How to Make Stunning Hunter's Star Quilt

The photo above © Quilting +

The Hunter's Star quilt, with its intricate design and captivating secondary patterns like the distinctive arrow block, often appears a daunting project for many quilters. But what if there was a way to achieve this stunning look with a simplified approach? Jenny Doan from the Missouri Star Quilt Company (MSQC) brings us an exciting tutorial demonstrating a super easy method to create your very own Hunter's Star quilt. By breaking it down into manageable four-patches and star blocks, this seemingly complex design becomes accessible to all skill levels. Let's dive into this step-by-step guide and unlock the secrets to making your own beautiful Hunter's Star quilt.

What You'll Need: Gathering Your Supplies

To embark on this quilting adventure, you'll need a few key materials. Jenny recommends the following:

• One packet of 10-inch squares of print fabric: For her quilt, Jenny used "Tucker Prairie" by One Canoe Two for Moda Fabrics, a beautiful line that adds charm and character.
• 42 ten-inch squares of background fabric: This will provide the necessary contrast to make your stars pop.

A fantastic feature of pre-cuts like layer cakes (10-inch squares) is their versatility. While this tutorial uses a layer cake, Jenny points out that you'll be cutting these down into 5-inch squares – the size of a charm pack. So, if you happen to have four charm packs of your print fabric, those will work perfectly too!

Getting Started: Cutting Your Fabric

Precision in cutting is key to a successful quilt. Here’s how to prepare your fabric squares:

1. Sub-cutting the Layer Cake: Take each of your 10-inch print and background squares and carefully cut them into four 5-inch squares.
   • Center your 10-inch square on your cutting mat.
   • Make your first cut at the 5-inch mark.
   • Rotate the fabric and make another 5-inch cut, yielding four 5-inch squares from each 10-inch square.
   • Repeat this process for all your print and background 10-inch squares.

Block by Block: Constructing Your Quilt

This Hunter's Star quilt is built from two main types of blocks: the simple four-patch and a clever star block made from half-square triangles.

1. Crafting the Four-Patch Blocks (Make 28)

The four-patch is a fundamental quilting block and the easiest part of this quilt.

• Assembly: A four-patch is created using two print (darker) 5-inch squares and two background (lighter) 5-inch squares.
  1. Pair one print square with one background square, right sides together. Sew along one edge with a quarter-inch seam allowance. Repeat to create a second identical pair.
  2. Press your seams towards the darker fabric. This helps your seams nest nicely later.
  3. Now, take your two sewn units. Ensure the colors are on opposite sides when you place them right sides together, nesting the center seam. One unit will have the print fabric on top and background on the bottom, and the other will have background on top and print on the bottom when you align the seam.
  4. Sew along the joined edge with a quarter-inch seam allowance. Jenny advises taking a few anchoring stitches at the beginning and then checking that the middle seams are perfectly lined up, feeling with your finger to ensure there's no gap.
  5. Press this final seam open. Jenny likes to press from the top first to ensure there are no folds, which can alter the block's size, then flips it over to make the seams go the way she wants.
• You will need to make a total of 28 four-patch blocks.

2. Creating the Star Blocks (Two Variations)

These star blocks might look intricate, but Jenny's method simplifies their construction significantly using half-square triangles (HSTs).

• Making Half-Square Triangles (HSTs):
  1. Take one 5-inch print square and one 5-inch background square. Place them right sides together.
  2. Sew a quarter-inch seam all the way around the perimeter of the layered squares.
  3. Once sewn, cut the square diagonally in both directions (corner to corner), creating an 'X'. This will yield four HST units.
  4. Press each HST open, typically pressing the seam towards the darker fabric. Jenny suggests laying them with the dark fabric on top and then rolling them back.
• Trimming the HSTs: This is a crucial step for accuracy. Each HST unit needs to be trimmed down to 2 ¾ inches.
  • Use a quilting ruler that has clear markings. Jenny emphasizes finding a ruler that "makes sense to your eyes" to avoid struggling with lines.
  • When squaring up, align the diagonal seam of your HST with the corresponding diagonal line on your ruler. Ensure you are trimming to the 2 ¾-inch mark. Trim two sides, rotate the HST, and trim the remaining two sides.
  • Repeat for all your HSTs. Squaring them up ensures your blocks will come together perfectly.

