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Wonky Star Tutorial

1/4/2017

 
My sister just hit the big 3-0 and I had it on good authority that she'd love some throw pillows for her guest room as her gift. She and I tend to like the same things, and I love wonky stars, so a wonky star pillow is part of the set ; ) I'll share the finished project in a separate post, but in case you're new to "wonky," today I wanted to show you how to whip up a wonky star block that you can use for pillows, minis and quilts!
Wonky Star Tutorial {Sarah @Berry Barn Designs}
Wonky Star Tutorial {Sarah @Berry Barn Designs}
Because everyone knows you can never get enough rainbow, I chose a bunch of brights for this paired with a white on white swirly print. (l-r: Dear Stella Mini Dots, Deb Strain Fresh, Joel Dewberry Herringbone, ???, Michael Miller Kiss Dot, Lizzy House Jewels, Lizzy House Mini Pearl Bracelets, Me & My Sister Designs Good Morning)  
Wonky Star Tutorial {Sarah @Berry Barn Designs}
STEP 1 - Cut eight (8) 4.5" squares for the star points. Cut eight (8) 4.5" squares for the background of the star points. Cut one (1) 4.5" square for the center of the star. (I love my 4.5" square Olfa ruler for this task!) 
Wonky Star Tutorial {Sarah @Berry Barn Designs}
STEP 2 - Align a patterned square and a white square, right sides together (RST). Hint: On each side, whichever point you sew first will be overlapped by the second. For example, I'm sewing orange first, and then red will overlap it once sewn in Step 6. Just to keep in mind in case you have a color dominance preference : )
Wonky Star Tutorial {Sarah @Berry Barn Designs}
STEP 4 - ​Trim 1/4" beyond seam.
Wonky Star Tutorial {Sarah @Berry Barn Designs}
STEP 6 - Align second patterned square with the white square, RST. Hint: This point will overlap the first, as explained in Step 2.
Wonky Star Tutorial {Sarah @Berry Barn Designs}
STEP 8 - Trim 1/4" beyond seam.
Wonky Star Tutorial {Sarah @Berry Barn Designs}
STEP 3 - Stitch a straight line diagonally across one corner of the set. Hint: However large the resulting triangle is to the right of the stitched line is the size of the star point once pressed open. Do not begin stitching within 1/4" of the top corner, or the point will be lost in the seam allowance when the block is finished.
Wonky Star Tutorial {Sarah @Berry Barn Designs}
STEP 5 - ​Press open with iron.
Wonky Star Tutorial {Sarah @Berry Barn Designs}
STEP 7 - Stitch a straight line diagonally across the corner that is adjacent the first stitched line.​
Wonky Star Tutorial {Sarah @Berry Barn Designs}
STEP 9 - Press open with iron.

Wonky Star Tutorial {Sarah @Berry Barn Designs}
STEP 10 - Trim block to 4.5" square. Repeat Steps 2-9 for remaining three sides of the star.
Wonky Star Tutorial {Sarah @Berry Barn Designs}
STEP 11 - (a) Lay out sub-blocks. Sew sub-blocks in left column to those in middle column. Press seams.* (b) Sew sub-blocks in middle column to those in right column. Press seams. (c) Once each row is joined, sew each row together and press seams. 
*Pressing tips for nesting seams:
If you alternate the direction you press seams in each row, you can easily nest them when you pin and sew the rows together. Below, you can see how I pressed seams out for the top and bottom row, and in toward the center of the star for the middle row.
Wonky Star Tutorial {Sarah @Berry Barn Designs}
Wonky Star Tutorial {Sarah @Berry Barn Designs}
Wonky Star Tutorial {Sarah @Berry Barn Designs}
Wonky Star Tutorial {Sarah @Berry Barn Designs}
For very accurate matching points when you open and press the block, slide the pin between the nested seams through just the top and bottom fabric. It will feel easy to slide the pin in if you're in the right spot because it will only be going through two layers of fabric and not four. Then while you're stitching, wait to remove it until you've caught the four layers *just* before the pin to secure the alignment.
Wonky Star Tutorial {Sarah @Berry Barn Designs}
Voila! You're done! 

​
This wonky star is destined for a pillow, but it's also the perfect size
for the center of my new Starbright Baby Quilt pattern, which I'm
releasing for free to newsletter subscribers later this week.
Get the free pattern by signing up for my monthly newsletter right here. ​
And if you make a wonky star block, tag me on Facebook or Instagram so I can see it!

​Happy sewing!
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P.S. Are you loving the embroidery craze that's underway? Pop over to IG before January 7th and enter to win a signed copy of Nichole Vogelsinger's gorgeous new book Boho Embroidery: Modern Projects from Traditional Stitches!

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Linking up with Let's Bee Social & Oh, Scrap!
Joyce M link
1/4/2017 14:07:06

Love your bright and cheerful colors. I'm looking forward to your year of projects!

Vera
1/4/2017 14:39:22

Oh lovely! I never made wonky star and I have them on my list somewhere, lol. Thanks for sharing your tut. This rainbow version is just yummy.

Cynthia Brunz link
1/4/2017 14:43:50

Great tutorial! Thanks for sharing with Oh Scrap!

Teje Karjalainen link
1/4/2017 14:59:07

Hi Sarah! Your stars are bautiful and the tutorial very good! I use often triangle scraps to save fabric. Happy to find lots of exciting things in your blog! I'll go to read more. x Teje

Jen Rosin link
1/4/2017 15:43:59

What a lovely, bright star! I just might have to make a wonky star mini with some of my scraps for my sewing room wall. Thanks for the tutorial!

Anja @ Anja Quilts link
1/4/2017 19:49:45

Interesting...I have never seen a wonky star made like that. Thanks for sharing.

Jamie
1/6/2017 04:42:08

Beautifully done Sarah

Kate link
1/7/2017 08:31:27

Love the rainbow colors. Thanks for a very useful tutorial.

Leanne Parsons link
1/7/2017 17:45:28

Great tutorial, Sarah! I'm all signed up for your newsletter :) Thanks for the free pattern!


Comments are closed.
    Sarah Nunes @BerryBarnDesigns
    Welcome! I'm Sarah. As a milmompreneur maker, wherever I go, I quilt, teach & sew! ​{Bio}  
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