.

Traditional Method Of Making Half-Square Triangles ‘Feathers’
The traditional method shows how to piece the half-square triangles ‘feathers’ to the corner blocks. This method is perfect for quilters who like to show off their piecing skills.
Techy Method Of Making Half Square Triangles ‘Feathers’
The techy method uses raw edge applique half square triangles ‘feathers’ custom made for each corner block. (Four printable paper-backed fabric sheets and a printer are required for this method). This method is perfect for quilters who want the absolute fastest way to make the corner blocks.
Bonus Christmas Project

This blog is part one of a two-parter. In part two I’ll show how to use the feathered star block as a pocket in a cute Christmas bistro apron.

Checklist and Supplies Needed
To Make A Feathered Star Block

Be prepared for this project. See “Supplies”, “Fabric” and “Getting Ready To Sew”.

Supplies Closeup

Supplies and Tools

These are the tools and supplies that I used to make the Christmas Feathered Star Quilt Block.

A Quarter Inch Presser Foot
Applique Presser Foot (optional)
90/14 Sewing Machine Needle
Coordinating Cotton Threads
Thread Snips
Rotary Cutter
6-inch square ruler
Cotton Poplin Inkjet Printable Fabric (I suggest Threads)
Heat Erasable Fabric Marking Pens
Tailor’s Clapper – optional (Use to flatten seams)
Polyester invisible thread (optional)
Wool Pressing Mat
Rotating Cutting Mat
Sewing Clips
6 x 24 quilting ruler (optional)
Double-side basting tape or fusible hemming tape or fabric glue (This is optional. Use this to help position the raw applique)
Sewing Stiletto

Fabrics

The finished Feathered Star Block will be approximately 12-inches square. You will need the following fabric squares:

(2) 5.5-inch squares of red fabric
(1) 5.5-inch square of yellow fabric
(1) 5.5-inch square of green fabric
(5) 4.5-inch squares of green fabric
(1) 10-inch square of black fabric
(1) 10-inch square of white fabric

Getting Ready to Sew

Use your favorite way to prep for a new project or try my proven, stress-free method. See “Getting Ready To Quilt-The Ultimate Checklist”.

Make A Feathered Star Block -
The Traditional Way

The nine-patch feathered star block is only comprised of two types of blocks: multicolor quarter square triangles and green blocks. Once you try it, I think you’ll like it! Here’s the three parts to making it.

Part One: Make (four) multicolor quarter square triangle blocks
Part Two: Make 16 at a time half square triangles (These triangles will be trimmed to 1.5-inch square half square triangle ‘feathers’ that are pieced to the corner blocks.
Part Three: Assemble the nine-patch feathered star block

Please Note: The applique method changes the sequence. After the multicolor quarter square triangle blocks are made the block will be pieced and the half square triangles strips will be appliqued to the corner blocks.

Part One: Multi-Color Quarter Square Triangles

Multicolor Quarter Square Triangle Block

The multicolor quarter square triangle is 4.5-inches square and is created by merging two half square triangles. Let’s make the first pair of half square triangles.

First Step: Make The Red and Yellow Half Square Triangle (Pair #1)

You will make two half square triangles at one time.

You’ll need one 5.5-inch square of red fabric and one 5.5-inch square of yellow fabric.

Fabric For Half Square Triangle Pair #1

Making two half square triangles at one time is my ‘go to’ method whenever multiple half square triangles are required. This method saves time and you won’t have stretchy bias edges to worry about. I highly recommend you try it.

Use your favorite method or see “Make Two Half Square Triangles At Once in Madam Sew’s “Make A Valentine Placemat" blog.

Press Open The Half-Square Triangles. Finger press each red and yellow half square triangle open. Use a steam iron to press the seam towards the red fabric.

Tip: Pressing the seam towards the red fabric will ensure a perfect diagonal seam alignment in the multicolor quarter square triangle. Why? Nested seams make seam alignment easy. You’ll love this!

Trim the half square triangles to 5-inches square and set them aside to use in the quarter square triangle.

Two Red And Yellow Half Square Triangles

Second Step: Make The Red and Green Half Square Triangle (Pair #2)

The fabric needed is one 5.5-inch square of red fabric and one 5.5-inch square of green fabric.

Make two half square triangles from these fabrics using the two at a time method.

Then trim and press these half square triangles as described above.

Third Step: How to Make a Multicolor Quarter Square Triangle

Get ready to use those beautiful half square triangles. Combine them to create the multicolor quarter square triangle. This block creates the star points in the feathered star block.

Did you guess it? You’ll use the ‘two half square triangles at a time’ method to make the multicolor quarter square triangles. Just pay close attention to the orientation of the colors and your multicolor quarter square triangle will be perfect every time.

Let’s begin, take one red and green half square triangle and place it on top of one red and yellow HST. The wrong side of the fabric should be facing you. Pin so that the squares do not shift.

Tip: Check the orientation by folding back the red and green HST. One half should have a red/yellow color combo and the other half should have a green/red color combo

Folded Back Red And Green Half Square Triangle

It is important that you draw the diagonal cutting line from right to left – southeast to northwest.

Diagonal Cutting Line

Stitch ¼-inch on each side of the cutting line. Press open the two multicolor quarter square triangles and trim to 4.5-inches square.

Repeat this method to create the next set of multicolor quarter square triangles.

Great Job! The four multicolor quarter square triangles are complete. Set them aside for Part Three, assembling the feathered star nine-patch block.

Four Trimmed Multicolor Quarter Square Triangles

If you are a traditional quilter, then read on. But if you are a techy jump to the section “Making the half square triangles ‘feathers’ the techy way”

Part Two: The Half-Square Triangles ‘Feathers’

Let’s make 16 black & white half-square triangles at one time.

