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The Arkansas Star Quilt Block pattern published by American Patchwork & Quilting makes a 6-inch finished square from white, pink, and blue prints. It uses pieced star points and a pieced center, then joins the units in rows. Follow the publisher’s pattern pieces for the cutting and assembly details; the name alone does not establish a link to an older Arkansas quilt block in a museum collection.
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What you need for the published 6-inch block
American Patchwork & Quilting’s pattern, listed January 16, 2014, calls for white, pink, and blue print scraps. The colors are the pattern’s example; they are not necessary for every interpretation. Its cutting directions specify four 2½-inch white squares and pattern pieces in white, pink, and blue. The pink and blue squares are cut diagonally twice to make triangles, with leftovers.
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- Discover a dazzling array of quilts featuring Star blocks, a perennial favorite of quilters for generations
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- See more in product description.
How the block is assembled
- Cut the fabric. Cut four 2½-inch white squares. Cut the remaining white, pink, and blue pieces with the publisher’s pattern pieces. Cut the pink and blue squares diagonally twice to create triangles, as directed by the pattern.
- Piece the star points. Sew the white A and reversed-A pieces with B triangles to form the point units, following the pattern-piece orientation.
- Make the center. Piece pink and blue triangles together to form the star center.
- Join the units. Arrange the point units, center, and white squares as shown in the pattern, sew them into rows, and join the rows to complete the block.
The publisher identifies the finished block as 6 inches square. Consult the downloadable pattern for the full piece shapes, layout, and sewing specifications; the abbreviated listing does not establish seam allowances or a complete cutting diagram.
Is this the same as the historic Arkansas “Star” block?
No connection is established by the available records. The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History catalogs a separate cotton “Star” quilt block made in Union, Arkansas, dated 1840–1860. It is an eight-pointed star and measures 22 by 22 inches. The catalog describes a green cotton star, a red and yellow rose at the center, and red scallops in each arm; it says the block belonged to a series intended for a quilt. Those details do not show that it is the same design as, or a source for, the modern 6-inch pattern.
| Record | Documented size | Documented construction or description | Provenance evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Patchwork & Quilting, “Arkansas Star Quilt Block” | 6-inch finished square | Publisher pattern pieces; pieced points and center assembled in rows | Pattern listing dated January 16, 2014 |
| Smithsonian, “1840–1860 ‘Star’ Quilt Block” | 22 × 22 inches | Eight-pointed cotton star; green star, rose at center, red scallops in each arm | Museum object record dates it to 1840–1860 and identifies Union, Arkansas |
These are separate records, and neither cited source documents a design lineage between them. Do not scale the modern pattern to reproduce the museum object: their dimensions and descriptions differ, and the available pattern information does not establish that their geometry or seam allowances match.
Arkansas quilt history and star designs
The Historic Arkansas Museum says Arkansas quilts made before 1850 are rare, and that most surviving nineteenth-century Arkansas quilts were produced in the last quarter of that century. Its “Stitched Together” exhibit describes quilts as practical textiles as well as complex works, and notes that pattern names could reflect everyday life and change over time. That context supports caution about treating a pattern name as proof of origin.
Rank #3
- Designer(s): Debbie Maddy
- Straight Seams, No "Y" Seams, Fat Quarter Friendly
- Finished Size(s): Wall 36in x 36in, Lap 70in x 70in, Queen 90in x 102in.
- Pattern No. CCQD150
- Please Note: Offered for sale is a Pattern, Not a finished item.
The exhibit also discusses a distinct “Star of Bethlehem” quilt made by Mary Jane Vincent around 1860 in Searcy, Arkansas. Thousands of diamond-shaped pieces radiate from its center; the exhibit says the effect is believed to have been influenced by the early nineteenth-century kaleidoscope. This is relevant to Arkansas star-quilt history, but it does not establish an origin story for the separately published Arkansas Star block.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Pattern only
- Four size options
Rank #4
- Puffin Star Quilt Pattern Booklet.
- Advanced beginner skill level suggested, small pieces, diagonal piecing, and a few points to match.
- This pattern includes the instructions for creating the 52.5in x 52.5in quilt as shown on the cover.
- The pattern is laid out in a way that you can also create the large puffin block (15in x 15in finished) and small puffin block (8in x 8in finished) individually for smaller projects or different quilt layouts.
- Instructions and images are included for creating the blocks facing in both directions.
Sources
- American Patchwork & Quilting: “Arkansas Star Quilt Block”
- Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of American History: “1840–1860 ‘Star’ Quilt Block”
- Historic Arkansas Museum / Arkansas Heritage: “Stitched Together” online exhibit
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