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Rail Fence & Stars Quilt Pattern: Size, Materials and Construction

Rail Fence & Stars finishes at 45 inches square with nine star blocks, strip-pieced Rail Fence units and a Flying Geese inner border.

By ThatPainter Team 2 min read
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Rail Fence & Stars is a 45-inch-square quilt pattern combining strip-pieced Rail Fence units, nine star blocks and a Flying Geese inner border. The pattern’s fabric list is calculated for 44/45-inch-wide, 100% cotton; consult the original project page for its diagrams and personal-use download.

What the Rail Fence & Stars pattern makes

The design pairs Rail Fence units with star blocks and dark sashing. The pictured quilt uses tan and brown prints, red-and-cream accents, a blue inner border, and a brown floral outer border and binding. The pattern identifies the fabrics shown as Mary’s Chocolates by Mary Koval for Blank Quilting; it does not establish whether that line is currently available.

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The quilt center measures 33½ inches square including seam allowances. After the borders are added, the finished quilt measures 45 inches square. The nine star blocks each finish at 9 inches. Measurements in the pattern include ¼-inch seam allowances.

Materials and fabric quantities

These quantities are for the 45-inch-square quilt and assume 44/45-inch-wide, 100% cotton fabric.

Material Pattern quantity
Assorted tan prints Eight ¼-yard pieces
Assorted brown prints Nine 8-inch squares
Red-and-cream print for sashing ¼ yard
Dark brown print for sashing ⅜ yard
Blue print for inner border ¼ yard
Brown floral for outer border and binding 1⅓ yards
Backing fabric 2⅞ yards
Batting One 51-inch square

The pattern directs makers to cut the outer-border and binding strips lengthwise, parallel to the selvages. If choosing substitute prints, use the specified width and yardage as your planning baseline; the design description suggests contrasting lighter tan rails with darker star points. The source does not confirm present-day stock of the fabrics pictured.

How the quilt is assembled

  1. Make the Rail Fence strip sets. Sew three different 1½-by-42-inch tan strips together for each set, press seams in one direction, and make six sets. Cut 72 units, each 3½ inches wide; the units measure 3½ inches square including seam allowances.
  2. Piece nine star blocks. Each block uses Rail Fence units, one 3½-inch brown square and eight 2-inch brown squares. Mark diagonals on the small squares and sew them to Rail Fence unit corners to form the star points, then join the components into rows and a block.
  3. Prepare and arrange the sashing. Marked red-and-cream squares are added to dark brown rectangles to make 24 sashing units. Arrange the blocks, sashing units and 2-inch red-and-cream sashing squares in seven horizontal rows, alternating Rail Fence seam directions as shown in the assembly diagram.
  4. Add the borders and finish. Build the narrow blue inner border with Flying Geese units, then add the brown floral outer border. Layer the quilt top with batting and backing, quilt as desired, and bind it.

Use the original diagrams for triangle orientation and row placement: the written instructions call attention to the direction of marked lines and Rail Fence seams, and a text summary cannot show those layout details.

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Where to get the pattern and what its use permits

The AllPeopleQuilt project page for “Rail Fence & Stars”, dated June 14, 2013, offers a project download. The project is inspired by “Royal Order” by designer Jan Ragaller, and names Laura Boehnke as quiltmaker; the page’s project description is credited to American Patchwork & Quilting Editors. The companion PDF carries a ©Meredith Corporation 2009 notice and states: “Pattern may be downloaded for personal use only. No electronic or printed reproduction permitted without the prior written consent of Meredith Corporation.” Obtain the download from the original page and follow that restriction rather than reposting the pattern.

Rank #4
Rail fence quilt for kids at heart
  • Used Book in Good Condition

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