cutting an 8 point star

[mrsnussbaum]

i saw the "northern star quilt" episode and at the beginning of the show eleanor demonstrated how to cut an 8 point star from one piece of fabric by folding it several times and then taking one cut to make the star. she said this method was how quilters way back when did the 8 point star. does anyone remember how to do it? i believe she had an 8 in. square of blue fabric when she demonstrated. i may be mistaken about the episode name, it could have been a flying geese episode or maybe a combo of the geese and star. s.o.s.!!! i'm obsessed by this!! tried googling it and going to other websites and came up with nothing. any help appreciated!! thanks in advance.

[knitnoid]

Could it have been for a 5 point star? There are numerous web sites with those instructions.

This one looks pretty good.

http://www.ushistory.org/betsy/flagstar ... gstar.html

[mrsnussbaum]

no, it was definitely an 8 point star. i'll just keep looking, i guess. thanks!!

[cyberspacequilter]

Send Qiad Linda a PM and I bet she could help you. She has been able to come up with a lot of info on other questions about El's work.

[kenderosa]

Sounds like flying geese around a square???? Just a guess.

Sue

[Littlebit]

It is like making snowflakes out of paper. Fold in half, fold in half again, then fold edges together where it it pointed in the middle and wider at the top, cut the sharp angles at the wider end. Practice on paper ~ is this clear as mud? Hope this helps you

[Bonnielass]

In Eleanor's 1st Country Christmas book (1986) there is an 8-pointed star.

Materials 1 - 2 3/4" x 20" strip 1st calico
1 - 2 3/4" x 20" strip 2nd calico

Place 2 strips right sides together Sew one side with a 1/4" seam allowance. Mark and cut the star pattern 4 times. It shows a picture of the 2 strips sewn together and marked with a 60(?)degree angle line 5 times on these strips. It's really a diamond shape. And this was for Eleanor's Tree Top Star. I hope this helps.. I know it's not what you were looking for but as least it's a way to do the 8-point.

Debby

[Georgiapeach]

Mrsnussbaum, I remember seeing this on one of her videos I have, I'm not sure but it seems like it was in Stars Across America. I can remember the segment and was fascinated by it, too!

[jackie]

I just tried it using a piece of paper cut at 8" sq and folded twice then folded back the corners like we used to make airplanes. I wasn't sure how to cut it so, I opened up the folds and marked an 8 point star using the fold as seams, folded it back up and made two equal cuts taking off two tirangle shapes (folowoing one of my penciled lines first,then second cut of equal area/shape), when I opened it I had an eight point star.
Hope this helps. Jackie

[INKA]

Whether you cut strips sewn together or just pieces, the trick is: cut at 45degrees to produce an 8 point star (Lemoyne Star) or at 60degrees to make a 6 point star!Do not sew to the edges to avoid the bulk in the middle and keep in mind that Y-seams on the edges will be inevitable!