Stitchtale

Aunt Eliza's Star quilt block

The Ohio Star's cousin, with a plain centre and points that seem to float.

4 steps, start to finishWatch the Aunt Eliza's Star sew up, cut to press.

Try it in your colours

Tap a colourway, or pick each fabric. The film at the top changes too.

Colourways

Or pick each fabric

Love it? Find real fabric in these colours at the fabric shop.

Cut sizes for one Aunt Eliza's Star block

Pick the finished size. Every cut includes the ¼″ seam allowance.

Cutting for one 6″ finished Aunt Eliza's Star block
PieceCutQty
Background squarebackground fabric2½″ × 2½″5
Quarter-square trianglebackground fabric3¼″ × 3¼″2
Quarter-square trianglemain fabric3¼″ × 3¼″2
Cutting for one 9″ finished Aunt Eliza's Star block
PieceCutQty
Background squarebackground fabric3½″ × 3½″5
Quarter-square trianglebackground fabric4¼″ × 4¼″2
Quarter-square trianglemain fabric4¼″ × 4¼″2
Cutting for one 12″ finished Aunt Eliza's Star block
PieceCutQty
Background squarebackground fabric4½″ × 4½″5
Quarter-square trianglebackground fabric5¼″ × 5¼″2
Quarter-square trianglemain fabric5¼″ × 5¼″2

In the film the triangle squares start a little big and get trimmed to size, which is the easy way to sharp points. The chart gives the exact cut if you’d rather skip the trim.

Good to know

What size should I make an Aunt Eliza's Star block?

Any size that suits your quilt. 12″ is the easiest to sew, and 9″ or 6″ look lovely in a busy, scrappy quilt. It sits on a 3 by 3 grid, so a finished size that divides by 3 gives you friendly cutting numbers. The cut sizes for all three are on this page.

How many Aunt Eliza's Star blocks do I need for a quilt?

At 12″ you need 9 blocks for a wall quilt, 12 for a baby quilt, 30 for a throw, 48 for a twin quilt and 72 for a queen quilt. Sashing or a border between them means fewer blocks for the same size.

Is the Aunt Eliza's Star good for a beginner?

Yes, if you take it slowly. The one new skill is the quarter-square triangles, and the film at the top shows every cut, seam and press.

What's the trick to a neat Aunt Eliza's Star?

Pick a background with plenty of contrast to the star. The whole block is about those eight points.