Easy 3-D Starburst Tutorial

I'm using bandanas (97 cents each at Walmart) to show you a very easy technique that gives you a starburst at each intersection of your blocks. Mine will be a Halloween Tablecloth when finished, but you can use this technique for quilts also.

1. Trim the rolled edges off your bandanas. You will also want to trim them all to the same size, as they will probably not be exactly square.

2. Cut 4 squares for each intersection in your tablecloth center.  I cut my squares 5", but if you want larger "starbursts", cut them bigger. I used fabric from my stash for this. Fold each in half diagonally and press.

3. Fold each in half diagonally again and press. You have made prairie points.

4. Pin the raw edges of a prairie point at the edge of your bandana. You can place it closer to the end if you want your points to come together. I planned on an applique circle over mine, so I left a little space. I have placed the open end of the prairie point toward the center of what will be the starburst.( If you place the open end to the outside of the starburst center, you will reverse the direction of each "ray" of the starburst. You may prefer this! It would look more like a flower petal.) 

5. Pin the second bandana over this, right sides together, and sew a 1/4" seam, catching the prairie point in the seam. Press the seams open.

6. Turn over and catch the open side of the prairie point with your finger and......

7. ....flatten so that the folded edge runs down the center. Press well. I use a little spray starch to help it stay in place. You may choose to leave this 3-D, but you can also stitch it down so that it stays flat.

8. Repeat for the two ends perpendicular to the seam you have just sewn. Make sure you place the open end of the prairie points toward the center, unless you have chosen to do the opposite.

9. Repeat steps 4 and 5 for the side you will sew to this. (Pay attention to the colors if you want alternating blocks.) Place right sides together, lining up your seams. Sew a 1/4" seam. Press seams open and flatten the starburst. Press well.

10. In this photo you can see how I've left a space between the ends of my star points. You can make them meet by placing the prairie points closer to the end of each square. You can also see how by placing the open end of each prairie point away from the center, you can make the long points meet in the middle instead of the short points. This is a matter of choice.

11. I chose to applique a circle in the center. You could use a button here. If you brought your points together, you may choose to not put anything in the center.

12. If making this as a tablecloth, sew as many blocks together as you need for the size you want, then add a border all the way around. Mine is not sewn yet, but you can see the look I'm going for! I can even buy some extra bandanas to use as napkins! Since I have turquoise Fiesta dinner plates, I think they will look great with my choices. A few pumpkins as a centerpiece and I'm all set!

That's all there is to it! Make as many blocks as you want and as big as you want. Remember that you don't have to use bandanas for this and that it doesn't have to be a tablecloth. This is a great technique for a quilt also!