Fabric Star Ornament Tutorial

fabric star ornament tutorial

Fabric Star Ornament Tutorial

By Hatun Comak → Monday, November 3, 2025

 

Christmas is approaching and you know for sewers and quilters it means that it is time to choose this year's handmade gifts for your beloved ones.  A fabric star ornament for Christmas will definitely be loved. It is one of those that looks much harder to make than they actually are.

Making these fabric star ornaments is white easy. There are mamy color possibilities so you can make every fabric star ornament to fit the taste of the receiver.

Soooo  let's get started!

Fabric Star Ornament Supplies

• Three different fabrics
• 2.8" Styrofoam ball
• Dressmaker pins (200 pins per ornament)
• Small screw eyes
• Ribbon
• Hot glue gun

Step 1: Cutting the fabric

Cut the following for each fabric star ornament:

• Center of Star Fabric 8 pieces of 2 1/2" square
• Middle of Star Fabric 16 pieces of 2 1/2" square
• Outside of Star Fabric 16 pieces of 2 1/2" square

Step 2: Folding  the Squares 

The next step is to fold the squares. Take each fabric square and fold it in half wrong sides together, press to make a crease. Then fold the square in half in the other direction and finger press again. Your square should be divided into four sections as seen in the images above. Repeat this for all squares.

Step 3: Making the Center Star

Take one square of your center star fabric and hold it in your hand, wrong side facing up. Take a pin and push it through the fabric just a little below the center of the square.

Push the pin into the styrofoam ball. 

Fold the fabric down, matching it to the bottom edge of the fabric. The right side of the fabric should be seen and then the fabric will be folded in half.

Next, fold the upper left-hand corner down, aligning it with the center crease. Place a pin to hold it against the ball.

Flatten the other corner of the triangle against the ball and place a pin in the corner.

Repeat the folding and pinning process for the opposite side.

Get another center of the star fabric square and repeat as above, placing the pin as close to the first pin as possible.

Repaet this step to fill in the gaps between the triangles. The ornament now should look like this.

Try not to leave gaps between triangles as much as possible.

Step 4: Pinning and Folding the Middle Star

Grab a square of the middle star fabric and place a pin through the center on the wrong side.

Mesure about 1/2" from the center, and place the pin into the center crease of one of the triangles.

Fold and pin the square into a triangle as you have done in Step 3. Repeat for the opposite side and then for the remaining two sides.

We also create triangles in the diagonals. Place a pin into the wrong side of the middle star fabric  and repeat the folding and pinning on the four diagonals. This will create the star shape as you can see at the image above.

Step 5: Pinnig and Folding the Outer Star

Here we add the outer star layer. Take a square of the outer star fabric and place a pin through the center on the fabric.

Mesure about 1/2" from the center of the middle layer and place the pin into the center crease of one of the triangles. Fold and pin in order to create a triangle, next repeat for the opposite and adjacent sides. Repeat this for the diagonals also.

Step 6: The Other Side

It is halfway finished. This time the other side will come together faster.

Find the center of the opposite side of the styrofoam ball. Repeat Steps 2-5 to create side two of the fabric star ornament.

Step 7: Adding the Screw Eye

Push the screw eye into the center of the top of your ornament. It will keep in plave tightly. Here I didn't have a screw eye, instead I used a small screw which worked well also.

Step 8: Adding the Ribbon

Before you glue the ribbon, make sure that it is wide enough to cover all the pins around. If it doesn't, find a wider one.

Cut a piece of ribbon 3/4" longer than the circumference of the fabric star ornament. Begin gluing the ribbon down around the ornament, finishing where you have started.

Tie a loop of fishing wire or a thinner ribbon through the secrew eye.

And you have finished!

Flutterby Quilt Block with Free Pattern

lillyella stitchery

Flutterby Quilt Block with Free Pattern

By Hatun Comak → Friday, September 26, 2025

 

Flutterby foundation paper piecing block which is shared free by Lillyella Stitchery is a lovely pattern to make. If you like fpp, this quilt block is for you. Here you see my version. 

This paper piecing pattern is for the advanced beginners with some paper piecing experience. If you are new at paper piecing, foundation paper piecing tutorial can help you for a good start.

 

The pattern includes two versions of the same butterfly. The block measures 12.5" square.

 

For fabric choices, I preferred bright solids mostly which I think fit well for a butterfly. I am quite happy with the result. Before choosing my fabrics I did some coloring as you can see below. The coloring page comes with the pattern . 

The butterfly pattern includes 3 sections, you sew them seperately and then to each other.

The finished size of the block is 12.5". I enjoyed making this block.

Happy quilting to all. Have fun.

