Carpenter’s Star Quilt Block our Carpenter’s Wheel

Quilt For Lovers bringing more news to you! Today’s pattern is the Carpenter star quilt block and it can be configured in many ways, incredible! Traditionally, a combination of diamond shapes and squares is used to assemble this popular patchwork design. This version explains how to sew the block using easier methods.

Sometimes the carpenter’s Star quilt blocks are known by other names – the most common is the “Carpenter’s Wheel” and these variations in the names of the duvet blocks usually occur due to the positioning of the color and contrast.

Carpenter’s Star quilt blocks can be sewn in an orderly arrangement of fabrics or with fabrics chosen at random to create patchwork quilts, feel free!

This carpenter’s star pattern finishes at 16 “x 16”, a good size for tapestries, bed covers or even a cushion cover. It is simply AMAZING, it will be great for any part of the house!

Choice Fabrics for Carpenter’s Star Quilt:

Individual units in the quilt block finish at 2″ square, and that means large prints that look very different from one area of the fabric to another aren’t (usually) as suitable as tone on tone fabrics and smaller prints. You can mix it up to add visual texture to the finished block, but keep scale in mind when you choose quilting fabrics.

IMPORTANT: Download a blank coloring book drawing of the quilt block if you would like to sew the quilt block with more fabrics than this example. Mark your own color choices on the drawing, but read through the pattern a few times before you begin so that you understand how to replace fabrics in different areas of the block.

Block cutting:

The cutting instructions for this quilt block are a bit complicated, as you can use more fabrics and choose a different color arrangement for your block (s); but you can use the example above as a guide to cut and (in addition to the background) treat each area of ​​the block as a different section for easy understanding.

ATTENTION: If you have never made quilts before, start by reading basic articles to establish some basic knowledge about quilting patterns, cutting and color selection:

1. How to cut rotating strips of fabric from Selvage to Selvage.
2. How to cut out patchwork shapes.
3. How to print Quilt patterns.
4. The differences between warm and cold colors.

Very Dark Fabric

• Shown as black.

Hot Dark Fabric

• Shown as red.

Lighter Print Fabric

• Shown as paisley.

Light Background

• Shown as an ivory print.

REMINDER: Remember that you can turn contrast around entirely. Sew a very dark background and turn the star shapes into contrasting colors.

About Half Square Triangle Units (HST):

• Seasoned quilters often choose to sew HSTs with the “textbook” size of patches. It’s a good idea to always increase patch size when making the units because when the units are made with exact sizes they’re sometimes too small (and can be a bit skewed). It’s worth the extra time it takes to sew the units a bit oversize and then trim them back to the exact size after assembly.
• Add an extra 1/4″ or so to the dimensions given for all HST units—a personal preference.
• HST cutting for this quilt block pattern reflects one easy way to make the patchwork. Alter cutting in any way you like as long as the units finish at 2″ x 2″ (measure 2-1/2″ x 2-1/2″ after assembly).
• If you choose to sew with just a few fabrics try the Magic 8 Half Square Triangle method to create groups of eight identical HST units at the same time.

1. Begin Making the Block:

The center of the Carpenter’s Star Quilt Block is a pinwheel surrounded by a frame that has ‘arms’ stretching outward. Diamond shapes emerge when you sew the frame to the inner pinwheel. The first step is selecting your fabric. Reference the guidelines below when selecting:

Background Fabric:

• (4) 2-7/8″ x 2-7/8″ squares for HST units (or choose a larger size and stick with it throughout the pattern)
• (4) 2-1/2″ x 2-1/2″ squares

Hot Dark Fabric:

• (4) 2-7/8″ x 2-7/8″ squares for HST units (or increased size)

Lighter Print Fabric (the paisley is illustrated in yellow-gold)

• (4) 2-7/8″ x 2-7/8″ squares for HST units (or increased size) 

The quilt block could be sewn by assembling eight rows with eight units each, and then joining the rows. But long, narrow rows often stretch out of shape. You can minimize stretch by assembling the patchwork in chunks.

In this example, the arms surrounding the inner pinwheel are the same fabric type as the darker fabrics where they connect. You can improve accuracy by pressing to set seams before pressing a seam allowance to one side.

