Is there good instructions for making a star block and not cutting off the points? The one I am making now , was using a 4" background block and putting a 2 " blue block in each corner, stitching through both sides of the center line, cut them in half diaginal and then putting another 2" blue block in the other corner and sew . I lost a lot of points in the seams.

Depends on the pattern you are looking for...

I used "thangles" when i did this quilt pattern called "milky way". i actually did 2 of them, one for a firemans raffle and one for Ronald McDonald house raffle.
it is Fat quarter friendly..

you can get them at a Quilt shop or on line at
http://www.thangles.com/

i know there are easier and better ways, but i really liked the way they turned out..i rarely do the same pattern twice, but i liked it to much.i just had too!

I find if I make mine a little larger and trim to size, I don't lose my points as much. If it says start with a square that is 3 7/8", I cut mine 4".

How about this one?

http://quiltville.com/maverickstars.shtml

Watterstide, where did you get that pattern. I like those .

I don't buy thangles and things like that because of the cost.

I really think the major thing is to keep a consistant 1/4" seam.

If you have a problem with losing your points, I was watching a Kaye Wood video. Her suggestion, (which to me would be kind of a pain) was to sew on the side where you can see your points and don't sew them off. The part which would take longer is that if there are points on both top and bottom she suggests you sew the tips on one side, turn it over and sew the seam again, so that you can watch the other points and not cut them off. It sounds like a lot of work, but if you are doing something you really want your points on you might want to take the extra time and do this. At least you would't be unsewing your points and doing them again.

If it has flying geese type sections, I will often make these hst and then sew them in two to make the flying geese.
I prefer this, but there are many ways to do them.

Good luck!
Something to think about.

You need to make sure you are using a SCANT 1/4" seam so that you are sewing just a fraction beyond your points. This allows for the space taken up by the fabric folding back from the sewn seam when you press it open.

I hope that doesn't sound too confusing.

Cost is a factor, even for me..but i had never done stars before, and i was not very confident in myself at the time!they are a couple years old.. lol


quilt pattern called "milky way"
i got it from thier website..
http://www.thangles.com/

I downloaded a cheap program that let's you print out half square triangles. You get a decent selection of sizes. Have a look--might be cheaper than thangles.

http://www.quiltpro.com/page/productMain