Texas Star Quilt Pattern
DESIGNER:
Effie Ella Bryant
QUILTED BY:
Mona M. Richards
DIFFICULTY LEVEL ‣ ADVANCED
FINISHED QUILT SIZE:
67″ x 81″
FINISHED BLOCK SIZE:
11″ x 11″
This sunny quilt is a multigenerational quilt. The top was made by Effie Ella Bryant of Stella, Arkansas. She was close to her granddaughter, Mona M. Richards, who inherited the quilt top. Mona quilted and finished the quilt, and when she passed, her daughter, Rhonda Lee Lother, inherited it. Interestingly, early generations of the family used knife-edge binding, which is the technique Mona used. The Bryant family lived primarily in Arkansas and Texas, which might be the reason Effie chose the Texas Star pattern. The quilt is made with English Paper Piecing, which makes it an ideal hand project to carry with you.
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 directional prints, you may want to purchase more fabric than called for. Pattern is based on an antique quilt and has been simplified as needed for ease of construction and may differ slightly from original.
WOF = width of fabric
LOF = length of fabric
FABRIC:
Fabric A: 3⅜ yards solid white fabric
Fabric B: 3⅛ yards total assorted prints
Fabric C: 1¾ yards solid yellow fabric
Backing: 5⅛ yards (for 44/45″-wide) or 2¼ yards (for 108″- wide)
ADDITIONAL SUPPLIES:
Batting: 77″ x 91″ piece
Freezer paper
Scissors
Basting glue (optional)
50 weight or thinner matching thread
#11 or #12 sharps needle for hand sewing
CUTTING:
Using patterns provided, trace and cut paper templates without seam allowances from freezer paper. With shiny side of freezer paper against wrong side of fabric, press paper templates to pieces of fabrics, using dry iron and wool setting. Make sure fabric pieces are at least ¼” larger than paper templates. Use rotary cutter and ruler to cut out each shape ¼” beyond paper edge as shown in
Diagram 1.
From Fabric A, cut:
• 30 octagons from template A
• 120 corners from template C
• 120 triangles from template D
• (20) 3½” squares
• (8) 2½” x WOF binding strips
From Fabric B, cut:
• 30 sets of 8 matching template B wedges
From Fabric C, cut:
• (49) 3½” x 11½” rectangles
Block Assembly
For each template, place paper side up and fold fabric seam allowance over paper edge as shown in Diagram 2. Lightly press. Using running stitch, baste seam allowance to wrong side, stitching through paper (if preferred, use basting glue instead of running stitch).
With right sides facing and folded edges aligned, whipstitch 1 straight edge of Fabric A octagon to bottom edge of (1) Fabric B wedge as shown in Diagram 3. Repeat to attach all Fabric B wedges around Fabric A octagon.
Whipstitch sides of Fabric B wedges together to form a ring.
Referring to Diagram 4, whipstitch Fabric A corners and triangles to ring. Carefully remove freezer paper and press flat to complete Texas Star Block. Make 30.
Since English Paper Piecing (EPP) requires hand sewing, it’s best to use a single strand of 50 wt. thread, knotted at the long end. EPP naturally creates seams that are “pressed” open, exposing the piecing thread. When it’s time to quilt the top, avoid a common quilting technique called “stitch in the ditch.” The sewing machine’s powerful force of the needle may break the threads between the seams.
Quilt Assembly and Finishing
- Paying attention to orientation, lay out blocks, Fabric C 3½” x 11½” sash rectangles, and Fabric A 3½” squares as shown in Quilt Assembly Diagram.
- Join into rows, pressing seams toward sashes.
- Join rows to complete Quilt Center.
Trim selvage edges from 5⅛ yards of backing fabric, fold yardage in half lengthwise, and cut into (2) 91″ x WOF pieces. Sew pieces together along LOF; press seam to one side.
Center and layer backing, batting, and quilt top together to make a quilt sandwich; baste layers together and quilt as desired. Trim batting and backing even with quilt top.
Trim batting and backing even with quilt top.
Using diagonal seams, make Fabric A binding from (8) 2½” x WOF binding 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.
Effie Ella Bryant
Effie Ella Bryant was born December 10, 1897, in Adair County, Kentucky. She and her husband,
Charles M. Bryant, moved to Izard County, Arkansas, where they lived in several small towns,
including Guion and Stella. Stella was a booming community in the 1920s with its own store
and post office. Quilting was an important part of Effie’s life, and many of her quilts feature feed
sacks that she no doubt obtained by purchasing goods in the local store. One of her granddaughters,
Mona M. Richards, has fond memories of her quilting, and she inherited a few of the quilts
and quilt tops after Effie passed on October 6, 1962. Mona quilted and finished this quilt top.