The Wandering Star Quilt Block

The wandering star quilt block is a fun twist on the windmill block and is a great skill builder for the beginner quilter. See how many contrasting color combinations you can come up with.

The wandering star quilt block uses the nine patch grid with half square triangles and even a quarter square triangle.

To complete one block for a sampler quilt:

Materials:
Fat quarter fabric in four colors
(burgundy, print, green and white)
Batting
Backing

Step 1 - Use the rotary cutting techniques.

Cut 2 patches 3 ½” square from the burgundy fabric.
Cut 2 patches 3 ½” square from the print fabric.
Cut 2 patches 3 ½” square from the green fabric.
Cut 4 patches 3 ½” square from the white fabric.

Step 2 - Use the half square triangle method.

Place one 3 ½” square of burgundy fabric and one 3 ½” square of white fabric, right sides together. Draw a line on the diagonal on the lighter fabric from one corner to the opposite corner. Stitch ¼” on each side of the marked line.

Cut on the drawn line with your rotary cutter or scissors to separate the square into triangles.

Fold open the square and press the seam allowances toward the darker fabric. Using your plastic ruler, trim the square to be 2 ½”. Be sure to use the 45 degree angle on your ruler.

You will need a total of 2 burgundy and white half square triangles measuring 2 ½”.

Step 3 - Use the half square triangle method to complete a total of 2 print and white half square triangle units.

Step 4 - Use the half square triangle method to complete a total of 2 green and white half square triangle units.

Step 5 - Use the quarter square triangle method.

A quarter square triangle is ¼ of a square. Follow the directions as you would for a half square triangle.

Place one 3 ½” square of burgundy fabric and one 3 ½” square of print fabric, right sides together. Draw a line on the diagonal of the lighter fabric from one corner to the opposite corner. Draw another line from the opposite corners creating an X. Stitch ¼” on each side of only one of the marked lines.

With your rotary cutter or scissors, cut along both of the drawn lines. Press the seam allowance toward the darker fabric. This yields 2 quarter square triangle units or one half square triangle.

Stitch 2 quarter square triangles units right sides together with the dark fabric opposite the light fabric. This creates an X and a completed quarter square triangle unit. Press the seam allowances.

Use your ruler to square up the unit to be 2 ½” square. Be sure to use your 45 degree angle on your ruler.

Step 6 - Sew row one - green/white half square triangle unit, print half square triangle unit, green half square triangle unit.

Step 7 - Sew row two - burgundy half square triangle unit, quarter square unit, burgundy half square unit.

Step 8 - Sew row three - green/white half square unit, print/white half square unit, green/white half square unit.

Step 9 - Sew the rows together to complete the wandering star quilt block.

Mastering new skills is always exciting for a beginner quilter. The wandering star quilt block is a great place to start and gets lots of fun practice.

Go to Free Quilt Block Patterns from the Wandering Star Quilt Block