Variable Star quilt block
A Sawtooth Star with a four-patch centre instead of a single square, which turns one block into a frame for a second colour or a second scale of pattern.
Also known as Sawtooth Star variant.
Variable Star is used loosely across quilting literature — it is applied to Ohio Star, Sawtooth Star and several other star blocks depending on the source. What all of them share is a star built on a grid where the centre is a variable: swap it and you get a new named block without touching the points.
Variable 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accent | Square | 3½" × 3½" | 1 | finishes 3" × 3" |
| Background | HST square | 2⅜" × 2⅜" | 4 | cut once on the diagonal → 8 triangles |
| Background | Square | 2" × 2" | 4 | finishes 1½" × 1½" |
| Dark | HST square | 2⅜" × 2⅜" | 4 | cut once on the diagonal → 8 triangles |
| Fabric | Shape | Cut size | Qty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accent | Square | 5" × 5" | 1 | finishes 4½" × 4½" |
| Background | HST square | 3⅛" × 3⅛" | 4 | cut once on the diagonal → 8 triangles |
| Background | Square | 2¾" × 2¾" | 4 | finishes 2¼" × 2¼" |
| Dark | HST square | 3⅛" × 3⅛" | 4 | cut once on the diagonal → 8 triangles |
| Fabric | Shape | Cut size | Qty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accent | Square | 5½" × 5½" | 1 | finishes 5" × 5" |
| Background | HST square | 3⅜" × 3⅜" | 4 | cut once on the diagonal → 8 triangles |
| Background | Square | 3" × 3" | 4 | finishes 2½" × 2½" |
| Dark | HST square | 3⅜" × 3⅜" | 4 | cut once on the diagonal → 8 triangles |
| Fabric | Shape | Cut size | Qty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accent | Square | 6½" × 6½" | 1 | finishes 6" × 6" |
| Background | HST square | 3⅞" × 3⅞" | 4 | cut once on the diagonal → 8 triangles |
| Background | Square | 3½" × 3½" | 4 | finishes 3" × 3" |
| Dark | HST square | 3⅞" × 3⅞" | 4 | cut once on the diagonal → 8 triangles |
| Fabric | Shape | Cut size | Qty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accent | Square | 8" × 8" | 1 | finishes 7½" × 7½" |
| Background | HST square | 4⅝" × 4⅝" | 4 | cut once on the diagonal → 8 triangles |
| Background | Square | 4¼" × 4¼" | 4 | finishes 3¾" × 3¾" |
| Dark | HST square | 4⅝" × 4⅝" | 4 | cut once on the diagonal → 8 triangles |
How it goes together
Identical to the Sawtooth Star except the centre is pieced from four units rather than cut as one square. Assemble the centre first, square it up, then treat it as a single unit.
Tips
- Square the pieced centre to exactly the size a plain centre square would be, or the star points will not line up.
- A third colour in the centre reads as depth rather than as clutter, because the points contain it.
- This is the natural next block after Sawtooth Star — same construction, one added step.
How much fabric for a Variable Star quilt?
Yardage for a whole quilt of Variable 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 1¼ yd · Dark ⅝ yd · Accent ½ yd | 2½ yd | ⅜ yd |
| Throw 60×72 | 30 | 60" × 72" | Background 2⅝ yd · Dark 1½ yd · Accent 1 yd | 3⅞ yd | ½ yd |
| Queen 90×108 | 72 | 96" × 108" | Background 6⅜ yd · Dark 3½ yd · Accent 2½ 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:
Variable Star questions
What is the difference between Variable Star and Sawtooth Star?
The points and layout are the same. Variable Star pieces the centre instead of using a single square, which lets a third fabric enter the block.