Directions for the Lone Star Quilt Creation

Lone Star quilt designs are a favorite among quilters. They are made of different strips of color and unite to form a single eight-point star. Lone star quilts can be made to any size. Once made primarily of scrap fabrics, today they are made of strips of diagonally cut fabric which are sewn together.

1. Select eight different coordinating fabrics to make your star. The yardage required is directly related to the size of the quilt you are constructing. Use fabric that is 45 inches in width for the project.


2. Cut each one of the strips 2 1/4 inches the entire length of the fabric. For your first color material cut two strips, the next color four, and when you reach the eighth, you should have 16 strips cut.


3. Place the strips on a flat surface, laying out your fabric in accordance with your pattern. There should be eight strips in eight sections.


4. Join the strips in each section by sewing them together, dropping each strip down two inches from the previous one as you work. The sections will appear as a stairstep if done correctly.


5. Use a ruler and compass at a 45 degree angle to cut off one side of the stairsteps and make a solid line and edge of the fabric.


6. Use the 45 degree angle side to cut new strips out of the material just trimmed. These strips will also be 2 1/4 inch wide, and should be 16 inches in length. But they may vary slightly depending on the seam allowance.


7. They will contain all eight colors of your fabric when properly cut.


8. Continue this process until all your sections have been cut. Keep the strips in piles and sections separate.


9. Match the cut edges of strips of each section. Use your sewing machine to attach them together, making sure the points are aligned.


10. Perform this step until the diamond is formed.


11. Continue this procedure until eight diamonds are made, one from each section of fabric.


12. Use your ruler to measure the diamonds on the straight side. Once you have the numbers, average these together. Add an additional two inches to the average. Cut four squares this size from the background material.


13. Place two of the diamonds together and measure to the outside points. Add three inches and cut one square of background fabric to this measurement.


14. Trim this piece into four triangles on the diagonal. Join the diamonds onto the corner squares and to the side triangle pieces. Make sure all corners and edges are aligned. Sew the diamonds into the final top and add the border.


15. Attach the lone star top to the batting and backing, then quilt together.


16. Attach the binding to finish.