bias star
 

Any ideas how to make the "star portion" of this 9" block without having to deal with bias?[ATTACH=CONFIG]519807[/ATTACH]

The only way to do that would be to paper piece. That is a 60* triangle so there's no way to cut without at least two edges being bias.

that's a triangle in a square block. You need a tri recs ruler set, not a 60 degree ruler. The set comes with instructions on cutting the pieces from strips, resulting in a square patch on the straight of grain, however, there's no way to avoid a bias seam on the triangle part.
Here's a good video:
http://www.connectingthreads.com/tut...ideo__D26.html

Eleanor Burns also has a ruler set that makes these very easy and I didn't find the bias to be a bad issue. You actually make the block a little larger and then trim it down so it is easy to trim back to straight.

A lot of people make that assumption - but the angles are different in the triangle in a square unit.

You CAN 'snowball' a block section like this, but the shape you use is more like a kite than a true square.
The graphic below, drawn for another project, may give you some ideas of how to do this.

Jan in VA

EB has this block and details on how to make it in her 25th Anniversary Still Stripping book. If she doesn't know an easier way, then there isn't any. I used a set of Tri Rec rulers.

For me - just cut accurately - mark the seam intersections - pin together - and sew - has been about the only way I've managed to sew that unit.

Thank you all. I love checking with other quilters to figure out what I am doing...I seem to have forgotten so many of the techniques I have done over the years:)

The angles in the "triangle in a square" unit are:

Side triangles: 90 degree corners, the other two angles are approximately 26.565 and 63.435 degrees.
Center triangle: The angles are approximately: 63.435, 63.435, and 52.870 degrees.