Thanks to everyone for all the suggestions and ideas. I tried to sew the central star and it was just way off in terms of the template so when I went to the next step of setting in the following star, well, it was a disaster.
Apparently I can't get EQ because I'm on a mac, so I think I am back to the drafting board, literally...
The photos are giving me trouble to send but I will try to send my two previous drafts and my little off kilter central star...