Just One Star Challenge

A couple of the blogs I follow recently posted about participating in the Just One Star challenge.  The challenge, hosted by Moda in conjunction with the Semper Fi Fund, asks each person to piece together a star, which will then be combined to create a quilt for an injured soldier.

Although I've never pieced together a star before, this came together pretty easily and quickly.  Moda provides the instructions for you and they include diagrams, which I find immensely helpful.  You don't need much fabric for this star—I was able to use scraps from previous sewing projects.  Here is my finished product.

Getting there doesn't take much time at all.  First, cut out all of the pieces as specified on page 2 of the instructions. 

Draw a diagonal line on the back of the 2" x 2" patterned pieces.

Then place the patterned piece and one of the 2" x 3.5" background pieces right sides together with the patterned piece flush left and the diagonal line pointing toward the top center.

Stitch along the diagonal line.

Trim the patterned piece 1/4" from the stitched line.

And press the patterned piece to the corner of the background piece.

Now, pin another 2" x 2" patterned piece piece to the other side of the background piece and repeat the same process.

You end up with a piece that looks like this.  Repeat these steps with the three other 2" x 3.5" background pieces and the rest of the 2" x 2" patterned pieces.

Once you are finished making the piece shown above, take one of them and sew two of the 2" x 2" background pieces to the sides, as shown below. 

Press the back away from the center.  Repeat these steps so you have 2 side pieces as shown below.

Take the pieces shown above and place them on the 3.5" x 3.5" patterned piece (the star center) with right sides together.  Stitch 1/4" seam to attach sides.

Take the other two side pieces and place them on the star center with right sides together.  Stitch 1/4" seam to attach.

Press all back seams away from the center.  Look, it's a star!

Finger press the large triangle background pieces in half to find the center.

Align the center of the background piece with the center of the star piece and stitch 1/4" seam.  Repeat on the opposite side.

Align the center of the other two background pieces to the center of the star piece and stitch 1/4" seams.

Press all back seams away from the center.  And you're done!

I always love when the back of the quilting looks as good as the front, and this star doesn't disappoint. 

I would have liked to match up the circles in the pattern so it doesn't look so crazy, but that's way beyond my skill level at this point.  I just have to find a brown pigma pen to sign my name and home state to the star and then it'll be on its way! 

Hopefully Moda will post photos of some of the finished projects.  I love when people get together for the common good, and I especially love projects like this that display the differing taste of its participants.  This is a great cause and won't take up too much of your time or money, so get stitching!