Hi everybody, it’s Jenny from the MSQC. And I am so excited about today’s project
because it’s a super easy way to make a hunter’s star. Let’s take a look at this
quilt behind me. So the hunter’s star is, I mean it just looks so complicated and it
has several different secondary blocks. And one is this little arrow block right here
that you just, you know, that’s what makes it the hunter’s star. And so I’m going
to show you a super easy way to do this. What we’ve done is we’ve made four patches
and star blocks. So just by doing that, we simplified the whole process.
So to make this quilt, what you’re going to need is one packet of ten inch squares
of a print fabric. And we’ve used Tucker Prairie by One Canoe Two for Moda fabrics.
Beautiful line. You’re also going to need 42 ten inch squares of a background fabric
just like this. Now one of the things I love about pre-cuts is their versatility so even
though we’re using a layer cake, we’re going to be cutting this down into 4 five-inch
squares and, which is the size of a charm pack. So you could actually buy four charms
as well. I happen to have a layer cake so that’s what I use but don’t, you know,
hesitate to use your charms if you already have those because that’s what we’re going
to do is we’re going to cut this down. So right now so what I’ve done is I’ve got
my square centered up on my mat and I’m going to cut it into 4 five-inch squares.
And I’m going to do this to all my pieces. The whole, the whole layer cake is going to
be cut up. So we’re going to cut here. I’m going to turn this. Again, I’m just going
to line it up. These lines help me keep it nice and square. And then we’re going to
come in and cut again.
Now the first block we’re going to make is the four patch. It’s the easiest. It’s
the quickest. And it’s just simple. So a four patch is made by using two squares, a
light and a dark. You’ve got, you’ve got your contrast right there. And then adding
two more to it that are also light and dark. So what you’re going to do is you’re going
to sew these two seams together and then you’re going to sew this one together to make a four
patch. So let’s go to the sewing machine and do that. So we’re just going to sew
a quarter of an inch right here. Right along this side. You can press if you want. And
press, you want to keep that seam to the dark side. Make sure that your colors are opposite,
you know, sides and then we’re going to put these two together and make sure that
middle seam nests. So again I’m just going to take a few stitches to anchor. And then
I’m going to check underneath here to make sure that my seams are lined up and I can
feel with my finger that there’s no room in between those nesting seams. And I’m
going to go ahead and sew a quarter of an inch all the way down. Alright now let’s
go press this.
And we’re going to press this open. I like to press from the top to make sure that there’s
no folds in any of my seams, because folds change the size of your block. Then you can
flip it over and make your seams go anyway you want. And I’m just going to put mine
that way. Now you can see, this is your four patch. And your four patches are done. You’re
going to make 28 of those. And we’re just going to set that aside because now that whole
set of blocks is done. You’re going to make 28 of those.
So next you get to make one of these stars. Now these stars, they’re beautiful and they
look like you worked so hard but you really didn’t. So here’s how we’re going to
do these. These are going to be made out of half square triangles And you guys know when
I make half square triangles what I like to do is I like to put my squares right sides
together, sew all the way around it a quarter of an inch and then cut it diagonally both
directions. Now I’ve already sewn this. So I’m just going to go ahead and cut this
real quick like. So we’re cutting this way and we’re cutting this way. And now we’re
going to press these open. And I just like to bring them all over here and make sure
my dark fabric is on the top. You can set your seams all at once. And then you’re
just going to roll them back. One more here. And then this guy over here. Alright .
Now these squares need to be, I mean these half square triangles need to be trimmed to
2 ¾. It’s not really a big deal. Find a ruler. This is really important actually,
find a ruler that makes sense to your eyes because a lot of times if you’re struggling
to find that line. You know sometimes you need a ruler that just makes a little bit
more sense to you. So what I’m doing with this one, and I’m going to square it, is
I am laying this, on this ruler, the half inch marks are marked with the red. So I know
I need to go a quarter of an inch beyond the red. And I’m looking at this, lining my
center line up on that seam. A quarter of an inch beyond the red. And I’m going to
go ahead and trim this off like this. And you’re going to do this to all your little
half square triangles . We want them to be 2 ¾. So we’re going to do this. And this
helps make your blocks, they just come out perfect when you do this to square up your
blocks. Now I have a set of blocks over here that’s all squared up and ready to go. And
what we’re going to be doing is making this block.
