Patchwork Stars
If you’ve never tried patchwork before, practise it on a small scale with Corinne Bradd’s decs. Or, if you love the technique,
you’ll love how they put small scraps to good use. These simple stars feature patchwork fronts and a plain cotton reverse,
which are stuffed, joined, then quilted with running stitch. They are sure to make your Christmas extra crafty!
Chic patchwork throw
Patchwork & Quilting
Despite what it looks like, this quilt is suitable for levels of stitchy skill. Quilts take real willpower to complete, not
least because of all the measuring and cutting involved. This often scares away less accomplished sewers, but it
shouldn’t. The key is to take your time, which we know is hard when you’re excited about the finished project, but
it’ll be worth it. Enjoy!
Cutting
1. Work the quilt top one large square block at a time. You will need three 15cm squares, eight
8cm by 15cm rectangles, and eight 8cm squares for each large block. Cut the fabrics according
to the diagram, paying attention to the different patterns A to J.
Stitch the blocks
2. Stitch the pieces right sides together with a 5mm seam allowance. Begin by sewing the smaller squares
to one another, pressing out the seam and stitching to a rectangle to make a 15cm square (two rectangles
sewn together will make a 15cm square).
3. Once all the pieces are assembled into squares, join them together to make a three by three block that
measures 43cm square, taking care to match up the seams as you do so.
4. Create two more blocks using the same fabrics. Change the letters of the fabric so that A becomes C, B
becomes D etc. Make up three blocks using this combination. Change the letters again to create a final
set of three blocks.
Join the blocks
5. Press all the large blocks and pin right side up onto squares of lightweight quilt wadding. Machine quilt
the blocks by sewing through both thicknesses along all seam lines. Add extra embellishment to some of
the individual pieces by quilting parallel lines, diagonals or squares over the surface.
Quilt
6. Trim the quilt wadding to the edges of the fabric. Lay out the quilted blocks in a three by three square on
a flat surface. Move and rotate the blocks until no two pieces of the same fabric touch. Pin and stitch the
blocks together to make a panel approximately 127cm square.
7. Pin the quilt top to the white cotton sheeting and cut away the excess fabric. Put this to one side as this
will be used to bind the edges of the quilt. Stitch the quilt top to the backing fabric by sewing along the
four main seams that joined the nine blocks together.
Bind
8. Cut the excess fabric into 4cm wide strips. Pin and stitch a strip to one edge of the quilt top. Tuck over to
the back of the quilt, then fold under 1cm on the raw edge and slip stitch to the backing fabric. Repeat
for the other edges, folding under the short ends of each strip at the corners as necessary to neaten.
Download Template click here
Essentials
1. Fabric, scraps
2. Toy stuffing
3. Embroidery thread
4. Buttons
5. Ribbon
Dimensions List
1. Approx. 12cm diameter
2.
3. 1cm seam allowance used throughout.
Make a hanging dec
1 Download the template above and use to cut five diamond shapes from various patterned fabrics. Sew the pieces
together on the edges along the lower halves of the diamonds, to form a star shape.
2 Press the seams to one side and pin the patchwork face down onto plain cotton. Trim the cotton to the same size
and sew together, leaving a 4cm gap on one straight edge for turning. Clip the curves of the star and turn it right
sides out. As you do this, use a blunt pencil to give it nice, crisp points.
3 Lightly fill the star with toy stuffing, fold in the raw edges of the gap and sew it closed. Use two strands of
embroidery thread to quilt the star along its seams and points with a running stitch. Sew a button to the star’s
centre. Add a ribbon loop to hang.
