Double Friendship Star Quilt Block Pattern Tutorial

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See step-by-step how to make the double friendship star quilt block. It's easy! Get fabric requirements for five sizes including 12 inch.

Double Friendship Star Quilt Block Pattern

The double friendship star is a relative of the friendship star quilt block. It looks like the second star was placed on top of the first.

In the past, friendship star quilts were often given to friends headed out to settle the Wild West of the USA. Today, if you have a truly great friend, maybe they are deserving of a double friendship star quilt.

The double friendship star quilt block is made up of

1. four plain background squares (Fabric B) in each corner
2. one center simple square and four half square triangles (HSTs) (Fabric A) make up the primary star
3. four quarter square triangles (QSTs) made from the background (Fabric B) and another fabric (Fabric C) make up the secondary star.

Double Friendship Star Block Cutting and Trimming Chart

In this tutorial the fabrics are designated as follows:

• Fabric A = primary star (white/blue print)
  
• Fabric B = background (med blue variegated)
• Fabric C = secondary star (dark blue)
  

The squares to make the HSTs and QSTs are cut oversized. Once you make the units, trim them to size.

6 Inch Finished Size Block (6 1/2 unfinished size)

• Fabric A: Cut 2 (3 1/2) inch squares (HSTs)
• Fabric B: Cut 1 (3 1/2) inch square (QSTs)
  
• Fabric C: Cut 1 (3 1/2) inch square (QSTs)
• Fabric A: Cut 1 (2 1/2) inch square (center square)
  
• Fabric B: Cut 4 (2 1/2) inch squares (corner squares)

Note: After stitching together the HST and QST units to make the double friendship star quilt block star points, trim star point units to 2 1/2 inches by centering on the 1 1/4 inch measurement line of the quilting ruler.

9 Inch Finished Size Block (9 1/2 unfinished size)

• Fabric A: Cut 2 (4 1/2) inch squares (HSTs)
• Fabric B: Cut 1 (4 1/2) inch square (QSTs)
  
• Fabric C: Cut 1 (4 1/2) inch square (QSTs)
• Fabric A: Cut 1 (3 1/2) inch square (center square)
  
• Fabric B: Cut 4 (3 1/2) inch squares (corner squares)

Note: After stitching together the HST and QST units to make the star points, trim star point units to 3 1/2 inches by centering on the 1 3/4 inch measurement line of the quilting ruler.

12 Inch Finished Size Block (12 1/2 unfinished size)

• Fabric A: Cut 2 (5 1/2) inch squares (HSTs)
• Fabric B: Cut 1 (5 1/2) inch square (QSTs)
  
• Fabric C: Cut 1 (5 1/2) inch square (QSTs)
• Fabric A: Cut 1 (4 1/2) inch square (center square)
  
• Fabric B: Cut 4 (4 1/2) inch squares (corner squares)

Note: After stitching together the HST and QST units to make the double friendship star quilt block star points, trim star point units to 4 1/2 inches by centering on the 2 1/4 inch measurement line of the quilting ruler.

15 Inch Finished Size Block (15 1/2 unfinished size)

• Fabric A: Cut 2 (6 1/2) inch squares (HSTs)
• Fabric B: Cut 1 (6 1/2) inch square (QSTs)
  
• Fabric C: Cut 1 (6 1/2) inch square (QSTs)
• Fabric A: Cut 1 (5 1/2) inch square (center square)
  
• Fabric B: Cut 4 (5 1/2) inch squares (corner squares)

Note: After stitching together the HST and QST units to make the star points, trim star point units to 5 1/2 inches by centering on the 2 3/4 inch measurement line of the quilting ruler.

18 Inch Finished Size Block (18 1/2 unfinished size)

• Fabric A: Cut 2 (7 1/2) inch squares (HSTs)
• Fabric B: Cut 1 (7 1/2) inch square (QSTs)
  
• Fabric C: Cut 1 (7 1/2) inch square (QSTs)
• Fabric A: Cut 1 (6 1/2) inch square (center square)
  
• Fabric B: Cut 4 (6 1/2) inch squares (corner squares)

Note: After stitching together the HST and QST units to make the star points, trim star point units to 6 1/2 inches by centering on the 3 1/4 inch measurement line of the quilting ruler.

