How to Sewing an 8 Pointed Star Can Be Easy

Using some very simple techniques, eight pointed stars can be really easy to sew together.

The most difficult part of sewing stars seems to be getting the center to lay flat.

Years ago, a quilting teacher pointed out that if you sew the points into pairs so that the final seam is just a straight seam through the center of the star, that you are more likely to have the star lay flat.

This is a step-by-step discussion showing you how to sew an 8 pointed star together using that process.

In this example, the seams are pressed open which makes the star lay flatter than if you press the seams to one side.

However, if you choose to press your seams to one side, making sure that they all face the same direction around the star will help keep your star flat.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• fabric cut into 8 diamond shapes that will make an 8 pointed star
• sewing machine
• pins

1. 
   Pin pairs of your star points together.

   The first step is to pin pairs of your star points together.
   
   Place your diamonds right sides together and put a pin in the side you will sew.
   
   This is especially helpful if the placement of each diamond is critical to the design.
   
   In my case, I wanted every other diamond section to have that blue stripe down the center.

2. 
   Before the tips have been trimmed and after they have been trimmed.

   Sew the diamonds together using your 1/4 inch seam allowance. You will have 4 pairs of diamonds.
   
   Press the seam allowances open and then trim off the little pointy tips.
   
   The left pair is before the tips have been trimmed. The one on the right is after the points have been trimmed.

3. 
   Place the pairs right sides together.

   Now take the pairs of diamonds and sew them together.
   
   Place them right sides together and put a pin where you will sew the seam.
   
   Sew the pairs together using a 1/4 inch seam allowance.

4. 
   The two halves of the star are sewn together.

   The picture on the right shows the wrong sides of the two halves of the star.
   
   This is after you have sewn the two pairs together and are ready for the final seam.
   
   Press the seam allowances open. Place the two halves right sides together and sew the final center seam.

5. 
   The wrong side of your completed star.

   Stitch your final seam, sewing the two halves together. Press the seam allowances open, and your star will lay flat.

Tips & Warnings

• check to be sure that your seam allowances are an accurate 1/4 inch
• trimming the tips will help by reducing excess fabric

Resources

• How to Quilt