Friendship Star - a nine patch quilt

Friendship Stars have to be my favourite pattern as it was the first machine sewn patchwork quilt I made for me and my family.  It is a very simple (and so very old) block pattern which uses whole squares and half square triangles so would be one up from all squares and rectangles but has no matching seams within the block itself.  The central square can be a contrasting colour or you can go for a one colour look.

(See page on how to make your chosen quilt block any size you like.)

To draft the Friendship Star start with a nine patch grid.

Replace the four side squares with half square triangles

One thing to note - it is possible to have the half square triangles slope the other way and still make a Friendship Star - as shown below - bear this in mind when making a quilt; you wouldn't want the odd star to "shine" in the other direction by accident!

Variations - one named variation is the Eccentric Star.  The central square can also be replaced by a pieced square as can the four corner squares.

Quilt Genie version

For the classic Friendship Star there is this You Tube Video

Sew Be It quilts also goes classic

if you only have a minute this short video from Missouri Star will help

This is a sew-a-long from Fabric Cafe for an entire quilt

This version uses the classic star but interlocks them

Tiffany uses partial seams to change up how the background is done

This you tube video shows a variation where the corner squares are replaced with half square triangles giving a secondary pattern when pieced with no sashings.

Rob Appell also goes for HST's in the corners

Jenny Doan changed up the corner squares for four patches for this variation which is set with Friendship Star sashings as well

This page  from Quilt Therapy includes the Eccentric Star variation instructions as well as the standard Friendship star and gives a 12" block 

This variation uses quarter square triangles in the centre and half square triangles in the corners.  I suppose another variation of this would be to lose the corner HST's...

 

Quilt Therapy gives instructions for both the friendship star and eccentric star here - 12 inch blocks

This version uses a square in a square for the centre of the block

This one from Generations Quilt is in multiple sizes - Friendship Star Quilt Block Tutorial: 6 sizes to choose from!

Click here for my Accuquilt version

Click here to go to the nine patch page