Cutting the background squares and triangles

*Now that you have your ACCURATE* paper template for the big star, you can figure the size of your corner squares and triangles.** One of the successful secretes for a Lone Star that lies flat is to cut your outside background pieces the correct size. If you try to force in a piece that is too big the outside will ruffle. If you try to stretch in a piece that is too small, the center will volcano up. Floating Blocks: Here is an alternative for you. You can cut the background pieces larger so your star "floats" on the background. Here are some instructions on how to cut background pieces to make your blocks float.	Here I will show you how to cut your squares and correct triangles. Say the pink stripes are the straight grain of your fabric. You want all the outside edges of the quilt to be on the straight of the grain. The squares are not a big problem but the triangles must be cut a certain way. If you just cut a square in half on the diagonal to make a triangle, then your outside edges will be on the bias.
STEP 1: Custom cut pieces. To get the size of the square you will need, you have to measure from the tip of the paper template to the center angle. Your seam allowances are included in this template.
STEP 2: Take your above measurement and cut four squares with the sides the width of the measurement that you just took. You can cut the four squares with sides touching to save fabric. STEP 3: For the triangles,you want to cut the triangles so the outside edge is the diagonal measurement of one square from corner to corner. And you want to cut them so the outside edge is on the straight of the grain. (See diagram at right) Don't cut off the side of the square, this just shows your the diagonal area! Another way to get the diagonal measurement of the square, multiply one square side measurement by 1.414 STEP 4: Take that diagonal measurement number you got from multiplying and cut a square with the outside edges the length of the diagonal measurement figured above. To get triangles for your quilt, cut that square from corner to corner on the diagonal to get four triangles. The outside corners will be on the straight of the grain.	Cutting your triangles the above way is also great if you have a one way or striped fabric. The print will all end up going in one direction.
And there you have it! It's not magic, it's just math.	If your length is 8 inches or 88 inches, this method will make your squares and triangles for your custom size 8 pointed star.

Next would be #8, setting squares and triangles into your star.

Main Introduction Page	2) How big a star	3) Fabric choices	4)You need a 45 degree diamond 4a) If you have a 45 degree diamond 4b) draft using a protractor. 4c) draft using a compass. 4d) .pdf format printout	5) Making a star point in any length
6) Sew Page 1 Page 2	7) figure size of background squares and triangles	8) Sewing together star points/ setting in the background	9) Adding Borders 9a) floating blocks	*10) really easy* Lone Star quilt.**