Ribbon Star Quilt Block

quilting

Ribbon Star Quilt Block

By Hatun Comak → Saturday, June 14, 2025

 

The Ribbon Star Quilt Block is a basic pattern which is easy to make and fun. It is perfect for beginners. It is a four patch block made by using half-square triangles. It is usually made with two or three fabrics; one is for cabkground and one or two for ribbons. Here I used two facrics. You can even use four different fabrics for each ribbon patch. It is up to you. After deciding and choosing your fabrics, we are ready to start.

Cutting Instructions

• Cut 6 pieces 3.75" squares for ribbons (if you choose two different fabrics, cut 3 pieces of 3.75" squares of each fabric)
• Cut 6 pieces 3.75" squares for backgroud fabric (white)
• Cut 4 pieces 3.25" squares for background fabric (white)

Step-by-step Tutorial

Step 1: Make the half-square triangle (HST) units

• Draw a diagonal line on 3.75" light fabric from one corner to the other side. Place a light and dark fabric right sides together.

• Sew along on both sides of the diagonal line with 1/4" seam allowance.
• Cut along the line using a ruler and rotary cutter.
• Press the seams open and trin the block to 3.25" if necessary. 

Step 2: Assembly the ribbon star

• Arrange your squares in correct layout as shown in the picture below.

• Using 1/4" seam allowance, sew the squares together in rows. Press seams in each row. 

• Join all rows together. Press seams open and trim down to 11.5" if necessary. And it's finished. It's this simple to make but doen't it look lovely? I hope you find my tutorial helpful and enjoy while doing it.

Nordic Star Quilt Block Pattern

quilting

Nordic Star Quilt Block Pattern

By Hatun Comak → Sunday, April 6, 2025

 

Today I'm here with a tutorial of a classic quilt pattern which looks so nice and also easy to make. Nordic Star Quilt Pattern require some half square triangles and it has many variations when you change the layout. Here is my Nordic Star Quilt Pattern with cutting instructions and tutorial. Hope it will be helpful for you.

Cutting instructions 

• Background fabric.                                   

          - Cut four 3.25" squares

          - Cut four 3.75" squares

          - Cut four 1.5"x 6" rectangles

                                            

• Red fabric                                                      

         - Cut four 3.75" squares

         - Cut one 1.5" square

• Blue and red fabric  

         - Cut four 3.75" squares

Step-by-step tutorial

• Step 1: Make the half square triangle units (HST)

Draw diagonal lines on back sides  of four background 3.75" squares and two of the red fabrics. Pair up the squares as follows:  two backgroud with two red fabric, two background with two red and blue fabric, two red fabric with red and blue fabric.

• Step 2: Sew along 1/4" away from either side of the diagonal line. Cut away on the line, press seams open and trim each HST unit to 3,25". You will get twelve half square triangle units.

• Step 3: Make the star point corners

Layout the half square triangles and the background corners as in the image below. 

Sew three HSTs and one corner square so you get one of the star points. (You sew  row by row.) Press the seams open. You will have four star points.

Step 4: Assemble the block.

Before sewing thwe pieces together, you may want to arrange the pieces as shown in the image below so that you can get a better understanding of what you are doing.

Sew 1.5"x6" rectangle to 1.5" square, press the seams open and then sew the next 1.5"x6" rectangle.

Step 5:  Sew a star point unit to one of the 1.5"x6" rectangle and then add the second star point unit. Press seams open. Repeat the same for the other two star point units. 

 

Now you get three rows. Finally sew the three rows together and you've finished it.

I hope you find my tutorial helpful. Whatever you do, enjoy it!

Rail Fence Quilt Block

rail fence quilt block free tutorial

Rail Fence Quilt Block

By Hatun Comak → Wednesday, March 26, 2025

 

    If you are looking for something different but easy to make, rail fence block is the right choice. It is a beginner friendly quilt block which can also be made uniquely different in so many ways. This quilt blok just requires bacis quilting skills and some imagination.

    A classical rail fence pattern is made up of a quilt block which is made by sewing three, four or five strips of fabric to get a square. A little playing with colors and direction of the squares you can have various quilting designs.

    Here I prepared a tutorial for  a 12" rail fence quilt block with three fabrics. I hope you find it helpful. So here we go:

Cutting instructions

• With 3 different fabrics cut 2 1/2 x30" strips (You can use longer strips in order to make more blocks at once.)

How to mke rail fence quilt block

• Sew the three pieces of strips right sides together. (Always use 1/4" seam allowance)
• Press the seams open. The strip set measures 6 1/2x30" including seam allowances.

• Cut strips into 6 1/2"x 6 1/2" squares. With one strip set you will get four squares.

• Next step is placing the squares, then sew together squares in pairs. Press the seams open. When you join the pairs, you make a rail fence quilt block. The finished size of the clock is 12 1/2" with seam allowances.

    This quilt block is so easy and quick to make but once finished it looks fabuluous. By placing the squares differently you hace the chance to get different designs.