Cut It Up QAL: B03 – Crystal Star

When I took an informal survey of quilters to ask about their favourite quilt block, the resounding answer was, “STARS!” I get it, it’s tried and true, and like me, looks good in just about any fabric! Ooh la la! There are so many star variations out there, that you could make a hundred quilts of a hundred different star blocks and never feature the same one twice. But if you’ve been around the quilting block a few times, you know that most roads lead back to the Sawtooth Star. It’s simple and effective by joining a larger centre square, four flying geese, and four smaller squares. The block can be segmented into fours which makes it easy to scale up and down into multiple sizes. This also means it is a supernova of variations! So if you haven’t made a Sawtooth Star block yet, there are tutorials everywhere, and I highly recommend starting there.

However, I wanted to take it up a small notch–just a twinkle–and make the Crystal Star block. This block replaces the original larger centre square of a Sawtooth Star, with a Diamond in a Square block. That’s the only difference! Now, I believe someone recently suggested that you make some flying geese using the four-at-a-time method? Eh? Eh? So basically, you’ve already got this block halfway done! All you really need to do now is make the Diamond in a Square blocks, cut some simple squares, and then sew them all together.

Here’s a cutting chart for just the Diamond in a Square block. Because maybe you want to make that on its own, or you wanna start there and create new, corresponding geese. Whatever you like! Do remember that the term “Finished” always refers to a block size once it is finished by being sewn into a quilt top. e.g. A 4″ x 4″ finished Diamond in a Square block will actually be 4 ½” x 4 ½” when it’s just a singular block. I know it can be a bit confusing, but I didn’t make the rules, I just live by them (most of the time!) Also, if you haven’t picked up on it by now, this block is so ready for you to get your fussy cutting mojo crystallised! Hot tip: Use some template plastic, or put some tape on your existing clear ruler to preview your fussy cutting!

Above is the layout of the block showing the sizes of the components I made: (4) 2 ½” x 2 ½” squares, (4) 2 ½” x 4 ½” flying geese, and (1) 4 ½” x 4 ½” Diamond in a Square block.

Here’s a simple photo tutorial of creating the Diamond in a Square block and then combining it with the rest of your elements to create the Crystal Star block. If like me, you made flying geese that are 2 ½” x 4 ½” unfinished, when you use them in the Crystal Star block, the final block size will be 8 ½” x 8 ½” unfinished.

Cut four squares that have the same edge lengths as the shorter edge of your pre-made flying geese unfinished units.

e.g. If your flying geese are 2 ½” x 4 ½”, cut four squares that are 2 ½” x 2 ½”. If your flying geese are 3 ½” x 6 ½”, cut four squares that are 3 ½” x 3 ½”.

Decide which size of Diamond in a Square block you would like to make. The unfinished size should match that of the longer edge of the pre-made flying geese unfinished units. Cut two corner squares using the correct size from the chart.

e.g. If your flying geese are 2 ½” x 4 ½” unfinished, the Diamond in a Square block should be 4 ½” x 4 ½”, and the corner squares should be 2 ⅞” x 2 ⅞”. Cut these corner squares in half on the diagonal to make the corner triangles.

Cut one centre square using the correct size from the chart.

e.g. If your flying geese are 2 ½” x 4 ½” unfinished, the Diamond in a Square block should be 4 ½” x 4 ½”, and the centre square should be 3 ⅜” x 3 ⅜”

Finger press the midpoints on the centre square and the corner triangles.

Align finger press markings with fabrics right sides together.

Sew the first corner triangle to the centre block using a ¼” seam allowance.

Sew the second corner triangle to the centre block using a ¼” seam allowance.

Press the corner triangles outwards.

Sew the third and fourth corner triangles to the centre square and press outwards.

Cut dog ears off of block, and trim to required size if necessary. In this instance, the block has been trimmed to 4 ½” x 4 ½”.

Layout Crystal Star block components: (4) squares, (4) flying geese, and (1) Diamond in a Square block.

Sew the components into rows, and then rows together using a a ¼” seam allowance.

The block is complete!

A few of my points are cut off–meh! Does it look like I care? I know it’s hard to tell with all this fabulousness. But listen, once everything is joined together, and then quilted, and then washed, babes, you’re gonna be staring at your prized quilt, not at a few dulled points. You can also try a variety of fabric placement options. I’ve matched the fabric of the corner triangles on the Diamond in a Square block to the wings of my flying geese. You don’t have to do this! The corner triangles could match the body of your flying geese, or could be a different fabric altogether!

Get creative with colour, fussy cut your heart out, or let the Crystal Stars align in an entirely different way. Whatever you decide, remember, it’s just fabric, you can’t break it! Now let’s go cut it up!