I'm in the process of making that quilt. I cut all of my fabrics first and then started using the Thangles. I hated them. But once you've cut your fabric you pretty much have to use them or another method to make HST from rectangles instead of squares. I think overall it takes slightly less fabric to use the Thangles method since you can use fat quarters to make the quilt.

I had taken a class from Sally Schneider and she introduced us to her "Gizmo." It's a little angle tool that lets you make 2 inch HST from 2.5 inch X 3.5 inch rectangles instead of 2 7/8ths inch squares.

If you're into using Thangles you should really consider purchasing the Triangulations CD. 25$ or so for an endless amount of papers for ANY size you want forever and ever;> No rulers, no fuss, no thinking. Just the way I like it.

Isnt Orions Star an Eleanor Burns pattern?
Her method is much better than Thangles.

I could not keep the paper on my material straight enough to keep my stitching straight with Thangles and get the HST right.

I agree that even though you have to trim down, that El's method is much easier and wastes less fabric.

You can use a smaller square than her ruler suggests.
I use a 6 in square for 8- 2 1/2 in HST.
Also instead of drawing one line to sew down each side, Ive found the 1/2 in rulers that mark the stitching lines themselves helps me. My sewing has never been straight so this helps me alot.

I've looked at Eleanor Burn's Orion star quilt. It has a much different look from the Thangles one. I think the Thangles one is more dramatic.

Two different patterns, same name. The Thangles Orion star is very similar to a Hunter's Star.

They may be different quilts. The Thangles Orion Star looks like the Hunter's Star quilt. I went to Eleanor Burns site at her Orion Star looks very different. It is also very pretty. I like Eleanor Burns methods in most quilts. Thanks for the info.

Thank you. You said it much better than I did. :lol:

I may be onto something here. I did a search for Hunter's Star on the board and came up with a posting saying the book Favorite Traditional Quilts Made Easy has an easy method for making the quilt without paperpiecing. I've seen that book a million times at Joann Fabrics, but never picked it up. Any of you tried the Hunter's Star pattern from that book?