Sunday, July 1, 2012

Red, White & Blue Blog Hop Block - The Five Pointed Star

Happy July 1st! Today is the kickoff day for the Red, White & Blue Blog Hop for Sew We Quilt, created by the lovely Madame Samm and organized by the charming Jane of Jane's Fabrics and Quilts.  I drafted a five pointed star paper pieced block to share with you.


When I think red, white and blue I think patriotic and I wanted to create a block that I could use to echo our national flag.  A five pointed star seemed just the thing, with blues in the upper left quadrant like our flag and reds everywhere else.  Add some white to fill in the blanks and voila!  This star can be just as fun in any color combination, or in a scrappy single color version. 


This is a 10.5 inch paper pieced block, and you can download the templates here.  **** This file has been updated with some helpful hints on planning fabric placement.

There are 5 pages, with instructions.   If you are new to paper piecing, I recommend you read this tutorial by Faith at Fresh Lemons and then go watch this video by The Crafty Gemini.  Whether you learn by reading or by visuals, both are excellent and will help you understand the process.

The general instructions the 5 Point Star are as follows:  Print all five pages and cut them out, adding a 1/4" seam allowance.

Starting with Section A, sew on the line between 1 & 2, then the line between 2 & 3, and then the line between 3 & 4.  Do this for each of the five sections.  Section B is printed horizontally on the page, but once you have that leg of the star cut out, you'll see how it fits.  Section B is the topmost point of this star.  Once all five sections are ready, peel off that paper.  Its fun!


The star is built in a clockwise direction.  As you sew each of the five sections together, press the seams all in the same direction, always to the right or always to the left.  This will make the center points fit together more smoothly.  Sew Section A to Section B (creating AB), then AB to Section C, then ABC to Section D, then finally ABCD to Section E.  The last seam is the trickiest, but you can do it! 


Here is one all finished with extra sashing and all bound up to be used as a wall hanging or a small table topper. I might even hang it outside on my gate for July 4th, although then lizards would get on it and that would be gross.  There are alot of lizards here in Florida.


A great big hug and a huge thank you to both Madame Samm and to Jane for allowing me to join the fun of the Red, White & Blue Blog Hop.  Love you both ladies! 



I really enjoying creating this block and I hope you like it too!  Hop on over to the other blogs in the blog hop today and see what's cooking!
Mary on Lake Pulaski
Vrooman's Quilts
piece peace
The Cuddle Quilter
Marcia's Crafty Sewing and Quilting

98 comments:

  1. Beautiful Star! I will give it a try. Thanks for the tutorial...Judith, Texas

    ReplyDelete
  2. Great job with your tutorial - stars are always a favorite.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Ellen, the star block is great. I have always shied away from paper piecing but just may give it a go with these instructions. Thanks for sharing. Susie x

    ReplyDelete
  4. What a wonderful star block! Your tutorial is excellent and I'm sure many people in blogland will be making this star. Well done!

    ReplyDelete
  5. a beautiful start to a beautiful star

    ReplyDelete
  6. Beautiful! I Love how your Fabric placement gives a 3-D effect!

    Huggs, Nancy

    ReplyDelete
  7. Great block. Maybe some day I can learn to paper piece.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Quilt is lovely - great tutorial too.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Really great block and it looks wonderful all made into a topper.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Thank you so much for the tutorial - five pointed star is a favorite of mine. Judy C

    ReplyDelete
  11. Beautiful stars. Great tutorial, easy to follow.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Wonderful star and thanks for the tut. I want to go right now and try this one myself.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Beautiful star! Thanks for sharing the pattern.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Super tar block. Thank you so much for the template. I am sure to use it in my Red, White and Blue quilt.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Love your star Ellen. Thanks for the template.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Beautiful! And thanks for the pattern!

    ReplyDelete
  17. I love this block! I've always wanted to try paper piecing, so thanks so much for the tutorial link and the templates! :) I've got some fun projects ahead of me for sure now.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Great block, so nice to be hopping with you!

