Folded Star

It's a Brand New Year, and that means Resolutions! 

My first patchwork star, with added cross-stitch

I have been leafing through my collection of patchwork, quilting, embroidery and sewing books, and realised that are many techniques in there that I have never tried. 2025 is the year to put this right. I have set myself the task of making a set of samples using techniques I have never tried, with the critical rule that I have to read and follow the instructions instead of charging off in my own way. 

So on 1st January, I prised Linda Seward's Complete Book of Patchwork, Quilting and Embroidery, off the shelf and got to work on folded patchwork stars. 

The first four sets of folded triangles.

Carefully following the instructions, I used 2" by 3½" rectangles as the base, and folded over a ¼ inch seam along one long edge. These were then folded down the centre line, opened up again and the edges folded in towards the centre to make a triangle with two flaps. I pressed these as I did them so they would keep their shape - a fiddly job, which I usually wouldn't bother with, but the instructions were there to be obeyed.

All nicely ironed, four of these triangles were placed together on a backing fabric, and secured by a stitch at the point of each triangle. 

Round two of triangles. The folded shape can be seen better here.

Next, I added eight more folded triangles in a contrasting colour, lining them up (more or less) with the triangles already sewn down. The final step was to add a further eight triangles around the outside, again, securing at the points, and I also slip-stitched the final ring along the folded edges, to keep everything in place. Because this was just a try-out, I edge-stitched with the machine to finish. 

Finished folded patchwork star.

The result was a slightly wonky star. The layers made it pleasingly puffy, but it looked a bit dull, so, on impulse, and very much not in the instructions, I covered it with tiny cross stitches, with a single thread of floss. 

A much brighter version using 2 inch scraps.

It was time for a more artistic attempt. This time I used smaller rectangles in scraps of fabric. I found it easier to fold the triangles and then secure them with a couple of tacking stitches. This way I could make a whole pile of them, and press them all in one go just before sewing.  I also added another eight triangles around the edge, so the star has a double layer of borders. The star can be continued to be bigger than this - you would need sixteen triangles to make the next round. 

In the end, I was pleased with both results. The technique looks complicated, but it was quite easy to do, and there was very little sewing involved. The yellow star has a lovely 3D effect. But I don't find it the most practical of techniques. Quite a lot of fabric is used in the folding, and because there is little sewing, it probably wouldn't be very robust. 

The latest edition of Linda Seward's book is here . It's a great resource, with clear and detailed step-by-step diagrams throughout.