Grab one 10-inch square of black fabric and one 10-inch square of white fabric.

From these squares you will create 32 black & white half square triangles. That’s right. Each black and white 10-inch square pair of fabric will produce sixteen half square triangles at one time that are 3 inches square. You’ll trim each 3-inch half square triangle to produce two 1.5-inch square half square triangles. And you’ll need twenty eight 1.5-inch half square triangles to make the half square triangle ‘feathers” of the feathered star block. This means you’ll have four 1.5-inch half square triangles that you can use in a future project. That’s mighty efficient. Let me show you how it’s done.

First Step

Make 16 black and white half square triangles from two 10-inch squares of fabric.
Find the center lines of the block by folding it in half horizontally and vertically. You will draw on these folds later.
Place the 10-inch black square of fabric right side up on your workspace.
Place the 10-inch square of white fabric on top of the black square. It should be right side down and pin the squares to avoid shifting.

White Square On Top Of Black Square

Second Step

Use a heat erasable pen to draw the center lines. These lines are at the 5-inch horizontal and vertical measurement folds. These are your cutting lines.
Sew a ¼-inch seam on each side of the drawn lines.

Closeup Of The Stitching Lines

Sew around the perimeter of the square.

Cutting And Stitching Lines

Third Step

Remove the pins and prepare to cut the four squares. Follow the square layout for the correct cutting sequence.

Squares Layout

Fourth Step

Cut a diagonal line right to left (southeast to northwest) in square #2.
Cut a diagonal line right to left (southeast to northwest) in square #3

Squares 2 And 3 Cutting Lines

Fifth Step

Cut a diagonal line left to right (southwest to northeast) in square #1
Cut a diagonal line left to right (southwest to northeast) in square #4

Squares 1 and 4 Cutting Lines

Tip: Keep the four squares in position. After the four diagonal cuts are made they will form a diamond.

Cutting Line Form A Diamond Shape

Sixth Step

Cut a diagonal the through the entire 10-inch square from right to left (southeast to northwest)

Full Diagonal Cut #1

Cut a diagonal line through the entire 10-inch square from left to right (southwest to northeast)

Full Diagonal Cut #2

Seventh Step

Final cuts – Cut the horizontal and vertical lines you drew in the beginning on the 10-inch square
Separate the triangles and you will have (16) half square triangles that are 3-inches square.

Cut Horizontal And Vertical Lines To Make 16 Half Square Triangles

Tip: Each 3-inch half square triangle can produce (two) 1.5-inch half square triangles. This is also known as a secondary cut or subcutting.

3-Inch Half Square Triangle Subcut Into Two 1.5-inch Half Square Triangles

Piece the half square triangle ‘feathers’ to the corner block using the corner block piecing layout.
Press the seams towards the green fabric
Trim to 4.5-inches square.

Corner Blocks Piecing Layout

Part Three: Piecing The Rows

I must admit, the fun part of making the feathered star block is piecing the rows together. The time you invested in creating the multicolor quarter square blocks and the green corner blocks will pay off in stunning results. The two step process of assembling the nine-patch block is so easy that it will seem like magic.

Piece Row 1

Grab the green corner block A, one quarter square triangle and green block B. Follow the feathered star piecing layout for row 1. (Double check the orientation of the quarter square triangle. It must match the layout for row 1.

Rows Piecing Layout

Piece Row 2

Grab two quarter square triangles and one solid green block. Follow the layout for row 2 paying close attention to how the quarter square triangles go.

Piece Row 3

Grab green block C, one quarter square triangle and green block D. Follow the layout for row 3. Please pay close attention to the orientation of the quarter square triangle.

Finishing The Piecing

Sew row 1 to row 2. Then sew row 3 to row 2. Get perfect alignment by nesting your seams.

Trim the block to approximately 12-inches square. Be careful to leave a quarter inch seam allowance so that the points of the star are not hidden.

Awesome job! Your Christmas feathered star block made the traditional way is complete.

Finished Christmas Feathered Star Block The Traditional Way

Making Half-Square Triangles for the Feathers - The Techy Way

For a no piecing, techy way to make the half square triangle ‘feathers’ try this applique method where I’m appliqueing the green corner blocks.

A PDF of the ‘feathers’ of the feathered star is included with this blog. Print each PDF on a separate paper backed fabric made for inkjet printers. (Follow the manufacturer's instructions on how to use the product.)

Is this a new technique for you? See my method in Madam Sew blog “Make A Quilted Christmas Patchwork Ornament With Photo In One Hour”. See section 4 “How To Print A Photo on Paper Backed Fabric”.

Half Square Triangles PDFs

After you have separated the cotton fabric from the paper backing, cut out the ‘feathers’ for each corner block. Follow the Green Blocks Layout for the proper positioning of each feather strip.

Applique Corner Blocks Layout

Use your favorite raw edge applique method to sew the half square triangles strips to the appropriate green block. Or try an applique method from Madam Sew’s excellent tutorial video “How To Applique--Stitches & Presser Feet”. I used a clear applique presser foot and a wide zig zag stitch pattern to cover as much of the strip as possible. I also used invisible thread for an invisible stitch look.

Definition: Raw edge applique means the item you are appliqueing is the exact size needed and the raw edges are not folded under.

Green Blocks With Appliqued Half Square Triangles

Green Block With Appliqued Half Square Triangles

After all four of the green corner blocks are appliqued, you will be ready to piece the rows of the feathered star block.

The two step process of assembling the nine-patch block is so easy that it will seem like magic.