It’s that wonderful time of year when everyone is decking the halls, stringing lights, and gathering inside for yummy food, holiday good cheer, and stitching up cute holiday quilt blocks 😉 It must mean the Quiltmas Spectacular 2022 is here! The Quiltmas Elves have been hard at work dreaming up new Christmas quilt blocks for your holiday stitching joy!
This year I’m super excited to reveal the dynamic and bold Refracted Star quilt block pattern. She’s a modern quilt block that’s perfect for settling in for a chain piecing session, which is just perfect timing with all the cold winter months ahead of us!
The Refracted Star block is sure to add quilty flare to any project you feature her in: think stockings, table runners, and quilted pillows. I’m sharing some mock-ups below to give you some quilty ideas and inspiration 😊
But first, let me tell you a little bit about how this quilt block came to be and what quilt technique you’ll be mastering by the end of making her.
The Refracted Star quilt block pattern is available for instant download in the shop.
This post contains affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, if you click through and make a purchase, I may receive a commission.
Inspiration Behind the Refracted Star Quilt Block
One of my favourite things about winter is seeing the stars shine and twinkle in the night sky. There’s something about cold winter nights that seems to make them sparkle even more!
This probably explains why exploring the concept of stars in quilt block format keeps drawing me in!
I love the graphic nature they inherently have, and I appreciate that you can riff off the design concept in different ways. In the Winter Star quilt pattern, I explored a more traditional star block concept, while the Shattered Star quilt pattern delved into a more abstract and unconventional take on a star. With the Refracted Star quilt block pattern, I wanted the feel to be explosive and expansive. As if the angles of the star are actively reflecting light and movement.
To achieve that feeling of dimension, I turned to a quilt block that’s been all the quilty rage these last couple of years and I figured it was about time I dove in myself: hello half-rectangle triangles (aka HRT)!
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The sky in general is definitely a source of design inspiration as you can see in these projects:
Quilt Technique Featured in the Refracted Star Quilt Block
Remember when I shared that my quilt journey started with the discovery of half-square triangles (HST)? Well, they have a lovely quilty cousin called the half-rectangle triangle (HRT) that adds amazing movement and detail to your quilted projects!
Now, these HRT are not as straightforward as the super cute HST and take a little more time to wrap your head around, especially the trimming – ouuf!
After making quite a few HRT, I finally got the hang of them and understood the key things to look for to keep my points looking sharp.
To help you out, you can find a step-by-step tutorial on How to Make and Trim Half-Rectangle Triangles Using the 2-at-a-Time Method here.
In case you haven’t tried making HRT, I wanted to make sure you had a reference to turn to for pictures of what your HRT should look like at each step 😊
Materials Needed to Make the Refracted Star Quilt Block
The great news is that you don’t need a ton of materials and notions to stitch up this lil’ cutie!
- Refracted Star Quilt Block Pattern
- 6 Fabrics of choice – I’m using AGF Pure Solids in:
- 50wt thread for piecing
- Rotary cutter
- Cutting mat
- Rotating cutting mat – for trimming your HRT (optional, but super handy you can read why here)
- Ruler
- Iron
- Ironing board or wool pressing mat
- Sewing machine
- Marking tool
- Pins
- Pin cushion
Find all of my most used notions here.
Refracted Star Quilt Block Design Ideas
Here are just a few mock-ups of project ideas you can feature the Refracted Star quilt block pattern in:
Table Runner
Just add some borders and voìla you have a gorgeous modern holiday table runner to show off this Christmas!
Cushions
You know my love for pillows, not only are they cozy but they can spruce up your décor in no time flat!
Quilt
I’m just itching to make a full-on quilt featuring the Refracted Star quilt block. Here are some layout ideas I’m considering:
What is the Quiltmas Spectacular
The Quiltmas Spectacular is an annual quilting tradition where 12 quilt pattern designers come together to spread quilty holiday good cheer through 12 unique Christmas quilt block patterns.
Starting December 1, each modern pattern is revealed every day for the first 12 days of December. The patterns are offered exclusively via email by signing up for the Quiltmas Spectacular 2022 here.
Important – even if you signed up for previous years’ Quiltmas Spectacular, you still need to sign up to receive this year’s patterns.
How to Participate in the Quiltmas Spectacular
The only way to participate and receive the free quilt block patterns is by getting on the Quiltmas Spectacular newsletter list!
You can sign up here to participate in this year’s Quiltmas Spectacular and get your copy of all 12 free quilt block patterns emailed straight to your inbox!
Hurry, the Quiltmas Elves will be closing the doors to the Quiltmas Spectacular sign-up on December 31, 2022.
For more holiday block inspiration, check out:
I can’t wait to see your Refracted Star blocks start popping up on Instagram. Be sure to use #RefractedStarQuilt and #ShannonFraserDesignsPatterns on your post so I can see it too 😊
Happy holiday stitching!
xo
Shannon
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This is a really fascinating pattern. I can see that it would be well worth the time required to do the HRT’s…a shape I am particularly drawn to. Thank you for sharing and please now that I really enjoy all of your photography and content. Wishing you, and your family, a healthy and happy Christmas.
Susan from Beautiful British Columbia
You’re just the sweetest, Susan! Thrilled to hear you like the design of the Refracted Star block, it really does create some dynamic shapes! Wishing you a lovely and healthy holiday season and all the best in 2023. More quilty goodness to come!!
This is a stunning block and I can’t wait to make it. Your color palette is perfect. Half square rectangles seem daunting, but after you get a few made and trimmed, the process becomes a lot easier.
You’re 100% right, Cheryl! Once you have a few under your quilty belt it makes so much more sense! That and plotting the size on the ruler with washi tape helps you see things more clearly!
Love this! Where is the PDF patterm?
Hi Sheri, the Refracted Star quilt block is currently available by signing up for Quiltmas Spectacular. The link is just above the comments section or click here: https://bit.ly/QS22SUP