A friendship star is basically a 9-patch block. The first row is solid square - HST - solid square. The second row is HST - solid square - HST. And the third row is the same as the first. It is the placement of the HST that maks the star points. If you are making a 12" finished block, you would make your squares 4-1/2". If you're making it 9-1/2" unfinished, your squares will be 3-1/2". The Quilters Cache directions and picture will show you exactly how it's done.