Make a Hunter's Star Quilt Block with Accuquilt Go!

The Hunter's Star Quilt is a very pretty quilt made with a light and dark fabric combination.  This block looks complicated but is actually easy to make when using your Accuquilt Go! cutter and Hunter's Star Block die.

This tutorial will show how quick and easy it is to make a Hunter's Star Block with the Accuquilt Go! Hunter's Star Block die.  Once you have the first block, additional blocks can be added to make a Hunter's Star Quilt.

When each individual Hunter's Star block is put together next to one another, it will create Hunter's Stars in each corner.

Accuquilt has a free Hunter's Star Quilt Pattern available on their site that can be used to complete this quilt.  The link to this free pattern is available at the end of this tutorial. 

Keep reading this tutorial for a step-by-step photo tutorial with specific instructions on how to iron your seams for this block.  You can also watch our video tutorial by clicking the link to the YouTube video below.

WHAT YOU NEED to make the hunter's star block with your accuquilt go!

• Accuquilt Go! Cutter (Go! Me, Go! Big or Go! Big Electric)
• Accuquilt Go! Hunter's Star Block-on-Board Die
• Dark Fabric
• Light Fabric
• Neutral or White Thread
• Sewing Machine with 1/4" foot attached (foot is optional but it makes it easier)
• Scissors

Links to purchase the Accuquilt Go! and the Hunter's Star Block die are at the end of this tutorial.

INSTRUCTIONS To make the Hunter's Star block with Accuquilt Go! 

STEP 1: Select Fabrics

For our Hunter's Star Quilt, we selected some fabrics from the new holiday lines of fabric.  The blue fabric is Sparkle Suede Metallic Sprigs in Navy by P&B Textiles.   This is a beautiful navy fabric with small metallic branches printed on it.  This will make a special Hunter's Star quilt!

The white fabric is from QT Fabrics Basics Quilting Illusions Curly Cue Blender.  This fabric has small curls printed which blend with the fabric.  This allows the navy metallic fabric to shine.

For the backing, we selected a fabric named Perch Metallic Pine Branches by Hoffman Fabrics.  This fabric is also a dark blue and printed with metallic branches.  We will be sharing another video with the completed quilt soon!

For links to purchase these fabrics, please look at the end of this tutorial.

To calculate the yardage you will need for your quilt, refer to Accuquilt's Fabric Reference Chart.  Search for Hunter's Star in the document.

STEP 1: Cut Fabrics with Hunter's Star Block-on-board Accquilt die

The Hunter's Star Block is created from four 6.5" blocks.  Those 6.5" blocks are then assembled into the final finished 12.5" block (12" finished). 

A Hunter's Star Quilt pattern is made by assembling the 12.5" blocks together.

To make one 12.5" block with the Hunter's Star Block-on-Board die, you will need to put each fabric through the cutter once with four layers.  So, for each block, that is only two passes through the cutter to cut all pieces needed.

One pass through with the blue fabric and one with the white fabric.  Each pass will have 4 layers.

The really nice thing about the Hunter's Star die is that it cuts off all of the dog ears from the pieces for you.  So, there is no need to trim small points of fabrics off of each piece after assembly!

Cut your fabrics into 10.5" strips.  The selvage of the fabric should align with the long side of the die.  Each strip can make more than one block but these instructions are for making one block.

Take your fabric with the selvages running along the long side of the die.  Fold it over so you have four layers.

Place the cutting mat on top of the fabric and send the die through the Accquilt Go! Cutter.  Watch our full video tutorial (link above) to see how to use the cutter.

Carefully slide the mat off the top of the fabric.  This will help keep the fabric from sticking to the back of the mat with static electricity.

Below is a photo of the white pieces for the block cut.

Cut the blue fabric the same way.

When making a full Hunter's Star quilt, many pieces will be needed.  Calculate how many passes through the cutter by taking the Number of Blocks * 2 = passes through for each fabric.  

Remember, the Accuquilt Go! can cut up to six layers of quilters cotton in one pass.  So, when making many blocks, fold the fabric to have six layers before sending it through the cutter.  This will save you time.

We have cut the fabrics needed for our quilt below.

