Maui Star Quilt Pattern
DESIGNER: Bernice Norton
OWNED BY: Phyllis Hoffman DePiano
DIFFICULTY LEVEL ‣ ADVANCED
FINISHED QUILT SIZE:
76″ x 76″
FINISHED BLOCK SIZE:
12″ x 12″
This skillfully made quilt, featuring a variation of the Blazing Star block, is from the collection of Phyllis Hoffman DePiano. The Hawaiian print on the borders and backing blend beautifully with the creamy orange, reminiscent of a favorite summer treat. The block assembly requires templates and set-in seams, landing it at our advanced level.
Instructions:
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS:
Read through entire pattern before beginning project. Use ¼” seam allowances with fabric right sides together. Pressing arrows are included with diagrams. Basic quiltmaking supplies are assumed. Fabric requirements include extra yardage for shrinkage and insurance. If working with directonal prints, you may want to purchase more fabric than called for. Pattern based on antique quilt has been simplified as needed for ease of construction and differs slightly from original. In the original quilt, borders were pieced at different lengths and widths; we simplified the borders to make them uniform and from one fabric.
Print template patterns at 100%, making sure your printer is set to No Scaling. Trace template patterns onto quilter’s template plastic and transfer all marks and dots. Using an awl or thick needle, poke holes through templates at dots. Place template right side down on wrong side of fabric. Trace around template and transfer dots to fabric by mark-ing through holes with fabric pen or pencil. Cut out on marked lines.
WOF = width of fabric
LOF = length of fabric
FABRIC:
Fabric A: 3½ yards white fabric
Fabric B: 3½ yards solid peach fabric
Fabric C: 2⅔ yards light peach floral print for borders and binding
Backing: 5 yards (for 44/45″-wide) or 2½ yards (for 108″-wide)
ADDITIONAL SUPPLIES:
Batting: 86″ x 86″ piece
Quilter’s template plastic
Marking pencil
Awl or thick needle
CUTTING:
From Fabric A, cut:
• 100 pieces from Template A
• 100 pieces from Template A reversed (flip template over)
From Fabric B, cut:
• 100 pieces from Template B
• 100 pieces from Template C
From Fabric C, cut:
• (8) 8½” x WOF strips for borders
• (8) 2½” x WOF strips for binding
Block Assembly
Referring to Diagram 1, place (1) Fabric A Template A patch over (1) Fabric B Template B patch. Sew ¼” from edge. Press toward Fabric B. Repeat on opposite side with Fabric A on top to make Corner Unit. Make 4.
Align (2) Fabric B Template C patches along short sides. Referring to Diagram 2, sew ¼” from edge. Press toward 1 Fabric B. Repeat, pressing seam allowances toward opposite Fabric B. Place 2 halves together and stitch to make (1) Center Unit. Open center and press seam allowances in opposite directions.
Paying attention to orientation, lay out (4) Corner Units and (1) Center Unit as shown in Diagram 3. Sew Corner Units on each side of Center Unit using set-in seams. Sew units together complete Maui Star Block. Make 25.
Quilt Assembly and Finishing
Referring to Quilt Assembly Diagram, lay out 5 rows of (5) Maui Star Blocks. Sew blocks together into rows. Sew rows together to make Quilt Center.
Piecing end-to-end, sew together (8) 8½” x WOF Fabric C border strips to make one long strip. Cut strip into (2) 8½” x 60½” lengths. Sew lengths to each side of quilt top. Press toward borders. Cut remaining strip into cut (2) 8½” x 76½” lengths. Sew strips to top and bottom to complete Maui Star Quilt Top.
Trim selvage edges from 5 yards of backing fabric, fold yardage in half lengthwise, and cut into (2) 90″ x WOF pieces. Sew pieces together along LOF; press seam to one side.
Center and layer backing, batting, and quilt top together to make quilt sandwich. Baste layers together and quilt as desired.
Trim batting and backing even with quilt top.
Using diagonal seams, make Fabric C binding from (8) 2½” x WOF strips. Fold binding in half lengthwise, matching wrong sides; press length. Sew binding to quilt top and miter corners; join binding ends as desired. Press binding away from quilt top and fold over quilt’s edge to back of quilt. Hand-stitch binding in place to finish.
Bernice Norton
I am the lucky granddaughter who inherited this quilt. My grandmother loved to quilt, and it became her winter project. She made several quilts each winter, mostly out of necessity, but she loved the art of quilting as well.
Grandmother picked cotton in the fall and set aside enough for her quilt battings. She handcombed the newly harvested cotton and prepared the batting. Her quilting fabric consisted of scraps, flour sacks, fabrics from garments from when there was no more wear, and any cloth that would piece well. She was always thrilled to find matching flour sacks at the grocers and pieces of fabric at the mercantile store.
This quilt has completely matching orange and cream in the center, but the borders around the outside are various fabrics within those colors. I recognize one of the border fabrics as a large scrap from my school dress. The charm of these old quilts is in the various fabrics pulled into them. I love this quilt and the sweet lady who made it.
—PHYLLIS HOFFMAN DEPIANO