The Hunter Star Block is a timeless and intricate quilt pattern that has been beloved by quilters for generations.
Its unique design, featuring interlocking stars and diamonds, makes it a striking addition to any quilt.
In this tutorial, we’ll guide you through the steps to create your own Hunter Star Block, including fabric selection, cutting instructions, and assembly. Let’s embark on this quilting journey together!
Selecting Your Fabric
Choosing the Right Fabrics
When selecting fabrics for the Hunter Star Block, it’s crucial to choose contrasting colors to highlight the intricate design.
Traditional combinations often include a light fabric and a dark fabric to create a dramatic effect. However, feel free to experiment with modern color palettes that suit your personal style and home decor.
Solid colors or small prints work best for this pattern, as they will not detract from the detailed design.
The Hunter Star Block looks stunning in both traditional and contemporary fabrics, so don’t be afraid to get creative with your choices.
Fabric Quantities
For each 12-inch finished Hunter Star Block, you will need:
- Light fabric: 1/4 yard
- Dark fabric: 1/4 yard
Preparing the Fabric
Before you begin cutting your fabric, it’s important to wash and press it. This step ensures that any shrinkage happens before you start cutting and sewing, preventing any distortion in your final block. Once your fabrics are prepped, you’re ready to start cutting your pieces.
Cutting Your Fabric
Cutting the Pieces
The Hunter Star Block is made up of triangles and diamonds. Here are the cutting instructions for a 12-inch finished block:
- Light Fabric:
- Cut 4 squares, 4.5 x 4.5 inches
- Cut 4 strips, 2.5 x 8.5 inches
- Cut 4 diamonds with a 45-degree angle, 2.5 inches wide
- Dark Fabric:
- Cut 4 squares, 4.5 x 4.5 inches
- Cut 4 strips, 2.5 x 8.5 inches
- Cut 4 diamonds with a 45-degree angle, 2.5 inches wide
Organizing Your Cuts
Lay out all your cut pieces on a flat surface or design board. Organizing your pieces before you start sewing will help you keep track of all the components and ensure that you don’t miss any steps.
Assembling the Block
Creating the Diamond Units
The Hunter Star Block is composed of several diamond units that form the star. Follow these steps to create the diamond units:
- Sewing the Diamonds:
- Take one light fabric diamond and one dark fabric diamond. Place them right sides together and sew along one side with a 1/4-inch seam allowance.
- Press the seam open to reduce bulk.
- Repeat this process until you have sewn all the diamond pairs.
- Joining the Diamond Units:
- Lay out the diamond units to form the star shape. Make sure the colors are arranged to create the desired pattern.
- Sew the diamond units together in pairs, then join the pairs to form the star points. Ensure your seams align accurately to maintain the star’s symmetry.
- Press the seams open or to one side, depending on your preference.
Adding the Background Squares
Once you have assembled the star points, it’s time to add the background squares to complete the block:
- Attaching the Squares:
- Take the light and dark fabric squares and sew them to the edges of the diamond units. These squares will form the corners of the block and complete the square shape.
- Sew the squares to each diamond unit with a 1/4-inch seam allowance, and press the seams open.
- Joining the Units:
- Arrange the diamond units with the attached squares to form the complete block. Ensure the star points are correctly aligned and the squares fill the gaps between the points.
- Sew the units together, matching seams and pressing them open as you go.
Completing the Block
After sewing all the pieces together, your Hunter Star Block should measure 12.5 x 12.5 inches, including seam allowances. This size will finish to 12 x 12 inches when sewn into a quilt.
Repeat the process to create as many Hunter Star Blocks as needed for your quilt. Maintaining consistent seam allowances and accurate cutting will ensure all blocks are uniform in size and fit together perfectly.
Assembling the Quilt Top
Planning the Layout
Decide on the layout for your quilt top. The Hunter Star Blocks can be arranged in various configurations, such as straight sets or on-point layouts. Use a design wall or large flat surface to arrange your blocks and experiment with different layouts until you find one you like.
Sewing the Blocks Together
Once you’ve decided on a layout, start sewing the blocks together into rows. Use a 1/4-inch seam allowance and press the seams between the blocks open or to one side. This step reduces bulk and helps the quilt lay flat.
After sewing the rows, join them together to complete the quilt top. Again, press the seams open or to one side, ensuring all seams align correctly.
Adding Borders (Optional)
If you’d like to add borders to your quilt, measure the length and width of the quilt top. Cut border strips to the desired width, adding a few inches to the length for a more oversized fit. Sew the side borders first, then add the top and bottom borders. Press the seams towards the borders.
Finishing the Quilt
Preparing the Quilt Sandwich
To complete your Hunter Star quilt, you’ll need to create a quilt sandwich. Lay out the backing fabric, right side down, and smooth it out. Place the batting on top of the backing, followed by the quilt top, right side up. Smooth out any wrinkles and ensure all layers are aligned.
Basting the Quilt
Baste the quilt sandwich using your preferred method: safety pins, spray basting, or hand basting. Basting secures the layers together, preventing shifting during quilting.
Quilting
Quilt the layers together using a walking foot or free-motion quilting technique. You can quilt along the seam lines (stitch in the ditch) or create a custom quilting design that complements the Hunter Star pattern. Take your time and ensure the quilting is even and consistent across the quilt.
Binding
Finish the quilt by adding binding to the edges. Cut binding strips 2.5 inches wide and the length of your quilt’s perimeter plus a few extra inches. Join the strips end-to-end to create a continuous binding strip. Sew the binding to the front of the quilt, then fold it over to the back and hand or machine stitch it in place.
Congratulations! You’ve completed your Hunter Star Block quilt. This timeless pattern is sure to become a cherished piece in your collection, showcasing your quilting skills and creativity. Enjoy your beautiful creation!
