Stitchtale

Friendship Star quilt block

Four half-square triangles spin around the centre. It's the quickest star there is, and it looks lovely scrappy.

5 steps, start to finishWatch the Friendship Star sew up, cut to press.
Sew a Friendship Star quilt

Try it in your colours · Design your own quilt with it

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.

Quilts made with the Friendship Star

Cut sizes for one Friendship Star block

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

Cutting for one 6″ finished Friendship Star block
PieceCutQty
Center squareaccent fabric2½″ × 2½″1
Background squarebackground fabric2½″ × 2½″4
Half-square trianglemain fabric2⅞″ × 2⅞″2
Half-square trianglebackground fabric2⅞″ × 2⅞″2
Cutting for one 9″ finished Friendship Star block
PieceCutQty
Center squareaccent fabric3½″ × 3½″1
Background squarebackground fabric3½″ × 3½″4
Half-square trianglemain fabric3⅞″ × 3⅞″2
Half-square trianglebackground fabric3⅞″ × 3⅞″2
Cutting for one 12″ finished Friendship Star block
PieceCutQty
Center squareaccent fabric4½″ × 4½″1
Background squarebackground fabric4½″ × 4½″4
Half-square trianglemain fabric4⅞″ × 4⅞″2
Half-square trianglebackground fabric4⅞″ × 4⅞″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 a Friendship 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 Friendship 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 Friendship Star good for a beginner?

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

What's the trick to a neat Friendship Star?

Turn every triangle square the same way before you sew the rows. Lay the block out next to the machine so you never have to guess.

Coffee and a few seams?

Start a quilt with the Friendship Star and we’ll walk you through every cut and seam.

Sew a Friendship Star quilt