• Assembling the Star Block Units: Each quarter of the star block is made from four HSTs. You'll be making these small units and then rotating them to form the full star.
  • Star Block Variation 1 (Make 12 full stars):
    1. For this version, you'll arrange four trimmed HSTs to create a specific pattern. Pay close attention to Jenny's demonstration or the provided diagram in the video. Generally, for the first type of star unit, two HSTs will have the print fabric pointing up and to the right, a third will also point to the right, and the fourth will point downwards to create a longer piece.
    2. Sew these four HSTs together like a mini four-patch: sew the top two together, then the bottom two together. Press seams. Then sew the two rows together, nesting the center seam.
    3. Once you have four of these identical units, you will arrange them by rotating each unit to form the star. Lay out the first unit. The next unit is turned 90 degrees. The third is turned another 90 degrees from the second, and the fourth is turned 90 degrees from the third. The key is that your colors should never line up directly next to each other in the center; they should always be opposite.
    4. Sew these four units together like a large four-patch to complete one star block.
    5. You will need to make 12 of these star blocks.
  • Star Block Variation 2 (Make 16 full stars): This star is crucial for creating the "arrow" effect in the Hunter's Star pattern.
    1. The construction method is the same as the first star, but the initial arrangement of the four HSTs for the small unit is different. For this variation, the color points of the HSTs will generally go to the left (as opposed to the right in the first star variation). Again, refer to the video or diagram for the precise placement. Two HSTs will have the print fabric pointing up and to the left, and another to the left, with the final one pointing down.
    2. Assemble four of these HSTs into a small unit, just as before.
    3. Create four identical small units.
    4. Rotate these four units and sew them together to form the second variation of the star block.
    5. You will need to make 16 of these star blocks.

Assembling Your Hunter's Star Quilt Top

With all your four-patch and star blocks complete, it's time to lay out and assemble your quilt top!

• Layout: The quilt is arranged in eight rows, with seven blocks in each row, making a total of 56 blocks.
  • Row 1 (Example): Starts with a Star Block (Variation 1), then a Four-Patch, then a Star Block (Variation 1), and so on.
    • Four-Patch Orientation: Pay close attention to the direction of your four-patches. In the first row, the print sections of the four-patches are generally oriented towards the upper left.
  • Row 2 (Example): Starts with a Four-Patch, then a Star Block (Variation 2), then a Four-Patch, etc.
    • Four-Patch Orientation: In this row, the four-patches will be oriented in the opposite direction to create a checkerboard effect with the four-patches in the row above. This alternating orientation is what creates the "arrow block" characteristic of the Hunter's Star.
  • Continue laying out your rows, alternating the star types and the orientation of the four-patches as demonstrated by Jenny to achieve the Hunter's Star pattern. The interplay between the two star variations and the directional four-patches is what brings the design to life.
• Sewing the Rows: Once you're happy with your layout, sew the blocks in each row together. Then, sew the rows together, carefully nesting seams for a neat finish.

Finishing Touches: Borders and Completion

A border frames your quilt beautifully and adds to its overall size.

• First Border: Add a 2 ½ inch border around the quilt top. You'll need approximately ¾ of a yard of fabric for this.
• Second Border: Add a 5-inch outer border. You'll need about a yard and a half of fabric for this.

Once your borders are attached, your Hunter's Star quilt top is complete! This method yields a quilt that is approximately 80 by 100 inches, a generous size perfect for snuggling under or displaying.

Jenny Doan's simplified approach to the Hunter's Star makes a complex-looking quilt achievable and enjoyable. By focusing on basic four-patches and cleverly constructed star blocks, you can create a masterpiece that looks like you worked tirelessly, when in reality, you followed a smart and easy method. Happy quilting!

Watch the Full Video Tutorial Here