Stars by Magic: New Super-Easy Techinque! Diamond-Free Stars From Squares & Rectangles! Perfect Points And No Y-Seams!

I have always wanted to make a Lakota Star type quilt but all those diamonds were off putting. This book promised to teach me how to do it, without diamonds, and without Y seams, not that I find Y seams are scary but evidently some do and Nancy avoids them..To be honest I was sceptical, but I love books so I ordered it.This is a magic book.There is potentially a lot of waste in the technique but it turns out that Nancy is as anti-waste as you can get and she has all sorts of neat ideas to turn waste into useful things, like borders, wall hangings and quilt backs. Who would have thought of that?The first seventeen pages are devoted to tips, explanations of the method and how to read the block charts.Block charts? Nancy uses a highly individual cutting chart for each block and what she calls a Quilt Map, a synopsis of all information needed to make the quilt from block size to yardage, all color keyed to the demo quilt. Each block is broken down into step by step colored diagrams.The first block taught in the book is a Lemoyne Star. The Block Chart enables you to choose from 15 different sizes, from 4" to 18". There are a total of 30 star variations from strange cactus-y looking ones to lilies and palm trees, and of course the Lakota Star.This book was a good buy, I recommend it highly; 30 blocks, 10 quilt patterns, a bunch of cool border ideas, what is not to like. If you can stitch a diagonal line you can make complex stars using this method.

Oh dear. I have had this book for years, but it has been a couple of years since I last made a star block using these techniques. I was very quickly reminded of 2 things:1) the methods are very clever and yield near-perfect stars (IF you have an exact 1/4 inch seam allowance AND you nestle all seams when joining the sub-blocks)2) you've got to be willing to part with a significant amount of fabricRegarding that 2nd point, currently I am making an 18 inch Lone Star (Block #9, page 34). It took nearly a full half-yard (actually 15" by 44") of fabric just to make the background. THE BACKGROUND. Of one single 18 inch block.It is a hideous feeling to me whenever I have to cut away the waste pieces from these stars. I still have piles of waste from when the book first came out in 2004, and I will probably never be able to re-purpose these very oddly shaped pieces. I shudder as I type ... (To her credit, the author does have suggestions for how to use all the scraps, but I just do not really care for the ideas.)This reminds me of a third thing:3) I have GOT to learn how to do y-seams better!!

I have been quilting for a number of years and had a few unfinished projects as I had been having difficulty with Y seams and getting the seams to sit flat.The method suggested by Nancy in the book, shows you how to piece good quality blocks with out difficulty and quickly. It is easy to understand with step by step diagrams and an easy understandable explanation. I recommend for beginners as well as a good resource tool for comfortable quilters. I shall look for the authors products in the future.

Terrific condition. This book has easy to follow cutting to stitching instructions. I’m going to use for a variety of projects like make totes with a favorite block. Happy Stars!

This book will forever put to rest the notion that eight pointed stars are difficult! Anyone will be able to make those pesky stars with complete confidence and perfection. Nancy has done ALL the work by giving us 30 stars in many different sizes. She also gives us some beautiful quilt projects to make. She also shows us how to use the "leftovers" to make absolutely beautiful and imaginative quilts. Nothing is wasted. There are some techniques out there that are so wasteful, that I hesitate to use them. With fabric prices steadily climbing, I am very happy to use this wonderful book. Thanks, Nancy. I love the book. It's one of my favorites.

I have avoided star patterns for years because of the difficulty of matching points and those awful "Y" seams. No more! Thanks to this wonderful book by Nancy Johnson-Srebro, I have just finished making my 12th square for the baby quilt I have been wanting to make for a long time. It truly is "super easy." I am thrilled with the results, and Nancy's directions were very clear and easy to follow.

If you want to make PERFECT 8 pointed stars--buy this book. Read the tips, follow the instructions. You get a perfect star. 30 variations of that block. Blocks have instructions for many different sizes of each block, usually in 1" increments. This book has the perfect PAINLESS method to make those 8 pointed stars without set in seams or HST. All squares and rectangles.  Stars by Magic: New Super-Easy Technique! Diamond-Free(R) Stars from Squares and Rectangles! Perfect Points and No Y-Seams!

I purchased this book several years ago and have finally taken the HOUR to sit at the sewing machine and sew. What a pleasant, successful experience!! Follow Ms. Johnson's directions, particularly the pressing directions. I tried a 12" practice square - and am very happy with the results. I also recommend Ms. Johnson's Rotary Magic book, particularly for the cutting advice and pinning approach. These two books are among the most valuable in my rather extensive book collection. Thank you for such dedicated work.

This is a book to keep for me, the method of making them appeals to me greatly as I do not like set in seams. I can do them but do not like them. There are 30 blocks with 9 or so different sizes to make each block in. There are losts of great ideas for using the patterns in a section called Thinking Inside the Block. There are 7 lap or wall sized quilts with all instructions and 3 bed sized. Each quilt has ideas of how else to set the blocks together. There are even ideas on how to use the left over bits. I gave 4 stars because I personally like to have bed sized quilts more than lap sized. Personal preference.