Wonky stars are a fun way to take a break from precise cutting and measuring. This project is perfect for using up your scraps, whether you want a scrappy, mismatched look or you'd rather build it around a single fat quarter. It's also easy to modify, which makes it a great pick for type B quilters who like to plan a little or a lot.

For my finished quilt, I used QCT6 Pro and imported the design I wanted to quilt it with. That process is simple, and I'll walk you through it later in this post. But first, let's get started on the wonky star blocks.

Making the Blocks

One of the best things about this pattern is that you can make it any size you want. Just pick your block size before you start. I went with 5 inch squares, which is also a great excuse to use up a charm pack for your center and background squares. You could just as easily go smaller, like 3 inch squares, if you want a more scrappy, detailed look.

For each block, you'll need:

• 8 background squares
• 1 center square
• Scraps for your star points

The background and center squares should all be the same size (5 inches, in my case), but the scraps for your star points can be cut to whatever size you like since you'll be trimming them down as you go. Four of your background squares will form the corners of the block, and the other four are what you'll use to piece your star points. If you're more of a visual learner, check out our YouTube tutorial for a full walkthrough on how to make the wonky star block.

Step 1: Lay it out

Start by laying out your background squares and deciding which one will be your center block. The remaining squares are where you'll add your star points.

Step 2: Add your first star point

To make a point, place a scrap piece right sides together on a background square, positioned diagonally across one corner. Sew a quarter inch seam in from the edge of the scrap. You can play around with the placement and angle, just make sure the scrap fully covers the corner of the background square, since you'll trim it back to size afterward.

 

Step 3: Trim and press

Once you've sewn on a point, grab your rotary cutter and trim away the excess fabric, leaving a quarter inch seam allowance. Press the seam open, then trim the block back to a clean 5 inch square.

 

Step 4: Add a second point

Repeat this process to add a second point to the same square, using a new piece of scrap fabric. This is where you can really have fun: try thin, sharp points or longer, more dramatic ones. There's no wrong way to do it! Once both points are sewn and trimmed, lay the square next to your center block to see how the layout is coming together. Repeat the entire process for the remaining three background squares.

Bonus: those trimmed-off triangle scraps are perfect for foundation paper piecing later, so save them if you can. 

 

Step 5: Assemble the block

With your four-point squares complete, arrange your pieces with the center square in the middle and a point square on each side. Once you're happy with the layout, sew the squares together into rows, then press your seams. For the outer rows of my block, I pressed the seams in the same direction, and for the middle row, I pressed them the opposite way. This lets the seams nest together neatly when you stitch the rows into the block.

For my quilt, I made 36 wonky star blocks and arranged them in a 6 by 6 layout. With 5 inch squares, each finished block came out to 13.5 inches, giving me a finished quilt top that measures 81 by 81 inches.

 

Quilting the Top with QCT6 Pro

With the top pieced, it's time to quilt it. I used a pantograph design that wasn't part of QCT6's built-in library, so I'll walk you through how to upload your own design. If you'd rather see it in action, check out our YouTube tutorial for a visual walkthrough.

Here's how to get it into QCT6:

1. Save your design file. I had my pattern stored on a hard drive as a .qli file, so I moved it onto an external drive.
2. Open QCT6 Pro on your tablet, and once everything loads, tap Pantograph on the home screen.
3. Set your maximum quiltable area. QCT6 Pro will prompt you for this. Leave yourself an inch or two of buffer from your bar so your machine doesn't bump your frame while quilting.
4. Choose your design. QCT6 Pro comes with hundreds of built-in designs, but since my pattern wasn't in the library, I plugged in my external drive and selected Plug-ins in the upper right corner.
5. Batch import your file. Select Batch Imports, then New Drive in the upper left corner. Choose your connected device and scroll to find your saved .qli file. Select it, then tap Import. You'll see a confirmation banner once it's successfully imported.
6. Select your pattern. Tap Home, then Select Pattern, then Patterns. Look for the folder labeled Batch and choose the design you just imported.
7. Adjust to fit. QCT6 Pro lets you resize your pattern and change its direction. Once it looks right, tap Zone in Zone to preview your design within your quiltable area, then calibrate your machine to set your quilting zones.
8. Sew! Tap Sew and watch QCT6 Pro bring your wonky star quilt to life.

Bringing It All Together

And that's it. A whole quilt built from scraps, a little wonkiness, and QCT6 Pro doing the precision work for you. It's proof that you don't need a perfectly matched fabric stash to make something you'll want to keep on your bed for years.

Products used in this project:

• Cutting mat
• Square ruler
• Rotary cutter
• QCT6 Pro

If you loved this project, we've got plenty more where that came from. Follow us for free on YouTube or Instagram for new patterns, quilting tips, and what's coming next from Grace Company.