Friendship Star quilt block
A nine patch with four half-square triangles set pinwheel-fashion around a solid centre — a star with a slight spin to it, and one of the friendliest blocks for a first star.
Also known as Friendship Block.
Friendship Star earned its name from friendship and signature quilts, where each block was made and often signed by a different person before the whole was assembled as a gift. The plain centre square is the reason: it is a natural place for a signature in permanent ink.
Friendship Star cutting chart
Cut sizes include a ¼″ seam allowance: ½″ on squares and rectangles, ⅞″ on half-square triangles, and 1¼″ on quarter-square triangles. Pick a finished block size:
| Fabric | Shape | Cut size | Qty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Background | HST square | 2⅞" × 2⅞" | 2 | cut once on the diagonal → 4 triangles |
| Background | Square | 2½" × 2½" | 4 | finishes 2" × 2" |
| Dark | HST square | 2⅞" × 2⅞" | 2 | cut once on the diagonal → 4 triangles |
| Dark | Square | 2½" × 2½" | 1 | finishes 2" × 2" |
| Fabric | Shape | Cut size | Qty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Background | HST square | 3⅞" × 3⅞" | 2 | cut once on the diagonal → 4 triangles |
| Background | Square | 3½" × 3½" | 4 | finishes 3" × 3" |
| Dark | HST square | 3⅞" × 3⅞" | 2 | cut once on the diagonal → 4 triangles |
| Dark | Square | 3½" × 3½" | 1 | finishes 3" × 3" |
| Fabric | Shape | Cut size | Qty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Background | HST square | 4¼" × 4¼" | 2 | cut once on the diagonal → 4 triangles |
| Background | Square | 3⅞" × 3⅞" | 4 | finishes 3⅜" × 3⅜" |
| Dark | HST square | 4¼" × 4¼" | 2 | cut once on the diagonal → 4 triangles |
| Dark | Square | 3⅞" × 3⅞" | 1 | finishes 3⅜" × 3⅜" |
| Fabric | Shape | Cut size | Qty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Background | HST square | 4⅞" × 4⅞" | 2 | cut once on the diagonal → 4 triangles |
| Background | Square | 4½" × 4½" | 4 | finishes 4" × 4" |
| Dark | HST square | 4⅞" × 4⅞" | 2 | cut once on the diagonal → 4 triangles |
| Dark | Square | 4½" × 4½" | 1 | finishes 4" × 4" |
| Fabric | Shape | Cut size | Qty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Background | HST square | 5⅞" × 5⅞" | 2 | cut once on the diagonal → 4 triangles |
| Background | Square | 5½" × 5½" | 4 | finishes 5" × 5" |
| Dark | HST square | 5⅞" × 5⅞" | 2 | cut once on the diagonal → 4 triangles |
| Dark | Square | 5½" × 5½" | 1 | finishes 5" × 5" |
How it goes together
Four HSTs, four plain squares, one centre. The four triangles all rotate the same direction, which is what separates it from Shoo Fly — get one backwards and the star stops spinning.
Tips
- Lay the block out on a mat before sewing and check that all four points swing the same way.
- The plain centre is the traditional signature spot — sign before assembly, on fabric stabilised with freezer paper.
- It is forgiving enough for a first star block and reads well at 6, 9 or 12 inches.
How much fabric for a Friendship Star quilt?
Yardage for a whole quilt of Friendship Star blocks, computed the way the studio does it — every piece packed across a 40″ usable width with 10% added for waste.
| Quilt size | Blocks | Finished | Top fabric | Backing | Binding |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baby 36×48 | 12 | 36" × 48" | Background 1⅜ yd · Dark ¾ yd | 2½ yd | ⅜ yd |
| Throw 60×72 | 30 | 60" × 72" | Background 3⅜ yd · Dark 1¾ yd | 3⅞ yd | ½ yd |
| Queen 90×108 | 72 | 96" × 108" | Background 7¾ yd · Dark 4 yd | 8¾ yd | ⅞ yd |
What it looks like in a quilt
A single block only tells you half the story. Set sixteen of them together and the secondary pattern appears where the blocks touch:
Friendship Star questions
Is Friendship Star the same as Sawtooth Star?
No. Friendship Star is a nine patch with four HSTs and reads as a spinning star; Sawtooth Star is a four-by-four grid with eight triangle points around a large centre square.