Mexican Star quilt block

The Mexican Star quilt block utilizes a quilt patch that is often called a three quarter square triangle unit by quilters. This quilt patch uses three right angled triangles inside a square. The learning part in sewing this unit is that you use both half square triangles and quarter square triangles. This seems strange until you realize that it is always favourable to have the straight grain of the triangle fabric on the outermost edge. Whenever possible you do not want to have a bias edge on the outer edge of a patch.  As you construct this patch you will understand what I mean.

Mexican Star quilt block

The construction of this quilt block is done in what I call "chunks" and then arranged as a uneven nine patch block (so named because it is constructed as a nine patch but with uneven rows).


I liked this quilt block for its simplicity and because it has an often underused patch (in my opinion) -- the three quarter square triangle as I mentioned above.

The two sample quilts shown below are constructed with common settings of the blocks. I just really liked how all of the colours came together.

Quilts designed using the MEXICAN STAR quilt block

<sub>All images © W. Russell, patchworksquare.com

This website uses cookies. By using the services and products of this website, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more ...</sub>

'Mexican Star' ... and ... a Mexican Star

Mexican Star

Today's featured quilt block is called Mexican Star. I just liked the way it all went together and the resultant quilts you can make using just this one block. The making of this quilt block can be a wonderful learning experience if you are new to quilting, as it introduces you to several different quilt patches during the construction.

Download the free quilt block pattern.

And ... speaking of a "Mexican Star" ... how about some poignant words from another Mexican star?

Eva Longoria

• "I’ve always said I want a farmer, not a hunter. Hunters go for the kill and they move on. A farmer nurtures; he watches things grow."
  ~ Eva Longoria

Quotes from Other Celebrities

• "If everyone demanded peace instead of another television set, then there'd be peace."
  ~ John Lennon


• "Sometimes good things fall apart so better things can come together."
  ~ Marilyn Monroe


• "Life is hard. It's harder if you're stupid."
  John Wayne


• "I never realized until lately that women were supposed to be the inferior sex."
  ~ Katharine Hepburn


• "We owe a lot to Thomas Edison - if it wasn't for him, we'd be watching television by candlelight."
  ~ Milton Berle


• "I am a thing of beauty."
  ~ Frank Sinatra


• " 'I am' is reportedly the shortest sentence in the English language. Could it be that 'I do' is the longest sentence?"
  ~ George Carlin

_{'Mexican Star' quilt block © W. Russell, patchworksquare.com
Eva Longoria image courtesy clker.com}