    ReplyDelete
  19. What a beautiful star and thanks so much for sharing the tutorial and template!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Great star! Glad you included the links and some help with paper piecing - I really want to try that sometime soon.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Oh wow!! What a great block!! Love it!! Thanks for the instructions!!!

    ReplyDelete
  22. This is a great block...it looks dimensional with the fabrics you have used.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Thanks for sharing! Great star!

    ReplyDelete
  24. WOW! Those are beautiful--love the dimensional effects of them.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Did you have to do a tutorial on this? NOW I HAVE TO MAKE IT!!! lol. Seriously, thanks for the instructions I can't wait to make myself one of these cuties!!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Thanks for the download for the paper piecing. Really cute block.

    ReplyDelete
  27. I really like that block!! I want to make a variation of that in some other colours...

    ReplyDelete
  28. Sweet block...thanks for the tutorial!
    P

    ReplyDelete
  29. Happy Hop Day Ellen, I am in love with this block and I love to paper p[iece! Thank you for the links which I will check out and for the wonderful tuorial I am so glad you played!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Thank you for the download! I really like this block. Still new to paper piecing, but I think I can do it! Wonderful tutorial!

    ReplyDelete
  31. Sweet! I'm definitely going to try this one. I've never done paper piecing before, but I really want to try and I *love* your pattern!

    ReplyDelete
  32. Wow! I love your block ... the paper piecing job you've created is wonderful and I really like the replication of the flag colors ... very cool and one I might have to try too ... dang and this in only the first day! :)

    ReplyDelete
  33. What a wonderful block! I'm going to print the templates right now - I can't wait to try this one. :) blessings, marlene

    ReplyDelete
  34. Love the star block. Paper piecing is a challenge for me. But I feel like would like to try this one. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Charming star block!! Plan to make it as a special gift!

    ReplyDelete
  36. I love the star block.... thanks for sharing

    ReplyDelete
  37. Great block, thanks for the tutorial. I don't paper piece as a general rule but this looks like I could do it successfully.

    ReplyDelete
  38. Wow! That is beautiful! Thank you for the pattern! Happy 4th!

    ReplyDelete
  39. Your star block is beautiful and with the paper piecing tutorial link you gave us I think that I definitely am going to make this block. Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  40. What a great block...thanks for sharing! :o)

    ReplyDelete
  41. great star block. thanks for sharing the templates.

    ReplyDelete
  42. great star, great tute!thanx for the template.

    ReplyDelete
  43. Thanks for the tute and the pattern. Great block.

    ReplyDelete
  44. I loved the color shading you came up with for your star! I wish I could do paper piecing. It has me bamboozled but I'll eventually conquer the technique...at least I hope so!
    Happy 4th of July
    Blessings
    Gmama Jane

    ReplyDelete
  45. Thanks for the lovely pattern and tute! Your piece is gorgeous! I hope people new to paper piecing will give it a try. It seems ridiculously hard at first, but it isn't, even if a person is spatial relations challenged, like I am. Lol.

    ReplyDelete
  46. Stars and stripes and red white and blue forever. Love your star and thank you for sharing. Fourth of July Sparklers...

    ReplyDelete
  47. Great block! I love stars and love how you thought of doing the colors like the flag. I have done some paper piecing and would love to give this a try. Thanks for the links, pattern and tutorial. Have a super lizard free 4th! hehe.

    ReplyDelete
  48. Gorgeous little quilt. Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  49. Beautiful block. Thanks for sharing the tutorial. I've not done any paper piecing, but it's on my bucket list to give it a try.

    ReplyDelete
  50. Thank you so much for the pattern & tutorial. Love paper piecing!

    ReplyDelete
  51. THANKS FOR THE TUTORIAL!
    HAPPY STITCHING!

    msstitcher1214@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  52. Thanks for the wonderful tutorial!

