Free Quilted Star Ornament Tutorial
Everyone loves receiving gifts, no matter how large or small. This charming free quilted star ornament is perfect for brightening someone’s day! The tutorial shows you how to make a fast version and a super-fast version, both in two different sizes.
Read on to learn how to make your own handmade quilted star ornaments and start spreading holiday cheer!
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Quilted Star Ornament Materials
- Fabric (see requirements below)
- Star Ornament Template (click to download)
- Polyfil or batting scraps for stuffing
- 50wt sewing machine thread
- Embroidery floss and embroidery needle (if making a wholecloth quilted star ornament)
- Low-loft batting, at least 12" x 23"
- Pellon SF101 Shape Flex at least 6" x 23" (2 pieces if making single layer stars)
- 3/8" wide ribbon per star (8 1/2" length minimum)
- Long ball head pins
- Basting pins
- Acrylic ruler
- Rotary cutter
- Fabric scissors
- Pinking shears
- Disappearing ink pen or pencil
- Iron and ironing board
- Walking foot
Patchwork Quilted Star Ornament Fabric Requirements
This tutorial uses six fabrics from the Rifle Paper Co. Holiday Classics IV fabric collection plus one Fableism fabric. This is a scrap-friendly project, so raid your stash for scraps and fat quarters! Here are the fabrics shown in the tutorial:
- Rifle Paper Co. Ribbon Stripe in Cream Metallic
- Rifle Paper Co. Holly Jolly Nutcracker in Cream And Metallic Gold
- Rifle Paper Co. Penguin Village in Mint And Metallic Silver
- Rifle Paper Co. Holiday Argyle in Evergreen And Metallic Gold
- Rifle Paper Co. Holiday Argyle in Red and Metallic Gold
- Fableism Camp Gingham woven in Mist
- Rifle Paper Co. Holiday Argyle in Red and Metallic Gold (ornament back)
For the patchwork ornament, you’ll need:
- Quilting cotton fabrics with a print pattern for patchwork: six different fabrics (colors listed above) at least 3" x 12 1/2" each
- Quilting cotton fabric or woven fabric in a solid color for patchwork (we’ve used cream) at least 12 1/2" x 13 1/2"
- Quilting cotton fabric or muslin for the patchwork panel back, at least 6" x 23" (this fabric will be hidden inside the ornament)
- Fabric in a coordinating color for the star ornament back, at least 6" x 23"
Cutting Instructions
Printed Fabric:
- From three of the fabrics, cut (2) 1 1/2" x 12 1/2" strips
- From the remaining three fabrics, cut (1) 1 1/2" x 12 1/2" strip
Solid Fabric:
Trending patterns!
- (9) 1 1/2" x 12 1/2" strips
Fusible Interfacing:
- (1) 6" x 23" rectangle
Low Loft Batting:
- (2) 6" x 23" rectangles
Patchwork Panel Back:
- (1) 6" x 23" rectangle
Star Ornament Back:
- (1) 6" x 23" rectangle
Preparation
Before you begin, prepare the Star Ornament template by printing it at 100% scale on paper or cardstock. Cut it out so that you have an inverse template. Instead of keeping the center of the template, keep an outline to use for fussy cutting.
The templates are symmetrical, so there is no right side, wrong side, top, or bottom.
Fuse the 6" x 23" rectangle of Pellon SF101 to the wrong side of the 6" x 23" star ornament back rectangle.
Step 1: Create the Patchwork Panel
Arrange your fabric strips in groups of six — three print strips and three solid color strips. There are three groups of six total. Alternate the print and solid strips starting with a print fabric at the top. Do not use the same print strips twice in the same group.
Sew the strips together in pairs, then sew the three pairs together. Next, press seams to the printed side.
Cut (8) 1 1/2" strips from each block. The strips are 1/2" wider than necessary so you can cut straight strips if the ends aren’t aligned. There are 24 pieced strips total.
Separate the strips into three stacks of eight with all the same strips in each pile. Orient stack one with the print fabric at the top, stack two with solid color at the top, and stack three with print fabric at the top. Sew stack one strips to stack two strips. Then, repeat this for all the stack one and stack two strips.
TIP: Try using the chain piecing technique to speed up this process and use less thread. Here’s a tutorial that can help!
Next, sew the stack three strips to the pairs you just sewed together. Match up the seams as best you can. Because the seams are pressed consistently to the print side, they should nest nicely together. Fold open the stack one and two unit, line up a stack three strip, and nest the first seam. Start sewing, matching and nesting seams as you go. After all strips are sewn together, snip the units apart. All the blocks should be identical.
Sew the eight blocks together alternating the orientation of the block. For example, the second block is turned 180° compared to the first block, the third block is the same orientation as the first block, etc. Press the seams in alternating directions. The placement and repeat patterns of your fabrics depends upon how you laid out your initial strips. It may not look exactly like the sample in this tutorial.
Before moving on, give yourself a hand! I know you’re already enamored with the tiny piecing, but it gets even better!
Step 2: Quilt the Patchwork Panel
Draw diagonal quilting lines on the patchwork panel top using a disappearing ink pen or other marking tool. These lines will intersect the corners of the 1" blocks. Layer the patchwork back right side down, then two layers of batting on top of that. Next, center the patchwork top with the right side up. Pin or spray baste and quilt over the drawn lines.
