Ribbon Star Block Tutorial

My 4x5 Modern Quilt Bee blocks really grew on me as I worked on them—I think the ones with the white backgrounds look especially fab. So thanks to everyone who weighed in and gave me some encouragement about this block. Without it, I probably would have moved on to yet another design! And since people seemed to like it, how about a tutorial?

This is my take on a traditional Christmas Star block. It would look pretty great in holiday fabric, but I would hate to see it pigeon-holed as strictly that, so I'm calling it Ribbon Star. The tutorial makes a 12.5" block.

Cutting:

Background (white):
• Cut four 3" squares
• Cut eight 2.5" squares
• Cut eight 2" squares

Star (yellow):
• Cut one 4.5" square
• Cut eight 2.5" squares

Color A (pink):
• Cut four pieces, 2.5" x 4.5"
• Cut four pieces, 2" x 4.5"

Color B (orange):
• Cut four pieces, 2.5" x 4.5"
• Cut four pieces, 2" x 3"

To make the block:

1. Mark the wrong side of all of your 2.5" and 2" squares with a diagonal line from corner to corner.

2. Lay out your pieces before you start sewing. I find it helpful to work from this layout as I sew—you'll be far less likely to get your colors and directions mixed up! Start with the 4.5" square in the center, and then lay out the 2.5" x 4.5" pieces in a cross shape, alternating colors as shown.

3. Now add the 3" background squares in each corner, and the 2" strips around those squares, as shown.

4. Next, lay out the squares that will be your star points. I put these squares face down, so I can see the marked diagonal (this is also exactly how the pieces will be sewn together). Note that to create the star points, the marked diagonals should always go from the center out.

5. Sew each pair together on the marked diagonal.

6. Trim off the excess 1/4" from the seam and press. I always press diagonal seams open—I find it to be more accurate than pressing to the side.

7. Add your 2.5" background squares in the same way you did with the star points. Note that the marked diagonal should always go the same direction as the star-point diagonal that you previously sewed.

8. Add your final set of 2" marked squares in the same way as you did the previous squares. This time, make sure the marked diagonals are angled so that they form the outer star points.

9. Your units should now look like this. Sew the block together, starting with the 2" x 3" orange units to the 3" background squares. Take care as you sew to make sure those points are lined up!

10. Done!

As always, if you make this block (or anything else inspired by my blog), I would love to see it! Please join my Flickr group and add your photos!

Since I made five of these blocks for my 4x5 hive, here it is in other colors:

Aqua, gray, and yellow for Lindsay

Aqua, teal, white and gray for Lyanna

Yellow, spring green, and blue for Elizabeth

Orange, gold, and plum for Deb

And the orange, yellow, and pink block featured in the tutorial is for Wendy. Enjoy, ladies!