HOW TO MAKE A QUICK AND EASY FRIENDSHIP STAR QUILT BLOCK

A Friendship Star block is among the most popular quilt blocks. Physically, it features a four-point star that is created from a nine-patch block that has four solid squares and four half-square triangles. The simplicity of the Friendship Star block makes it an excellent addition to any quilt.

And the history of the Friendship Star and other star blocks makes a wonderful addition to your block-making skill set.

As I prepared to write this blog, I researched the origins of the friendship star quilt block. It embodies the love between friends. I discovered that its history goes back to early American ‘settlers’ who shared signed versions of the friendship quilt block with their friends as they went their separate ways. These blocks would become the building blocks of much cherished future quilts. The block itself contained heartfelt handwritten messages that memorialized strong friendships over the miles and years. That’s quite a history for such a simple but versatile block.

I dug deeper and found that other people and cultures had similar methods of sharing their sentiments and stories through star blocks.

Sometimes those stories were as serious as life and death. During North American Slavery, the enslaved seeking freedom in the northern states used quilt codes to convey secret messages. Quilts hung over a fence or windowsill presumably to be aired but actually they passed along vital information. The star block (also known as the North Star Block) meant let the North Star and the night sky be your guide to freedom.

Among the indigenous American Lakota people, star quilts were given to mark important life events, like graduations, memorial feats, naming celebrations, and marriages. It represents honor and generosity. And it is among the most highly valued gifts.

The beauty, versatility, and history of the Friendship Star block make it a wonderful addition to your quilt block knowledge. Let me show you a quick and easy way to make it.

Be prepared for this project and read through the following sections: “Supplies”, “Fabric” and “Getting Ready To Sew”.

These are the tools and supplies that I used to make easy scrappy binding.

• A Quarter Inch Presser Foot
• 90/14 Sewing Machine Needle
• Coordinating Cotton Threads
• Thread Snips
• Rotary Cutter
• 6-inch square ruler
• Heat Erasable Fabric Marking Pens
• Tailor’s Clapper – optional (Use to flatten seams)
• Wool Pressing Mat
• Rotating Cutting Mat
• Sewing Clips
• 6 x 24 quilting ruler
• Sewing Stiletto

The finished Friendship Star Block will be 17-inches square.

• Cut (four) 6-inch squares of gray fabric
• Cut (one) 6-inch square of blue fabric
• Cut (one) 9.5-inch square of gray fabric
• Cut (one) 9.5-inch square of blue fabric

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”.

With these three simple steps you are able to quickly make lots of Friendship Star blocks for your future quilts.

• Set aside the four 6-inch gray squares.
• Also set aside the 6-inch blue square.
• Select one pair of 9.5-inch gray and blue squares and place them in your work area. You’ll make four half square triangles (HSTs) from this pair.

• Grab one 9.5-inch square of blue fabric.
• Grab one 9.5-inch square of gray fabric.
• Align the blue and gray squares with right sides together.
• Pin the squares in the middle to keep them aligned.

• Use a heat erasable pen to draw a red diagonal line from corner to corner on the lighter of the two squares.
• When finished you’ll have an “X” centered on the wrong side of the square.

• Stitch around the perimeter of the squares using a ¼-inch seam allowance.
• Remove the pin.
• Cut the square along the red diagonal lines to produce four blue/gray Half Square Triangles (HSTs).
• Finger press open each HST, then press flat with an iron.
• Trim each HST to 6-inches square and set them aside for piecing.

The Friendship Star block is made of nine blocks:

• A blue solid square (the middle; ‘D’ Block),
• four gray solid squares (the corners; ‘A’ Block), and
• four blue and gray half-square triangles (the star points; ‘B’ Block and ‘C’ Block).

By following the Friendship Star Piecing Layout, you’ll have a failsafe way to quickly make this nine-patch block. Here’s the method.

Row 1 is created by sewing an ‘A’ block to a ‘B’ Block and then to another ‘A’ Block.

• Gather two gray squares and one blue and gray HST. Follow row 1 piecing sequence.
• Press the ¼-inch seam allowance to the right.

Row 2 is created by sewing an ‘C’ Block to a ‘D’ Block and then to another ‘C’ Block.

• Gather two blue and gray HST and the blue square. Follow row 2 piecing sequence.
• Press the ¼-inch seam allowance to the left.

Row 3 is created by sewing an ‘A’ block to a ‘B’ Block and then to another ‘A’ Block.

• Gather one blue and gray HST and two gray squares. Follow row 3 piecing sequence.
• Press the ¼-inch seam allowance to the right.

Tip: Nesting your seams will produce the best seam alignment. Use your favorite method or for a quick review see Madam Sew blog “How To Make A Quick & Easy Halloween Mini Quilt”

Turn your work 90-degrees so you can easily piece the rows in the proper order. And follow the Rows Piecing Layout. You’ll continue to use the ¼-inch seam allowance. Once you’ve pieced together the three rows, your Friendship Star Quilt Block will be created.

The row piecing layout, shown below, is color-coded to make it easier to identify each row.

• Place blue Row B on top of red Row A with the right sides together.
• Piece Row A to row B with right sides together.
• Press the two rows flat.

Tip: Avoid losing the points of the stars in the seams! Start sewing where the seam insects the point of the star. Then view the right side of the quilt block to make sure the triangle point is visible. If you have lost the point, then carefully rip out the seam and try again. After you are satisfied with the result, finish sewing the seam.

• Place purple Row C on top of blue Row B with the right sides together.
• Piece Row B to Row C with the 1/4-inch seam allowances facing you.
• Press the two rows flat.

Your 17-inch Square Friendship Star is complete!

I encourage you to use the classic, versatile and effortless Friendship Star block in your next quilt project.

Here are two examples of beautiful quilts using the friendship star block, one by Catherine Redford and one by Camille Roskelley.

If you want to learn how to sew other quilt blocks, the following Madam Sew projects might also inspire you:

• Sheepfold Quilt Block Tutorial
• Variable Star Block Tutorial
• How to Make Combination Units Using Quarter Inch Patchwork Rulers (QIPS)
• Make a Pot Holder with the Churn Dash Block
• Discover How to make Accurate Hourglass Units
• No Waste Flying Geese with Placemat Project

If you have any questions or suggestions, don’t hesitate to leave a comment below.

May your quilting always bring you joy!

Download PDF here

Ernie Grant
Guest Blogger For Madam Sew

Ernestine “Ernie” Grant is an avid quilter with over 20 years experience and is the owner of the custom baby quilt business www.kalibabyquilts.com . As an African American living in Harlem, New York her view of quilting is shaped by her heritage and the elders who taught her–Quilting is not just thread, fabric and stitches. It is art, it is love, it is community.