So we’re going to make this block four times and, and rotate it around. It’s a super
easy way to make this star. So we’ve got four of these right here. Now there’s going
to be a diagram for you because this is, it’s really important. You’re going to make two
sets of stars. One’s going to go one way. One’s going to go the other way. That’s
what gives this little arrow look right here is the, is the stars that go the other direction.
Now I’m a little angley challenged so I hope, hopefully I’ve worked out all the
bugs for you and you can do this.
So when I put these together, you’ll use your diagram and then I keep a block right
next to me and make them all look like the same block. So I have two squares that are
going up like this. My, my printed fabric is at the top, going to the right. And the
third one is going to the right. And this guy right here goes down, so it makes that
long piece like that. So let me sew this together for you. We’re just going to sew these two
and then we’re going to sew these two and then we’re going to sew it together like
a four patch. So let’s go to the sewing machine. This is such a great way to do this
because it makes a really, a quilt that’s kind of complicated go together really easily.
One of the things I love about doing blocks, my half square triangles this way is that
they have a little bit of give to them and you’re able to, and they have a little bit
of give so you’re able to make them fit. So now we have these two pieces we’re going
to go ahead and sew them together. Make sure that all your pieces are going up. And then
this one’s going down. And we’re going to just sew them. Get a little anchoring stitch
here. Then I’m going to make sure these middles line up. And it’s just like sewing
four little, four little half square triangles together to make this little block. Now let’s
iron this open. And you can iron as you go along as well.
Alright so once you get four of these done, you are ready to make your block. And I have
four of them done right here. So let me show you how this works. We’re going to use the
same block but it’s going to rotate every time. So here’s our block right here. The
next block is just going to turn this way. See how all of a sudden now you have opposites.
If you, if your colors ever line up, you know it’s in the wrong place. So again this way
and we’re going to turn it. And then finally this one. We’re going to turn it. And it
makes that star. And so there you have it right there. Now we’re just going to sew
this together like a four patch. And we’ll have our whole star block.
Ok, so now you’ve finished your star block. You’re going to make 12 of these. And then
you’re going to have to make 16 of the next star. Now the next star you want to pay really
close attention because it looks a lot like this. But it’s going to be a different star
and a different diagram. So let’s look carefully at this.
So the next one, we, there will be a diagram for this so you want to keep your eye out
on that diagram and you want to also watch what I’m doing right here. Because now my
color points are going to the left. On the last one, they went to the right. You can
see right here. One these they went to the right. One this one, they’re going to the
left. So it works exactly the same way but you have to make a star that’s going the
other direction so that you have that, that hunter’s star that happens. So see here
we two that are going, the colors are going up to the left, up to the left like this.
And then this guy over here in this corner comes down. So just watch that really carefully
because this is what makes the pattern all come together. So then you’re going to make
your star, you’re going to have them all sewn together and you’re going to have your
opposite star. Remember you rotate it around just like this. And just like this. There
we go. I thought that looked a little weird. Alright so now we have this secondary star
that goes the other direction. And you’re going to need 12 of those. So let me show
you how this goes together because this is so, so cool.
So let’s, let’s put this together this first row. And we are going to lay this out.
We’ve got a star and a four patch. Now it matters what direction your four patches lay.
They are going to go to the upper left. You’ve got your star and your four patch, just like
this. So this is this top row right here. Star and see these four patches are all going
up to the, the whole row, they all go up to the left, the whole row. So then we’re ready
to add our next row. And we’re going to go ahead and pull this out right here. And
so we have a star, I’m sorry, a four patch and a star and a four patch and a star. Now
you’ll notice that this is the second set of stars and our four patches are now going
in the opposite direction. You want them to checkerboard right here. You want the colors
to come off. This is what gives you that arrow block that’s in the hunter’s star. Right
here you can see that arrow block right here. And you can see it again over here, right
here. And it just gives you the hunter’s star look without the hunter’s star work.
So keep laying it out. You’re going to have seven across by eight down. So eight rows,
seven in each row. 56 total blocks. It’s going to give you a quilt that’s 80 by 100
so that’s a pretty good sized quilt. We’re going to add a 2 ½ inch border on the outside
of our blocks here. Nice stock border. You’ll need ¾ of a yard of fabric for that. And
you’re going to add a five inch border on the outside. And you’ll need about a yard
and a half for that. And your quilt comes together and you have made the hunter’s
star. So we hope you enjoyed this tutorial on the easy Hunter’s Star from the MSQC.