STEP 2: HUnter's Star Block Assembly

To make the full Hunter's Star block, begin by assembling the four 6.5" blocks.  The 6.5" block assembly is shown below.

The block is assembled by sewing together the two middle strips first.  Then the triangle is added to each strip.  The two sections are then sewn together to complete the 6.5" block.

All seams on this block are 1/4" seam allowance.  If you have a 1/4" foot for your machine, it's recommended to use this foot to ensure you have a consistent 1/4" seam throughout.

Thread the machine with a neutral color thread, white or cream.  This will ensure the thread does not peak through on the finished quilt in the white sections.  Set your stitch length at the default setting.

STEP 3: Sew together diamonds and trapezoid pieces

Take the first three pieces, a white trapezoid and two blue diamonds, and sew them together. The photo below shows the pieces to sew first.

Flip the blue diamonds over so the right sides are together and align the edges. If there are any points sticking up along the top past the white fabric, turn the diamond around as it's in the wrong orientation.

When the diamond is aligned properly, the edges match up exactly with the edges on the white fabric.

Sew the seam on the right side of the trapezoid.  Use the chain piecing method demonstrated in the video to speed up the assembly of the blocks.

Next, sew the blue diamond onto the left side of the white trapezoid.  Be sure the edges align properly.  Flip the diamond around if they do not align.

For the one 12" block, there will be four white trapezoid/blue triangle sections.

Sew the blue trapezoid and white diamond pieces together in the same way.  Once complete, there will be four of these sections also. 

STEP 4: IRON Trapezoid sections

Ironing is very important for this block.  If you iron the seams as I suggest, the seams will "lock" together as you sew the pieces to one another.  This will help you have your points lined up and a near-perfect to perfect block!  This ironing will also keep the bulk down where all of the points of the star come together.

The photos will show which way to iron each section.  But the rule is to always iron towards the dark fabric.

Take the trapezoid section with white in the center and iron the seams towards the navy fabric as shown in the photo below.

Below, the ironed piece is shown with the right side facing up.

The trapezoid pieces with the navy in the center will be ironed in the opposite direction, towards the navy fabric.

Below is the section with the navy fabric in the center shown with the right side facing up.

Iron all of the trapezoid sections.  Be sure to press them all nicely as this will help with the assembly as we move along.

STEP 5: Add on Triangles

Next, take the triangle pieces and sew them to each trapezoid section along the top edge.  This is the shorter of the two longer sides.  The fabric triangle color will match the center trapezoid piece on the section.

Place the pieces right sides together matching the raw edges.  Sew the 1/4" seam.  When finished the sections will look as below.

See the next step for pressing instructions.

STEP 6: Pressing Triangles

As in the previous step, press the seams towards the dark fabric.  So, the white triangle will be pressed towards the white trapezoid section.

The section with the navy triangle will be pressed towards the navy triangle.

Notice that the sections are pressed in the opposite directions.

Below are the finished sections after ironing.

STEP 7: Sew assembled triangle sections together

Next, sew the two triangle sections together along the edges with the trapezoid piece.  The photo below shows how the pieces are placed together.

If the seams were ironed in the directions recommended, when the two sections are placed together, they will interlock a bit at the seams.  This helps keep the seams aligned properly and the points matching up.

Sew the pieces together with a 1/4" seam allowance.

I do not have pins in the photo, but you can pin your sections together to be sure they don't slip when sewing the pieces.

STEP 8: Iron last seam on 6.5" block

Iron the last seam in the direction of the navy triangle. Notice that all three seams across the block are ironed in the same direction.

The finished 6.5" section is shown below.  Four of these sections are used to finish the block.

STEP 9: sew 6.5" blocks together

Lay the four blocks on a table or work surface as with the Hunter's Star in the center of the block.  The large triangles face towards the center of each side of the block.

Take careful note that your Hunter's Star in the center is alternating colors between light and dark all the way around.  If it's not correct, simply rotate the piece around halfway (180 degrees).  This should fix the problem.

Also, check that the large triangle sections along the sides are also alternating colors.  If two large triangles next to one another are the same color, then one of the pieces is not rotated in the correct direction.

