Hunters Star
 

Ok, so this pattern is the ban of my existence. I will never attempt this pattern again. I thought everything was cut perfect, I had a perfect 1/4 seam, all lined up and great. Uh, then why are none of my points matching and everything is screwy?? Any suggestions on how to make this block come out right?

I would use the tutorial on here since it makes it simple with very little to no math!
http://www.quiltingboard.com/tutoria...ar-t50608.html

I've only paper pieced the Hunter's Star so no problem with the points. What pattern method are you using? There is simplified method to making this with a special ruler. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWOS9KBDJgU

We really need to see a pic to be able to help you.

I threw the pieces away! I was so frustrated with it.

I've done the same thing before! LOL. And I felt so much better after stomping a few blocks and throwing them in the trash.

Ooooh, a new technique! Gotta try it! Can you do a tute? LOL

I've done two and have a scrappy one "in progress." One thing I did was to press my seams open -- I found it made it easier to match my points. (Most of them came out perfectly!!) I used the pattern in the book "Baker's Dozen."

I forgot I have that book and bought it just for the Hunter Start pattern. It's under a pile of fabric in my sewing room. I felt proud I knew where it was at and didn't have to go searching for it. :D

If you cut the pieces in the traditional parallelogram (with two edges on the parallel slant) then you have created bias edges. Bias stretches. They can be tricky to sew together if they are not starched and/or handled carefully.

Don't be too hard on yourself; many quilters have trouble with these kinds of shapes.

Jan in VA

LOL. This made me smile!

i've always foundation pieced hunter's star blocks- with good success---
but next time---before you throw out your (mess-up) snap a picture or two for us---then we can help figure out what is going wrong and help you avoid the problem in the future..

Quilt Smart now has a fail proof Hunters Star

I haven't seen the paper pieced one--can you point me in that direction?

Starch your fabric to help keep it stable. Make sure if you use a ruler to cut the pieces, you always measure on the same side of the line. I normally do a scant 1/4" just to make sure I have wiggle room to make things fit. Whatevery you do, the 1/4" seam needs to be consistent.

http://www.quilterscache.com/images7/HuntersPPtemp.gif

Paper pieced pattern.

Same here so can't help but even paper piecing it can be a pain.

Thank you so much BellaBoo. I did one with the Rapid Fire Ruler and it came out ok but I prefer and enjoy the precision of paper piecing.

I just ordered the rapid fire template, I hope it makes it as easy as the utube shows !!!

Love the pattern but have not tackled it yet

I took the Rapid Fire Hunter's Star class and whipped out a baby quilt top in 1-1/2 hrs! Super easy and perfect. There is a video on utube. (requires a ruler - worth every penny!)

Your response makes me feek better about spending the $ for this !!

Hi, sorry for your problem. I have found that if you have a problem contact the designer and she will usually help you and find out what whet wrong.

I may attempt it again, but for now, I will stick to easier patterns until I get a better handle on points etc. :)

BellaBoo, I giggled when I read your reply. ........stomped on it.............very good.
I've never done it, but felt like it many times......

I just finished putting together my Carpenters star and had the same problem. My points are all over the place, some match, most don't. I was so careful, starched the pieces, perfect 1/4" seam, squared up each block as I went and still it is not good. Very disappointed. I feel your pain.

This is the best tutorial for making the Hunter's Star. My HS quilt made using her technique got 2nd place at the fair last year. For the points I would suggest pressing toward the dark and making sure your pieces "nestle" together. It's tedious but very rewarding.

This may come a little late--but I purchased a template for the Hunter's Star. It's a little pricey but the results are perfect points. It's called the rapid fire Hunter's Star by Deb Tucker--it came with a pattern. It was demonstrated at LQS-but the directions are pretty easy to follow.

Your money was well spent - Deb Tucker's instructions/ruler make the Hunter's Star easy and fun.

I love the Hunter Star but I did it by paper piece. Our RV guild Commom Threads did three of them for the Hospice Auction. One was dark fabric with white star, one was done in browns and one in mauves. The dark fabric one was fabulous.

Try it paper piecing it is very easy.

Look at Deb Tucker's hunters star ruler. I have made several, and they go together likes breeze! I've also taught a class using this ruler, and everyone was thrilled. Just google Deb Tucker.

I just got my rapid fire template/ruler and a book today, I cant wait to do one....

I love the pp your points come out great.

Wow and I thought the Hunter star was one of the easiest and fastest blocks to make. I made a few of them for the soldiers quilts I did this past year and didn't have any problems at all. No special technique just cut out the pieces and sewed them together.

I used Deb Tucker's rulers etc. and mine came out great. You may try her method. I love her rulers. They are simple and accurate. Good luck. Post a pic please.Don't give up.

Your points probably don't match because you didn't starch them. Don't give up just yet. Starch is your friend.

Oh, just why I haven't tried a quilt with this block. I know the bias edges would get me!!

HunterStar was my first quilt. Little did I know it was suppose ro be as difficult as I heard afterwards from many experienced quilters. I worked in sets and then blocks, 6 inch finished. It was all about pinning the points and easing any stretch from the bias cuts. i am considering doing a second as it went to gether so easily for me. Maybe I'll find the second as frustrating as everyone else.

Thanks for all the tutorials on this. I just bought the pattern. I love the block. Hopefully I'll have success with mine. :)

There is a Hunter's Star paper pieced pattern on quilterscache.com. . . it's a piece of cake!