SeeMyQuilt
Stars · Confident beginner

Twin Star quilt block

A spinning star in two fabrics. Each side unit is one large triangle, one small triangle and background.

Twin Star: main, background and accent. A 3 × 3 grid.

Cutting chart by block size

6" Twin Star (cut for one block)

FabricCutSizeThen
Main1 square3 1/4" × 3 1/4"4 triangles (cut twice on the diagonal)
Background1 square3 1/4" × 3 1/4"4 triangles (cut twice on the diagonal)
Background5 squares2 1/2" × 2 1/2"–
Accent2 squares2 7/8" × 2 7/8"4 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)

9" Twin Star (cut for one block)

FabricCutSizeThen
Main1 square4 1/4" × 4 1/4"4 triangles (cut twice on the diagonal)
Background1 square4 1/4" × 4 1/4"4 triangles (cut twice on the diagonal)
Background5 squares3 1/2" × 3 1/2"–
Accent2 squares3 7/8" × 3 7/8"4 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)

12" Twin Star (cut for one block)

FabricCutSizeThen
Main1 square5 1/4" × 5 1/4"4 triangles (cut twice on the diagonal)
Background1 square5 1/4" × 5 1/4"4 triangles (cut twice on the diagonal)
Background5 squares4 1/2" × 4 1/2"–
Accent2 squares4 7/8" × 4 7/8"4 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)

15" Twin Star (cut for one block)

FabricCutSizeThen
Main1 square6 1/4" × 6 1/4"4 triangles (cut twice on the diagonal)
Background1 square6 1/4" × 6 1/4"4 triangles (cut twice on the diagonal)
Background5 squares5 1/2" × 5 1/2"–
Accent2 squares5 7/8" × 5 7/8"4 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)

How to make a 15" Twin Star block

  1. Cut the pieces in the chart above. All measurements include a 1/4" seam allowance.
  2. Cut the squares marked "cut twice" on both diagonals. Each gives four triangles with the long edge on the straight grain: these are the large triangles in flying geese and hourglass units.
  3. Cut the squares marked "cut once" in half on the diagonal. Each gives two triangles. Sew them to their neighbours along the long edge first and press toward the darker fabric.
  4. Lay all the pieces out as in the diagram. The block is a 3 × 3 grid, and each cell finishes at 5". Sew neighbouring pieces into sections, then the sections into rows, pressing seams in opposite directions from row to row.
  5. Join the rows. The block should measure 15 1/2" now and 15" once it is sewn into the quilt.

Yardage for a Twin Star quilt (15" blocks)

Quilt sizeBlocksFinished sizeMainBackgroundAccentBorder & bindingBacking
Baby2 × 3 (6)36" × 51"1/4 yd1 1/8 yd3/8 yd1 yd3 1/2 yd
Lap3 × 4 (12)51" × 66"1/2 yd2 yd3/4 yd1 1/8 yd4 1/4 yd
Throw4 × 4 (16)66" × 66"5/8 yd2 5/8 yd1 yd1 3/8 yd4 1/4 yd
Twin4 × 6 (24)66" × 96"7/8 yd3 7/8 yd1 3/8 yd1 1/2 yd6 yd
Queen6 × 6 (36)96" × 96"1 1/4 yd5 5/8 yd2 yd1 7/8 yd8 3/4 yd
King7 × 7 (49)111" × 111"1 3/4 yd7 5/8 yd2 5/8 yd2 1/8 yd10 yd

Blocks side by side with a 3" border, 2 1/2" binding, 42" usable width and 10% extra.

Four ways to set it

A throw quilt of 15" Twin Star blocks in each setting.

SettingBlocksFinished sizeExtra fabric
Side by side1666" × 66"–
With sashing1255" × 72"Sashing 3/4 yd, Cornerstones 1/8 yd
Alternating plain blocks8 pieced + 8 plain66" × 66"Plain blocks 2 yd
On point1369 3/4" × 69 3/4"Setting triangles 1 3/4 yd

See Twin Star in your own fabrics

1. Your fabrics (tap a fabric, then choose a sample or your own photo)
2. Block
3. Quilt size
4. Block size
5. Setting

What to buy

FabricYardageCut

Based on 42" usable fabric width, 1/4" seams and 10% extra. Your photos stay on your device.

Questions

How many fabrics does a Twin Star block need?

Three: main, background and accent. Choose a main fabric that contrasts clearly with the background so the design reads from a distance.

What size pieces do I cut for a 15 inch Twin Star?

1 main square at 6 1/4" × 6 1/4"; 1 background square at 6 1/4" × 6 1/4"; 5 background squares at 5 1/2" × 5 1/2"; 2 accent squares at 5 7/8" × 5 7/8".

How many Twin Star blocks for a lap quilt?

12 blocks at 15", set 3 by 4 with a 3" border, make a 51" × 66" quilt.

More stars blocks