I want to make a Carpenter Star quilt that is retangular rather than square. Can anyone suggest a pattern or show me a picture or explain how they adapted the shape of the quilt from square to retangle for an to a pillow tuck.

For something like that, I would leave the star as a square, and just add extra borders to the top and bottom, so that the star would be flat on the bed. So the quilt itself would be rectangular, but the star still square. You could add as many borders in what ever size you like, to make it as long as you need it.

I agree.

that is what I am doing for my sons quilt. you can also increase the size of the carpenters star and then add thin boarders on the side and thicker ones at the top. or just add them to the top and bottom. You could also get another block that looks good with it and add it to the top and bottom. this will add interest. or even do smaller carpenter star blocks on the top and bottom. just play with it after you make the center one. that is what I have had to do. the answer will hit you like a brick when you get it the way you like.

is this to be a lap quilt or a long wall hanging?

I found this one at Quilters Cache. It's called "Carpenters Wheel (Easy)". You can find a link to the picture on page 2 of the pattern. Maybe it is square , and just photographs as rectangle, but I bet you could figure out what to do looking at the picture and possibly graphing it out.


http://www.quilterscache.com/images12/kayesCW.jpg

Star patterns are generally square because the points of the star should be equal. Add borders to finish the block size
you need for your quilt block.

I agree, I would just add more borders to the top and bottom.

I am not sure I understand what you mean by pillow tuck?

Had you thought of making the stretched star instead? You would need to add extra to top and bottom, but the star is elongated.

Had you thought of making the stretched star instead? You would need to add extra to top and bottom, but the star itself is elongated.

I am guessing she means when she puts the quilt on the bed, there is extra to tuck under the pillows and then up over them.

I just saw one the other day, I think they took a section of the star, and broke it up for the corners to make it into a rectangle. I think it was either in the Connecting Threads or Keepsake Quilting catalog. If I find it I will post which one.

I just went to check the photo in the link mentioned here and it is a square (I counted the 1/2 square triangles on the borders and there are 21) but I have seen one where borders were added to top and bottom to make it rectangle for a bed.

A square star pattern can be used and still get a pillow tuck.
Just another row(s) of stars.

Thank you all so much for the ideas. I am going to draft a couple of them to see how it would look on paper before cutting my fabric.