    ReplyDelete
  53. I really enjoy paper piecing and your star is beautiful. Thank you for sharing.
    Aurea Gillis

    ReplyDelete
  54. Great block..I also think patriotic when I think of Red, White and Blue. I have this mental block when it comes to paper piecing. Your tutorial may guide me through. Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  55. Beautiful! Thanks for the pattern.

    ReplyDelete
  56. What a great block! I love the star - thanks for the tutorial.

    ReplyDelete
  57. Wow. What a beautiful looking star. Thank you very much.

    ReplyDelete
  58. You make the star look so easy this way!

    ReplyDelete
  59. This is a great looking star. Thanks for the templates and tutorial.

    ReplyDelete
  60. I love how the fabrics give the star dimension. Nice work.

    ReplyDelete
  61. What a great block. I really love the red and blue star with the white background. Thanks so much for the pattern.

    ReplyDelete
  62. Oh, I love this scrappy star! Just beautiful. Thanks so much for sharing the pattern with us.

    ReplyDelete
  63. Lovely star! Thanks for the paper pieced pattern!

    ReplyDelete
  64. Very cool block..thanks for the free pattern :)

    ReplyDelete
  65. Thanks for the paper pieced pattern. (just learnt this technique). I hope that I can get that fantastic three dimensional effect - the star just pops out.

    ReplyDelete
  66. I have never paper-pieced but your block is beautiful. Thank you for sharing it with us. Have a great 4th of July.

    ReplyDelete
  67. What a great job you've done on the block, and thanks for the tutorial and links to other paper piecing tuts. This is on my Bucket List of projects I'd like to accomplish .... some day!

    ReplyDelete
  68. Absolutely gorgeous! And wonderful tutorial!

    ReplyDelete
  69. Gorgeous star! Thank you for sharing the tutorial!!
    Hugs,
    Norma

    ReplyDelete
  70. What a beautiful block! The fabrics really make it shine.

    ReplyDelete
  71. Love to paper piece so this is on my list to do. I love it; thank you for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  72. I have always been intimidated by paper-piecing so I will have to give this a try! Thanks for the suggestions for the other sites to learn as well!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. What a clever idea-- to always try a block in the same colors to eventually put together!! I never thought of that, but it would be an easy way to make a sampler. Now, to narrow down my color choices...

      Delete
  73. Beautiful...thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  74. This is just gorgeous. Can't wait to try one!

    ReplyDelete
  75. Thank you for sharing this RWB block - I especially like the version with the different backgrounds.

    ReplyDelete
  76. Awesome block! What a wonderful idea.

    ReplyDelete
  77. Wow! I was sew excited about the tut, I printed the pattern and watched the video. And I totally got lost in that and forgot to leave a comment. Thanks for the easy to follow tut, the free pattern and the link to the video. It is awesome.

    ReplyDelete
  78. This is such a beautiful star and mini quilt. I can see this becoming a wonderful addition to my "Quilts of Valor" file. Thank you for sharing this lovely star.
    Tricia

    ReplyDelete
  79. That's a great little block and I do need to learn paper piecing. Thanks for letting us visit!

    ReplyDelete
  80. great block - thanks for the tutorial and for the fab links :)

    ReplyDelete
  81. Great job on your block. Thank you for the links too. I could always use another tutorial on paper piecing basics. :)

    Jen

    ReplyDelete
  82. Thank you! What a great block!

    You know what I'm seeing? A BORDER. :thinking:

    ReplyDelete
  83. its beautiful, July 4th is over but I think we should keep it up. I bought my first Big Flag this year and made a fence one too. Great Block.

    ReplyDelete
  84. Lovely paper pieced star block Ellen. Thanks for sharing in the blog hop. I'm a late starter with the blog hop but will eventually get through the back log of my blog reading...have a great week!!

    ReplyDelete
  85. May I link to your tutorial and template here for my month as queen bee in the Stash Bee?

    ReplyDelete
  86. Of course! Let me know if I can help in any way.

    ReplyDelete
  87. the star block is so cute and different. I'm going to try it. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  88. look at here now click resources click this over here now view you can look here Check This Out

    ReplyDelete