This is my very first time posting a tute so please be patient with me. Yesterday a picture of a beautiful old quilt has posted on the board and it had a very unique block. After researching it for many hours I never did come up with that block. So I have re-created a block from looking at the one posted. I am calling my version "Candlequilter Star" until I find out differently. I am also dedicating it to anyone and everyone who has ever used candle light to quilt by. Where would we be today if all those before us had never quilted by candlelight. Probably still in the dark about quilting.

This version is the quick and easy applique technique. I will be working on the paper pieced application, but that will take me a little longer.

I am making a 15" block. So I like to start off with a square background fabric. I have cut a 16" square to use and I can always trim it down when I am finished. I just prefer to do this as it gives me a little wiggle room if I need it. I press my 16" square in half and then in half again. Then I lay it out and fold it into a triangle and press again repeating twice.

Then I am going to use 3 fabrics to make my star. My first fabric will actually be the biggest of the 3 stars. I am going to cut one strip 3" the width of the fabric. One fat quarter would also work for this.

The second fabric that I am using will be the middle star and I am going to cut a 2 1/4" strip for this. Again I am using the WOF but you can use shorter strips if you like.

The third fabric that I am using in my Candlequilter Star will be for the smallest or the center star. I only need a 1-1/4" strip of this fabric and a 22" length is more than enough.

At this point I like to cut my fusible webbing that I will be using. I am using the Wonder Under on this block. I cut 2 strips of each of the 3 measurements that I made earlier (3", 2-1/4", and the 1 -1/4") the whole length of the roll of Wonder Under. The roll is only 17" long so it is easy to work with.

After I have cut my fusible web then I take my fabric strips over to the ironing board and with the wrong side of my fabric facing up I iron my cut strips of fusible onto the fabric.

I normally press all my strips and then start cutting my pieces. I am going to start by cutting the very end of my strips with a 45 degree angle on them. Then I turn the strip and line it up with the length of point I want to make. In this case the first one would be 3". So I am actually making 3" diamonds at 45 degree angle.

Then I cut my second strip. The 2 -1/4" strip and follow the same steps. Cut the end at a 45 degree angle first then turn the strip and line up the fabric with the 2 -1/4 line and the 45 degree angle to cut these 8 diamonds.

My last strip to cut into diamonds is the 1 1-/4" strip and I am going to do the same thing. Cut the end at a 45 degree angle turn the fabric around and line up the cut end with the 1 -1/4 line and the 45 degree line.

At this point I am ready to start placing my diamond points on my 16" square fabric with the 8 lines pressed on it. But first I lay out my diamonds and make sure that I like the way the three colors will look when I put then together.

Now I take my square and lay it out flat and I start with the 3" diamonds. My first diamond needs to be placed so that it will help form a square in the upper left corner of the 16" square. I use the pressed lines to help line up my pieces before pressing them down.

After finishing the first star then I will start doing the same thing with the middle star fabric. With this fabric I use the pressed lines to help me line up the outside point and the center point. The more accurate that you can be lining up the points of your diamonds with the pressed line the better your block will look.

Now I am ready to add my final round of diamond points. This will be for the smallest or center star. On this one I line up the point of the diamond with the center valley of the previous star points.

Depending on how you want to do your block you can either applique stitch around the stars or when you quilt it you can quilt the stars down then. It is your choice.

The hardest part for me was getting the paper backing off of my points before pressing until I remembered to use a straight pin to scratch a small line and then the paper comes right off.

If anyone needs measurements for a smaller block just PM me and I will let you know.

I will be doing instructions for paper piecing too.

Thanks and I hope I wasn't to painful to follow.

Thanks,
Sherryl
Candlequilter

Thank you for taking the time to do this tutorial, it is a beautiful block, and I look forward to the paper pieced version too.

It's an absolutely beautiful block and I, too, look forward to making it.

I do have a question, though, at what stage do you sew it together?

It is all pressed down with fusible web and you can either do a machine applique stitch around it if you want, but not necessary.

Thanks,
Sherryl
Candlequilter

If it's only fused, is it washable?

This is a wonderful tutorial! Your directions are clear, easy to follow and the pictures really help as well. Thank you so very much for all your time and effort!!!

I will let you know when I have the paper pieced instructions ready. They will take me longer to do. But like so many other blocks there are several ways they can be done and this is the quick and easy way for now.

Thanks again and I am really glad that you posted the picture of the older quilt.

:D :D Sherryl

thank you great tute--well layed out waiting the paper pieced tute-----what is your favorite method for sewing down the edges

great tute cant wait for the paper pieced

Thank you so much for taking the time to do this tutorial. It's such a pretty block, I just love your colors.

Thanks for the nice tutorial.

I look forward to the paper pierced pattern too.

Thanks for the tute. It was very clear and precise.

Thank you so much for your tute. I enjoyed it. Can't wait for your paper pieced method to come up. I love all the quilters that can imagine it and do it. This is a beautiful star block.

Great tute, can't wait for the paper piece pattern. I have just started doing paper piecing and LOVE it!

Very pretty block....thanks for the tute!

Good job Sherryl! Now I want to make some, but I have at least three projects ahead of this one that I HAVE to finish first. Darn it!! :roll: :lol: :lol:

Great tute. You made it easy to understand and it looks very doable. I just have to get out and buy some Wonder Under so I can try it. Can't wait!!

Love the block and the dedication to the candlelight quilters. It sounds so romantic!
Thanks for the tut.

Thanks! My list of quilts I want to make just keeps growing.

Thank you for sharing this with us. Great tut and beautiful fabric. I would love to see the pp method also.

Thank you for the tutorial - it is very clear, and I think I won't have any trouble at all following your instructions. The pics make it even clearer. I look forward to the paper piecing tute, too.

GREAT tutorial! I thought it would be much harder than it is. Just wondering though if it would turn out the same if the inside edges were sewn together and then fused on top. That way only the outer edges would get the applique stitch.

Wow, neat! Thought this was pieced, couldn't even tell you fused it. Great job, thanks for sharing!

Thank you so much for that tutorial, you did excellent and I may have to buy some fusible tomorrow and give this a try.
If I do I will send it in.