So this month in my Flickr- Neutral or Not bee – I had the honor to make a block for Christina of The Parfait Cafe . Christina wanted a star block and sent over grey and a variation of purple solids… OMG I totally need to make an all solid quilt now…
Christina is Super Talented and I was a bit nervous to make a block in which I had complete control over the design…
Its funny how I do my best work when I am worried about not being good enough…
I designed this block after seeing a paper template where the weaves are thicker… but I really wanted to incorporate thinner weaves … so I can use a wide variation of fabric.
I drew it on paper with a ruler… the paper template was terrible looking. I decided to spruce it up because I got so many compliments on it.
AND…… then decided to take it one step further with a tutorial….
So I made this…
Print 4 block templates.
Cut blocks out.
Cut out your fabrics.
I used 2.5×2.5 squares for the point of the star
Then used 1.5 inch strips for the braid
on the back side of your template square you 2.5×2.5 square in the corner and place the #2 fabric choice faces together overlapped about 1/4 inch… where if you folded the 2 over it would cover the 2 spot… does this make sense… you turn it over and sew on the line between one and 2…
See….
Flip it over and press….
Now the third piece… same idea… faces together over the line aprox… 1/4 inch.. Turn over and press… trim a bit… if you need to…
fold over and press….
Continue on….
Once you are all done with the weaving… I like to fold section 14 back… and trim the weaves… 1/4 past the edge. ..
Do this on both sides.
And you should have this…
Take a larger piece of your background line it up with the edge of the weave…
Sew flip press… sew flip press.. trim
Sew them together… careful to line up background fabric to each other… I prefer to leave the paper on … but take it off if that’s your preference.
And you are done!!!!
I took it one step further…
Now… what to turn this in to…. any ideas leave a comment 
AWESOME!!!! So great that you took our bee block to the NEXT LEVEL! What program did you use to make the template? It’s very pro
Thanks for sharing it with everyone!
Anna, I used Adobe illustrator… I scanned in the one I drew on paper and then used that as a guide. Thanks so much!
Your block is lovely. I have done the braids without paper piecing them but they are even prettier when the lines are so nice and straight. I expect that your block would make a beautiful pillow.
Thanks Leanne! I think its so much more precise when you paper piece.
Fantastic tutorial! Thanks for sharing your design and template!
Thanks taya!
Yup that is the same one that I saw in an old magazine and have wanted to make. It turned out great and a nice tut too.
Those blocks are stunning! Thank you for the tutorial! I would make the 2nd block into a wallhanging & put it somewhere you could see frequently!
Whatever you decide to make this into is going to be great. Love the little bits and just how many different fabrics you were able to include.
Thanks Karen!
Thank you so much for the tutorial and block pattern. It’s wonderful!
you’re very welcome! I am glad you can enjoy it.
Thanks for a great tutorial and pattern. The blocks are very effective.
Celine
Thanks Celine!
[...] This was such fun to make! I need to add a 2″ border and quilt it, then it’ll be off to my swap partner! If you want to make this block, you’ll find the paper piecing template and tutorial at http://www.add-crafter.com/2012/04/basketweave-braid-star-block/ [...]
thank you ever so much this is extra ordinaryly wonderful
Thanks Carol!
wow this block is gorgeous. what about making a couple more and making a table topper?
i need to get over my fear of pp’ing!
I was scared of paper piecing as well… but I love the precision it allows… Its a lot easier then you may think.
Okay what popped into my mind for what to make it into – is to make another one in each color family and surround it (so you would need 8 color family blocks) – use a gradation scale. So this would be the center block – and WOW what a wallhanging!!! Or table topper!!!!
Nice job. Please let us know what you end up doing – and post photos!!!
Sydney, That sounds awesome! I am torn between just quilting it and hanging it up, a pillow, or a table topper… I think I am going to sit on this for a while… but I will post photos when its finished…
Found you through Pinterest and wanted you to know I love it! Thanks for the pattern, it’s on my bucketlist
Thanks! Enjoy it- its fun to do and is great for scrap busting.
[...] quality solids. My friend, Pam, told me about a tutorial for a braided star block on the blog of The ADD Crafter. It was a fun block to make, and it was the perfect size for the Doll Quilt [...]
Thanks for linking up my site! I appreciate it!
Wow. Love it! I am going to make it with white background and use for a signature quilt–probably with 1930′s fabric.
Sounds Beautiful! I’d love to see the finished product!
I was directed to your blog by a posting on a Yahoo quilting group I belong to via Pewter Acorn Quilts blog and just had to say I love this block! Thank you so much for sharing it with us. Absolutely beautiful.
Thank you Pam! Especially for referring people to it… Enjoy!
[...] be awesome for set up a linky party so you can show your work! The original tutorial is found here: http://www.add-crafter.com/2012/04/basketweave-braid-star-block/ Share this:EmailPrintFacebookStumbleUponFiled Under: Sewing← Fat Quarter Idol on Sew Mama [...]
Thanks for the great pattern Nydia! I just finished making two of these blocks for a quilting bee and they turned out great!
[...] finally Nydia! Nydia is the genius behind this great block design. She is doing a ROYGBIV quilt and wanted a warm block and a cool block. I’m currently [...]
pillow! or a mini quilt. So pretty!
@ellisonlane Thanks I ended up using it for a pillow gift for a friend…