Assembly Directions:

1. Draw a diagonal line from one corner to the opposite corner on the reverse side of each 2-7/8″ background square and two of the lighter print squares of the same size.
2. Pair two of the marked background squares with two hot dark fabric squares, right sides together and all edges matched.
3. Pair the remaining two marked background squares in the same way with the two unmarked light fabric squares.
4. Pair the remaining light squares with the hot dark squares.
5. If necessary, search for instructions in the quick tutorial of the square and patched half-square unit to sew each pair 1/4 “on each side of the marked line. Use chain shipping to speed up assembly.
6. When finished, carefully trim the rear units to exactly 2 to 1/2 square inches if you sew with oversize patches.
7. Test the quarter inch seam allowance before sewing the remaining scraps.
8. Arrange the four units of warm / dark / light printing on two lines, as shown in Figure 1. Sew the units on each line together. Press the sewing allowances on the adjacent lines in opposite directions.
9. Join the lines and press. The pinwheel you just made should measure 4-1 / 2 “x 4-1 / 2”. Use straight pins to combine and protect the flaps throughout the assembly process.
10. Arrange the remaining HST units around the pinwheel center as shown in Figure 2. Sew the components of each row together.
11. Press the middle (wider) row’s seam allowances toward the center. Press the top and bottom seam allowances away from the center.
12. Join the rows and press, Figure 3. The partial block should measure 8-1/2″ x 8-1/2″.

2. Finish Sewing the Block:

To complete your block, it’s time to cut the remaining fabric. Cut pieces outlined in the dimensions below: 

Background Fabric:

• (12) 2-7/8″ x 2-7/8″ squares for HST units (or size determined previously if trimming back).
• (12) 2-1/2″ x 2-1/2″ squares
• You could replace the smaller squares with (4) 2-1/2″ x 4-1/2″ rectangles and (8) 2-1/2″ x 2-1/2″ squares, but keeping all units in the block the same basic (square) shape is one way to balance the shapes for quilting.

Hot Dark Fabric:

• (8) 2-7/8″ x 2-7/8″ squares (or another matching size for HSTs)

Lighter Print Fabric:

• (8) 2-7/8″ x 2-7/8″ squares (or another matching size for HSTs)

Very Dark Fabric

• (4) 2-7/8″ x 2-7/8″ squares (or another matching size for HSTs)
• (4) 2-1/2″ x 2-1/2″ squares

Sew the Remaining Half Square Triangle Units:

1. Draw a diagonal line on the reverse side of each background square reserved for HST units (just as you did for previous units).
2. Draw a diagonal line on the reverse side of four of the hot dark squares reserved for HST units.
3. Use the same quick piecing technique to pair eight HST background squares with the same number of light print fabric HST squares.
4. When sewn and cut apart you should have (16) 2-1/2″ x 2-1/2″ background/light print HST units. Trim back if necessary.
5. Pair four marked background HST squares with four unmarked dark hot squares to create eight HST units of the same size.
6. Pair four marked hot dark HST squares with the same number of very dark squares to create eight HST units.

Finish Assembling the Carpenter’s Star Quilt Block:

1. Gather four background/light print HST units, two background/hot dark HST units, and two hot dark/very dark HST units.
2. Arrange the units into two rows as shown at the top of Figure 4.
3. Check angles carefully and then sew the patchwork in each row together.
4. Press the seam allowances in the bottom row away from the center. Press the allowances in the top row towards the center.
5. Join the two rows. Press new seam allowance towards the top row.
6. Repeat to make three more identical sections of the quilt block.
7. Sew one of the new sections to the top of the block and another to the bottom of the block as shown, Figure 4 right. One section must be flipped around.
8. Press seam allowances towards the center of the quilt block.
9. Gather three 2-1/2″ x 2-1/2″ background squares and one 2-1/2″ very dark square of the same size.
10. Refer to Figure 5, top left. Sew two background squares side by side to create a row (this is where a 2-1/2″ x 4-1/2″ rectangle could be substituted).
11. Sew the remaining two squares side by side.
12. Arrange as shown and press seam allowances in adjoining rows in opposite directions (bottom row towards very dark is best).
13. Join the rows and press seams toward the row with the dark square.
14. Repeat to make three more identical units.
15. Arrange the corner units you just made with the two remaining units from Figure 4, placing them on opposite sides of the partial block as shown (one of the Figure 4 units is shown expanded, but is sewn together by now).
16. Sew patchwork in each vertical column together. Press new seam allowances in towards the center.
17. Join the vertical sides to the middle of the quilt, carefully matching all seam intersections.
18. Press the quilt block. It should measure 16-1/2″ x 16-1/2″. 

See too: Morning Star Block