Duck Tracks Quilt Block Pattern Tutorial

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See step-by-step how to make the easy duck tracks quilt block, a star block. Get fabric requirements for four sizes including 12 inch.

Duck Tracks Star Quilt Block Pattern

The little known duck tracks star looks a lot like the double friendship star quilt block. But it is made up of slightly different base units.

What units make up the duck tracks star quilt block?

1. four plain background squares (Fabric B) in each corner.
2. four squares from two different fabrics (Fabrics A & B) to make four half square triangles (HSTs) that make up the secondary star
3. four rectangles from two different fabrics (Fabrics C & D) for the primary star
4. four plain background squares (Fabric B) to replace a corner on the rectangles.

Duck Tracks Star Block Cutting and Trimming Chart

In this tutorial the fabrics are designated as follows:

• Fabric A = secondary star (dark blue print)
  
• Fabric B = background (med blue variegated)
• Fabric C = primary star (med blue print)
• Fabric D = primary star (light blue print)

The HST squares are cut oversized. Once the HSTs are made, trim them to size.

8 Inch Finished Size Block (8 1/2 unfinished size)

• Fabric A: Cut 2 (3 1/2) inch squares (HSTs) (secondary star)
• Fabric B: Cut 4 (2 1/2) inch squares (corner squares)
• Fabric B: Cut 4 (2 1/2) inch squares (replace corner of rectangles)
• Fabric B: Cut 2 (3 1/2) inch squares (HSTs) (secondary star)
• Fabric C: Cut 2 (2 1/2 x 4 1/2) inch rectangles (primary star)
• Fabric D: Cut 2 (2 1/2 x 4 1/2) inch rectangles (primary star)

Note: After stitching the oversized HSTs to make the duck tracks quilt block star points, trim HSTs to 2 1/2 inches.

12 Inch Finished Size Block (12 1/2 unfinished size)

• Fabric A: Cut 2 (4 1/2) inch squares (HSTs) (secondary star)
• Fabric B: Cut 4 (3 1/2) inch squares (corner squares)
• Fabric B: Cut 4 (3 1/2) inch squares (replace corner of rectangles)
• Fabric B: Cut 2 (4 1/2) inch squares (HSTs) (secondary star)
• Fabric C: Cut 2 (3 1/2 x 6 1/2) inch rectangles (primary star)
• Fabric D: Cut 2 (3 1/2 x 6 1/2) inch rectangles (primary star)

Note: After stitching the oversized HSTs, trim to 3 1/2 inches.

16 Inch Finished Size Block (16 1/2 unfinished size)

• Fabric A: Cut 2 (5 1/2) inch squares (HSTs) (secondary star)
• Fabric B: Cut 4 (4 1/2) inch squares (corner squares)
• Fabric B: Cut 4 (4 1/2) inch squares (replace corner of rectangles)
• Fabric B: Cut 2 (5 1/2) inch squares (HSTs) (secondary star)
• Fabric C: Cut 2 (4 1/2 x 8 1/2) inch rectangles (primary star)
• Fabric D: Cut 2 (4 1/2 x 8 1/2) inch rectangles (primary star)

Note: After stitching the oversized HSTs to make the duck tracks quilt block star points, trim HSTs to 4 1/2 inches.

20 Inch Finished Size Block (20 1/2 unfinished size)

• Fabric A: Cut 2 (6 1/2) inch squares (HSTs) (secondary star)
• Fabric B: Cut 4 (5 1/2) inch squares (corner squares)
• Fabric B: Cut 4 (5 1/2) inch squares (replace corner of rectangles)
• Fabric B: Cut 2 (6 1/2) inch squares (HSTs) (secondary star)
• Fabric C: Cut 2 (5 1/2 x 10 1/2) inch rectangles (primary star)
• Fabric D: Cut 2 (5 1/2 x 10 1/2) inch rectangles (primary star)

Note: After stitching the oversized HSTs, trim to 5 1/2 inches.

Duck Tracks Quilt Block Instructions

WOF = Width Of Fabric
Seams are 1/4 inch unless otherwise noted.

Step 1 Spray and press all squares with a starch alternative pressing solution.

Place Fabric A HST square right side up and place Fabric B HST square right side down on top of it. Align all edges.

Step 2 Place a quilting ruler on the left leaning (\) diagonal axis of the squares. Use a rotary cutter and make a cut from corner to corner as shown below.

You've cut two half square triangle pairs. Repeat Steps 1 and 2 to cut two more HST pairs for a total of four.

Step 3 Stitch each HST pair together along the diagonal edge.

Step 4 Fold Fabric B back to open the HST with fabrics right side up.

Press the seams toward the darker fabric.

Step 5a Trim each HST to size.

Use a square quilting ruler. Align its diagonal line along the diagonal seam of the HST. Ensure that your cut to size (in this case 3 1/2 inches) measurement lines are well within the boundaries of the HST.

Using a rotary cutter, make cuts along the right and top sides of the HST.

Step 5b Rotate the HST to align the two cut sides with the cut to size (in this case 3 1/2 inches) measurement lines of the ruler. Make cuts along the right and top sides of the HST.

Now all four sides are trimmed and the HST is cut to the size you need to make your duck tracks quilt block.

Step 6 Place a rectangle right side up on cutting the cutting mat. Right side down place a small square on the right hand side of the rectangle. Align edges.

Place the 1/4 inch measurement line of the quilting ruler along the left leaning (\) diagonal axis of the small square. Make a cut along the ruler's edge, leaving a 1/4 inch seam allowance ready to be sewn.

Step 7 Stitch a seam along each diagonal edge.

You get a bonus half square triangle which you can save for another project.

Step 8 Peel the triangle unit back right side up. Press towards background Fabric B.

Step 9 Layout the units in a loose four patch grid as shown in the photo below. Here you can see the duck tracks quilt block take shape.

Step 10 Using the letters in the above photo as a guide, stitch the square units together: Stitch B to A. Stitch D to C. Stitch F to E. Stitch H to G.

Press the seams towards the background Fabric B.

Step 11 Use lettering in the photo of Step 9 as a guide: Stitch Unit I to Unit A/B. Stitch Unit C/D to Unit J. Stitch Unit K to Unit E/F. Stitch Unit G/H to Unit L.

Now you can see that the duck tracks form a four patch grid. Stitch it together just like a basic four patch quilt block.

Step 12 Rows 1 and 2: Stitch the right square to the left square.

Press the seams: Row 1: press seam to the right. Row 2: press seam to the left.

Step 13 Stitch row two to row one. Press the seam towards row one.

Your duck tracks quilt block is complete!

Duck Tracks Quilt Block Star Quilt Layout

Here's what an 88 x 100 inch queen size duck tracks star quilt would look like in a straight setting.

It uses the duck tracks quilt block pattern and alternate plain squares in 12-inch finished size blocks (12 1/2 unfinished size).