Position the 5 1/2" star template on the quilted panel at an angle instead of lining up the top star arm with the patchwork as shown. Place the first star close to a short edge of the panel if you want to fit four 5 1/2" stars. Trace the star shape and cut it out with pinking shears. Repeat three more times to make four unique patchwork stars.
Position the star template on the star ornament back rectangle. Trace the star shape and cut it out with pinking shears. Repeat three more times to make four stars.
Step 3: Assemble the Patchwork Quilted Star Ornament
Place the star ornament back and front wrong sides together, aligning the edges. Pin all the star arms except for the top one. Make a loop with the 8 1/2" length of ribbon, overlapping the ends at an angle. Fold back the front of the top star point. Position the ribbon ends between the front and back and pin in place. Then, pin the last star arm.
Topstitch around the edge of the star. Leave a gap at the bottom as indicated on the template.
Stuff Polyfill or batting scraps into the star through the gap. Make sure the arms are a little plush, but focus on the center of the star. Overstuff the star a little to make sure there’s enough to fill the last two arms of the star after sewing the gap closed. It’s going to look way too full but that’s good! Push the filling away from the gap, then pin and sew the gap closed. Redistribute the filling by pressing down and shifting the center of the star.
Repeat these steps to make a set of four patchwork quilted star ornaments. If you’re in a hurry this holiday season, keep reading to learn how to make a wholecloth version of the same ornament!
Wholecloth Quilted Star Ornament Fabric Requirements and Cutting Instructions
This tutorial uses two fabrics from Fableism: Dobby Hearts Gingham in Cherry and Maraschino.
Star Ornament Front and Back:
- 6” x 23” rectangle
Fusible Interfacing:
- (2) 6” x 23” rectangles
Preparation
Before you begin, prepare the Star Ornament template by printing it at 100% scale on paper or cardstock. Cut it out so that you have an inverse template. Instead of keeping the center of the template, keep an outline to use for fussy cutting.
The templates are symmetrical, so there is no wrong side, right side, top, or bottom.
Fuse one 6" x 23" rectangle of Pellon SF101 to the wrong side of the 6" x 23" star ornament front and back rectangle.
Step 1: Cut Out the Stars
Position the 5 1/2" star template on the star ornament front at an angle instead of lining up the top star arm with the fabric grain as shown. Trace the star shape and cut it out with pinking shears. Repeat three more times to make four fabric stars.
Position the star template on the star ornament back rectangle. Trace the star shape and cut it out using pinking shears. Repeat three more times to make four fabric stars.
Step 2: Assemble the Wholecloth Quilted Star Ornaments
Place the star ornament back and front wrong sides together, aligning edges. Pin all the star arms except for the top one. Make a loop with the 8 1/2" length of ribbon, overlapping the ends at an angle. Fold back the front of the top star point. Position the ribbon ends between the front and back and pin in place.
Topstitch around the edge of the star. Leave a gap in one of the sides as indicated on the template.
Stuff Polyfill or batting scraps into the star through the gap. Make sure the arms are a little plush, but focus on the center of the star. Overstuff the star a little to make sure there’s enough to fill the last two arms after sewing the gap closed. Push the filling away from the gap and sew the gap closed.
Redistribute the filling evenly as best you can.
Step 3: Tufting the Ornament For Shape
Use a disappearing ink pen or other marking tool to draw a dot in the center of the ornament on the front, then draw five more dots at the bottom of each arm. Repeat on the back. Thread a needle with the embroidery floss. Make a small knot at one end of the thread.
Insert the needle through the center dot on the back. Gently pull on the thread to pop the knot through the back fabric layer, but not the front, to hide the knot.
Insert the needle through each of the five dots, then back to the center dot to create a star shape. Pull gently after each stitch to tighten the thread and create the tufting. The back and front thread design should look the same. Read the next instruction before finishing the last stitch.
At the last stitch before finishing the star, remove the needle and make a loose knot close to where the thread exits the star. Insert needle tip through the knot and into the center of the star. Hold the needle tip there.
Slowly pull on the loose end of the thread away from the needle, allowing the knot to form at the tip of the needle. Release the needle tip and the knot may pull away from the center, but that’s okay! The thread is under tension because of the tufting.
Re-thread the needle, enter through the center of the star and exit about 1/2" away on the opposite side. Stitch only through the top layer and batting, not through to the back. Pull gently until the knot is buried. Snip the loose thread tail close to the fabric.
Want To Make a Miniature Quilted Star Ornament?
It’s easy and works for both the patchwork and wholecloth versions! Just make these changes:
- Use the 3’" star template and repeat the same steps above as for the 5 1/2" star ornament.
- Use a 6" length of 3/8" wide ribbon instead of an 8 1/2" length for the hanging loop.
- Use about 1/5 as much filling to stuff the star.
- If you’re making the wholecloth star, use 15" of floss for the tufting detail instead of 20".
Share Your Quilted Star Ornaments with Your Loved Ones!
There are lots of ways to make this ornament even more special. Change up the fabrics to suit the season or the holiday. Upcycle meaningful clothing. And there’s no end of beautiful and interesting ribbons available — velvet, lace, burlap, novelty, and more. You can use this star ornament tutorial to celebrate all year long!
Share your own quilted star ornament on Instagram and be sure to tag @suzyquilts and use #SuzyQuiltsBlog so we can celebrate and share your work!