Double Friendship Star Quilt Block Instructions

WOF = Width Of Fabric
Seams are 1/4 inch unless otherwise noted.

Step 1 Spray and press all squares with a starch alternative pressing solution.

On your cutting mat, place Fabric C QST square right side up and place Fabric B QST square right side down on top of it.

Note: Placement matters. The two fabrics should be right sides together and the background square should be on top. In the double friendship star quilt block, the background fabric of the star points is on top. If on top now and kept on top, it will be in the correct position to be sewn later.

Step 2 Place a quilting ruler on the left leaning (\) diagonal axis of the squares. Using a rotary cutter, make a cut from corner to corner as shown in the photo below.

Step 3 Keeping the two halves of the squares together, place a quilting ruler on the right leaning (/) diagonal axis of the squares. Make a cut from corner to corner.

You've now cut four quarter square triangle pairs.

They are ready to be sewn. Let me show you how to sew them together to properly make the secondary star points on the double friendship star quilt block.

Step 4 Place the QST pairs so that the outside side is oriented in the South or 6 o'clock position. Careful not to flip the pairs. Fabric B should still be on top.

Step 5 With the background Fabric B on top, for each QST pair stitch along the right-hand edge using a 1/4 inch seam. Before stitching, check that your QSTs will be in the correct position when used in your double friendship quilt block. Use the photo at the top of the page or in Step 10 as a reference.

Fold Fabric B back to open the QST with right side of fabrics up, revealing two QSTs that form a half square triangle.

Orient the unit so that the background Fabric B forms the top edge of a square and Fabric C forms the right side of a square. The diagonal axis is in the middle.

Press the seams toward the darker fabric.

Step 6 Place both Fabric A HST squares on top of one another and cut them in half along the left leaning (\) diagonal axis, yielding four HSTs.

Step 7 Fold each of the four Fabric A HSTs in half along the diagonal cut. Press in a fold that will be used to center the QST units.

Step 8 Using the fold as a guide, center a QST unit over each HST. Stitch a seam along the diagonal length.

Step 8 Peel the QST unit back and right side up to reveal the double friendship star quilt block star points. Trim the units to size according to the cutting and trimming chart near the top of the page.

Step 10 Layout the units in a nine patch 3 x 3 grid.

Here's the layout order. Pay special attention to the orientation of the HST and QST units.

Row 1: background square; HST/QST unit (HST West and South, Fabric C QST East); background square
Row 2: QST/HST unit (Fabric C QST North, HST East and South); Fabric A plain square; HST/QST unit (HST West and North, Fabric C QST South)
Row 3: background square; QST/HST unit (Fabric C QST West, HST North and East); background square

If you're an absolute beginner, here are instructions on how to stitch together a nine patch block.

Step 11 Stitch the units of each row together and press the seams.

Row 1: press towards the plain squares.
Row 2: press towards the center square.
Row 3: press towards the plain squares.

Step 12 Stitch Row 1 to Row 2. Stitch Row 3 to Row 2. Press the seam between Rows 1 and 2 towards Row 1; and between Rows 2 and 3 towards Row 3.

You're done making the double friendship star quilt block!

Double Friendship Star Quilt Block Variation: Twin Star

A modified double friendship star quilt block is the twin star quilt block variation. Simply cut from Fabric B five (5) background squares: four (4) corner squares and one (1) center square. You get a different look. Easy peasy!

Double Friendship Star Quilt Layout

Here's what an 88 x 100 inch queen size double friendship star quilt would look like in a straight setting.

It uses the double friendship star quilt block pattern, its variation the twin star block and alternate plain squares in 12-inch finished size blocks (12 1/2 unfinished size).

Use it as a guide to make your own double friendship star quilt.