Five Patch Star Quilt Pattern – Free Quilt Pattern with Half Square Triangles!

Use half square triangles (HST’s) and simple squares to sew a gorgeous throw quilt! My 5 Patch Star Quilt Pattern is perfect for using up scraps or just a few fat quarters, put together with a white or cream background fabric. I’ll show you some fun variations too so you can make it your own!

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This blog post has been converted to an optional PDF that’s optimized for printing. Find it here. The free 5 Patch Star Quilt Pattern is included in the blog post below and is totally free to read, print, and sew! Just hit CTRL +P on your computer to print. The PDF download is inexpensive and optional. Did you know you can get ALL the Optimized for Printing PDF files organized in a library for you to access anytime you want? Check it out.

I first thought that I would use only navy scraps for the dark parts of my stars, but then I added in some lighter purple pieces too. I love how modern and bright it turned out!

If you love to use your AccuQuilt fabric cutter like I do, I’ll share the optional cutting die numbers to make this pattern Accuquilt-friendly. Using an Accuquilt is optional, but I love it! See all my Accuquilt-friendly quilts. Look under the cutting dimensions below for a list of fabric-cutting dies you may use instead.

Everyone loves a star quilt, and this star quilt block is classic and beautiful.

This free quilt pattern below is for a square quilt with 16 star blocks.

Check out all my free quilt patterns here!

I used EQ8 Quilt Design Software to see what the Five Patch Star Quilt would look like in slightly different layouts.

The image above shows what this quilt would look like if you used a contrasting color for all the half square triangle pieces!

Here it is with all navy again, but I added 3” sashing and a 3” border. The star block really shines!

I settled on the scrappy navy version with no sashing and 5” borders. This quilt pattern shows how to make this version of the quilt (above).

How to Choose Fabrics for your 5 Patch Star Quilt

As you can see from my finished quilt, this is a great pattern for using up all your scraps of the same color, or even scraps in two different colors. You could also use 10 FQ or 2 1/2 yards of fabric for the main color.

The only other fabric you need for this quilt is a solid or blender fabric for the background (I chose Kona Snow). If you choose to use scraps and a solid background fabric, this quilt is so budget friendly!

How to Sew a 5 Patch Star Quilt

Finished quilt size: 70” x 70”.

Finished block size 15” x 15”.

This quilt top is another one that I sewed together while on vacation with my family. Yes, it’s kind of a habit of mine to bring my sewing machine on vacation along with the pieces of a quilt that I have cut out. That way I can sew in our down time in between other activities.

The great things about this HST star quilt pattern are:

• There are only 16 super easy and quick blocks.
• All of the pieces are squares andhalf square triangles (HSTs) and I’m going to show you my shortcut HST method for sewing two at a time.
• This quilt would be great for beginner quilters making their first quilt
• As written, this quilt pattern is the perfect size to snuggle with on the couch, but you could easily add more blocks to make it bigger.
• This size is great to practice free motion quilting

You will need:

• 2 yards total for the main color. This can be scraps, 9 fat quarters, or any combination of yardage, scraps, and other pieces.
• 3 1/4 yards background fabric (suggested: cream or white)
• 1/2 yard binding fabric
• 4 1/4 yards backing fabric, or enough to piece together a 75” x 75” square
• a 75” x 75” piece of quilt batting
• a rotary cutter, acrylic ruler, and mat
• sewing machine
• thread (I suggest thread matching the background fabric)

Tip: If you want to make your half square triangles a different color (as shown in the first variation), you’ll need:

• 1 1/4 yard total for the main color. This can be scraps, 5 fat quarters, or any combination of yardage, scraps, and other pieces.
• 3/4 yard of pink or another color for the half square triangles (or 4 FQ).

Cutting:

From the navy fabrics (or other main fabric), cut:

• 144 squares 3 1/2” x 3 1/2” (for the square pieces in the 5 patch square block)
• 64 squares 4” x 4” (for the half square triangles)

From the cream colored fabric (or other background fabric), cut:

• 128 squares 3 1/2” x 3 1/2” (for the block background squares)
• 64 squares 4” x 4” (for the half square triangles)
• 2 border strips 5 1/2” x 60 1/2”*
• 2 border strips 5 1/2” x 70 1/2”*

* Border tips:

• You will need to piece strips together to make the border.
• I highly recommend that you do not cut your border strips now. Instead, wait until the center of the quilt top is finished so you can measure it and sew accurate borders. See how to measure and cut accurate quilt borders.

Binding fabric:

• cut 7 strips 2 1/2” x width of fabric (40-42’’)

How to Sew the Five Patch Square Quilt Block:

Use a scant 1/4’’ seam allowance and a medium stitch length such as 2-2.5.

Make 128 Half Square Triangle Units (HSTs)

Note: The fabric pieces shown in these photos are not the exact same as the HSTs that I used in my quilt, but the technique for making them is the same.

1. Use a pencil, pen, or fabric pen to draw a diagonal line across the back of all of the background colored 4’’ squares. This is a cutting line – not a sewing line.

2. Place a background fabric square right sides together with a blue square. Sew in a straight line a scant 1/4’’ away from either side of the drawn line.

If you have an even feed or walking foot, you might like it for this step – I do!

3. Cut the half square triangles apart along the drawn line.

Press each one open and trim to 3 1/2’’ square. Repeat to make 128 blue and white half square triangles.

Tip: BlocLoc HST Rulers are fun to use and make trimming HSTs a breeze.

Assemble the 5 Patch Star Blocks

1. Lay out 25 pieces for each a star quilt block as shown above. You’ll need:

• 8 blue and white HSTs
• 9 blue squares
• 8 white or cream colored squares

2. Sew the pieces together in five rows. Press.

3. Sew the five rows together to make one block. Press.

Repeat to make 18 star blocks.

Trim and square your blocks to 15 1/2”, if desired.

Assemble the Quilt Top

1. Lay out your quilt blocks on using a quilt design wall, on a bed, or on the floor.

2. Sew the blocks together in four rows. Press.

3. Sew the four rows together. Press.

4. Attach the borders. Sew the 5 1/2” x 60 1/2” border strips to the sides of the quilt. Sew the 5 1/2” x 70 1/2” border strips to the top and bottom edges of the quilt.

Tip: Instead of using the specified lengths for the border strips, I recommend measuring your quilt and using the actual measurements as I show in this blog post. This helps to prevent wavy quilt borders or puckering where the borders are attached.

Finishing your Five Patch Star Quilt

1. Cut or piece together a 75’’ x 75’’ piece of backing fabric and make a quilt sandwich with the backing, batting, and top.

2. Baste together with fusible batting, pins or basting spray.

3. Quilt as desired. Straight line quilting with your walking foot would be fast and easy.

4. Cut 7 binding strips and bind using your favorite method. This is my favorite quilt binding method.

Happy quilting,