Carpenter Star

Click here to download Carpenter Star Instruction Sheet (PDF file)

Please do not ask me to resize the quilts here on my site. I don’t have time! I only offer free instructions for the quilts I make or plan to make.

If you have problems opening the above link, right click on it and save it to your computer and then open it. Email me with any questions or problems at mmcjohnson@gmail.com

Please note: These instructions were UPDATED on Feb 19, 2011 and if you downloaded them prior to that, a clear explanation for cutting the border half rectangle blocks was not included as you need both regular and reversed triangles when working with rectangles.

While I usually don’t provide fabric yardage for my scrap quilts — EQ7 estimates for this quilt are

1 and 3/8 yards of the background fabric

1 and 3/8 yards of pink

1 and 7/8 yards of brown

Both the pink and brown estimates assume that the borders are pieced.

PLEASE NOTE – these are untested estimates and are provided only as a guide. I’d suggest having extra on hand especially if using the Accuquilt GO to cut your blocks.

Carpenter Star

My finished top

DSC_2296

Here’s another one I made in greens and browns. This one uses a half rectangle block for the pieced border …. experiment with different options – flying geese … piano keys … anything you want!

85 thoughts on “Carpenter Star”

  1. deana

    I can’t believe people asking for this to be resized.
    This is the 3rd line down on the top of the page!!!

    “Please do not ask me to resize the quilts here on my site. I don’t have time! I only offer free instructions for the quilts I make or plan to make.”

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    2. karen Delmarco

      Ah you gotta love people… (insert eyeroll here). Thank you for what you do, you are very generous to give readers your time, patterns, and instruction. Even though your post is old, I just came across it, and felt compelled to comment….keep being awesome 🙂

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  3. Sue Alexander

    Anyone who can’t figure out how to enlarge or decrease a pattern probably should not be trying a pattern that doesn’t meet there needs in its original form. I have only been quilting for 3 years but that is the 1st thing I learned when I started quilting.

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  4. Marie Schlameus

    It seems to me anyone even someone with minimal experience can enlarge or reduce the size of the quilt by adding or deducting inches equally to the cutting instructions.

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    1. Vi Brown

      Exactly. I was trying to decide if I wanted more border and partial corners of the square or what to make it bed sized. Then I simply figured with my calculator what the inside would be in the 6″, then, *, 10 and 12″. Since there are no templates and it’s all squares and HST, I think I am going to make a 12″ and then decide what I want to do about borders so it can fit my Queen sized bed. And all I had to do was simply multiply the number of blocks in the main inner design, which was 8 and by the size block I was contemplating. Simple as pie. Thanks for the free pattern. It’s wonderful to get something of value for free these days. It is much appreciated.

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  5. Mary Hill

    Sent from
    Mary H

    Begin forwarded message:

    Subject: CARPENTER STAR – COPYRIGHTS

    Hi Mary
    Just a quick question, my quilt guild, Great Lakes African American Quilters’ Network, is planning a quilt show this fall. Each member is allowed an opportunity to place a photo of themselves and some of their work in a souvenir book. I would like to include a photo of my carpenter star quilt.

    I need to know if there are any copyrights issues with this inclusion. Our books will be for sale. We are not including any patterns or directions. We are including acknowledgement of the sources of our work, I.e. Designer, pattern name, materials. Etc.
    Please let me know if there are any special permissions I need or if this isn’t allowed. Thank you.

    Sent from
    Mary Hill

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  7. Pat Dull

    Thank you for the pdf. I have seen this quilt many times and always wished for a pattern. I need in bigger, but will add another border. It will grace a derserving veteran at some time. Your instructions are very clear.

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  10. busybeachesterva31verizonnet

    This is such a lovely design and your colors are great. Keep designing. if you are in or passing through Virginia stop by my shop, The Busy Bea LLC in Chester, Va 23831. Just south of Richmond, 2 1/2 miles off I-95.

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    1. Virginia Cohn

      Thank you for this beautiful pattern. It is so generous of you to put it out there for free. It is very much appreciated.

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  20. DORIS BILLION

    THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART FOR ALLOWING ME TO HAVE THIS BLESSED FREE QUILT PATTERN…………I JUST CANT THANK YOU ENOUGH……

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  22. Daphne

    Can you resize this to. . .

    Just kidding! Thank you for the instructions. I knit and crochet now, but this looks like a beginner-friendly enough quilt to try out!

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  24. Janice Shepherd

    Thank you very much it is a beautiful quilt. i am going to make mine in the in browns and green with cream background. Janice

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  25. whit2432

    I feel like I’m very late to the party here, but thank you so much for making this pretty pattern available to us at no cost. That’s amazing!

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  29. Joan

    Love this pattern – did you know….I made this with a one way design. And because of the way you can flip and turn THE BLOCKS WERE FINE! ALL THE LITTLE KITTIES AND PUPPIES WERE RIGHT SIDE UP. So I guess I’m a little late to the party but it’s a great pattern and thanks so much.

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