Patterns, patchworks and projects
This Quilt pattern is made up of squares and half square triangles. The overall design is a large star pieced together like inlaid wood. You can grab the free pattern via this PDF file.
We have now placed the correct photo for the correct quilt link, sorry for any inconvenience.
If you’ve got a basket of long skinny fabric scraps and no idea what to do with them, string quilt blocks are your answer.
String quilting is one of the easiest and most forgiving scrap quilt techniques. It uses narrow strips of fabric sewn onto a foundation to create bold, colorful blocks that look far more complicated than they actually are.
In this step-by-step guide, you’ll learn exactly how to make string quilt blocks, what size scraps work best, how to keep them balanced, and how to turn them into a finished quilt.
A string quilt block is made by sewing fabric strips (or “strings”) onto a foundation piece of fabric or paper.
The strips are usually:
The result is a layered, textured block with diagonal or straight-line movement.
String quilts are ideal for:
They are one of the most waste-efficient quilt styles.
String quilts are forgiving because:
This makes string quilting perfect for beginners who want to build confidence without worrying about perfect matching seams.
Here’s what works beautifully:
Best strip width:
1½” to 2½”
Minimum length:
At least 6″–8″
If your strips are shorter, sew them together first to create longer “strings.”
If you only have very tiny scraps, crumb quilting may be a better option.
Optional:
• Add a center accent strip for visual structure
Cut foundation squares slightly larger than your finished block size.
Example:
For a 10″ finished block, cut foundation pieces 11″.
You’ll trim them down later.
Lay your first strip right side up, diagonally across the foundation.
This will anchor the block.
Some quilters like to use a consistent center strip for cohesion.
Place a second strip right sides together on top of the first strip.
Sew with a ¼” seam.
Flip open and press.
Keep adding strips to one side until you reach the edge of the foundation.
Then flip the block and fill the opposite side.
Press regularly to prevent bulk.
Once the foundation is fully covered:
Flip block foundation side up.
Trim to your exact unfinished size.
If your finished block is 10″, trim to 10½”.
This squaring step is important.
String quilt blocks are surprisingly versatile.
Try:
Rotating blocks creates secondary patterns automatically.
For 10″ finished blocks:
Baby Quilt (40″ x 50″) – 20 blocks
Lap Quilt (50″ x 60″) – 30 blocks
Throw Quilt (60″ x 70″) – 42 blocks
Twin Quilt (70″ x 90″) – 63 blocks
Adjust based on sashing and borders.
Scrap quilts need balance.
Use one or more of these tricks:
Structure keeps string quilts from feeling messy.
Foundation fabric prevents stretching — don’t skip it.
Fabric foundation:
• Stays in quilt
• Adds stability
• Faster
Paper foundation:
• Removed after sewing
• Lighter finished quilt
• Slightly more work
Most beginners prefer fabric foundation.
They’re repetitive in a relaxing way.
You can:
And somehow, those random strips always look intentional once trimmed into a square.
If your scrap basket is overflowing with strips, a string quilt block is one of the smartest ways to use them.
It’s forgiving.
It’s flexible.
And it turns leftover fabric into something bold and cohesive.
You don’t need perfectly matched prints.
You just need a consistent block size and a little trimming discipline.
The rest is just stitching.
That’s beautiful but that picture is not the same pattern – it’s not made of half square triangles. The pattern is but the picture is different from the pattern.
That’s beautiful. Thanks for sharing! Just when I think I’m tired of making star quilts…
That’s really anazing with your shading. Very 3D. It does not seem to be the same pattern though as the link. Your amazing shaded one has the points in two shades. Please can you tell me how to calculate to do that, or share the pattern. Thank you.
I’m just loving Jinny Beyer shaded fabrics now and they would be perfect for this.
Beautiful. What size are the white colored squares, how big. Is it in the pattern part?
It is incredibly frustrating that the pattern in the link does not match the picture, and very sad that this has not been acknowledged and/or rectified since it was highlighted over 6 months ago.
Vicky, you may want to check the link again as it is accurate.
Hi Shellie, I have tried again, and the pdf that I get, whilst it is for a carpenters star, does not show how to achieve the effect in the quilt in the picture, which looks as though it is created in a way that does not use half square triangles.
I agree the picture is not made with half square triangles. It is an equilateral triangle. Does anyone have the pattern for the picture? The half square pdf is very similar but it is not the same.
I would SO love to have a pattern to do this shaded rainbow carpenter star quilt! I don’t quite see how to achieve that with the pattern I printed from the pdf. Could you please help me with this soon?
I was emailed and asked about this pattern … the link shared above is to a free pattern on my website and is not constructed like this quilt.
This quilt was constructed from split diamonds … not half square triangles as I made mine. A google search for carpenter Star using split diamonds came up with this link …
http://quiltingcubby.com/use-fabric-geometrics-for-your-next-carpenters-star/
It appears that the quilt is in a book by Jan Krentz according to the page at the link above.