VERY IMPORTANT TIP FOR YOUR FINAL QUILT! When creating these 12" blocks, make sure you are sewing the 6.5" blocks together in the exact same orientation.  If you are not consistent, when you try to put the 12" blocks together they will not alternate colors properly.  

So, in the photo above, by my finger, the large blue triangle is on the left and the white on the right.  Be sure to sew together all 6.5" blocks the same way with the blue on the left.  If you sew some with the blue on the right, they will appear to work but then when you try to put those blocks into the final quilt, the colors in the corners will not alternate properly.

Once you have them in the correct layout, flip the right side block on top of the left block.  Sew the seam on the right side.  Before sewing the seam, be sure the seams are interlocking together at the corners and the diamond edge.  Pin to hold in place and sew a 1/4" seam allowance.

Press this seam towards the navy fabric triangle as shown below.  

Sew the other two sections together in the same way.  Take care to match the seams up and press the seam towards the navy triangle.

STEP 9: Sew the last seam of the 12.5" block

The block sections should look like the photo below.  Please note that this photo is not showing how you sew them together.

The photo below is showing the back of the two sections.  They are now oriented correctly and the last seam to be sewn is in the center.

Note that the two seams at the center are ironed in opposite directions.  This helps the block fit together and not be too bulky at the end.

Place the two sections with right sides together.  The seams will interlock again and pin to be sure the seams do not slip as they are being sewn together.  

Sew with the 1/4" seam allowance.  This seam can be pressed in either direction since the block is now uniform all the way around.  There is no one specific way to iron this last seam.

UPDATE: After I created this tutorial, I learned the technique of "swirling the seams" which helps to reduce the bulk in the center of the block.  So, instead of pressing the last seam to one side, I now recommend that you "swirl" the seams as I describe in the Louisiana Block video.  If you would prefer a photo tutorial, read Step 8 in the Louisiana Block Tutorial.

Below shows the finished block from the back with the seam ironed to one side.

Below is the finished Hunter's Star block from the top.

Tips on Assembling a hunter's star quilt

Make all of the 12.5" blocks needed for your Hunter's Star Quilt pattern.  We made 20 blocks for our quilt since we were making a lap-sized quilt with a border.  The pattern from Accuquilt is a larger finished quilt size so depending on the size quilt to be made, you will need more/less blocks.

Lay the blocks out on the floor or design wall.  At this point, if all of your blocks are assembled correctly, then each can be placed together in any direction as each corner forms a Hunter's Star.

In order to ease in assembly of the final quilt and to continue having the interlocking seams, place the blocks across the row with the final seam in the same direction.  Then turn each alternate block around halfway so that the center seams on the blocks are ironed in the opposite directions. 

This is similar to how you assembled the last seams of each individual block. 

We hope you enjoyed learning this easy way to make a Hunter's Star Block.

If you would like to make a Hunter's Star Quilt click to see our tutorial. We also have a Hunter's Star Table Runner pattern!  Click to see the tutorial.

Happy Quilting!

Below are some other Accuquilt tutorials you may be interested in.

• Accuquilt Go! Big Demo with Pros & Cons
• What is the most Versatile Accuquilt Die?

Other Accuquilt Go! Quilt Block Tutorials:

• Accuquilt Go! Propeller Quilt Block Tutorial - This block can be made with any Go! Qube.
• Accuquilt Double Four Patch Block - Can be made with Any Go! Qube 
• Louisiana Quilt Block Tutorial with the Accuquilt Go! Qube - Make a flying geese propeller style block with any Go! Qube.
• Crazy Quilt Block Tutorial - Use the Crazy Quilt 6" or 10" die to quickly cut and assemble crazy quilt blocks.
• Windy Pinwheel Block Tutorial - use your Accquilt Qube or traditional methods to make this block. We have instructions for both methods.
• Clay's Choice Block Tutorial - your Accquilt Qube will make the cutting and assembly of this pinwheel variation block quicker and easier!
• Learn Two Ways to Machine Applique with Accuqilt Shape Dies  

Some other quilt tutorials you may be interested in are below.

• Hunter's Star Quilt Tutorial
• I Spy Quilt Tutorial
• Pinwheel Quilt
• Sweet Bees Baby Quilt