Materials to Make a Folded Danish Star
- Cotton fabrics in two, three, or four different colors (fat quarters or larger)
- Rotary cutter, ruler, and cutting mat
- Steam iron, pressing surface, and starch
- Bodkin or large safety pin
- Thread snips
- Tweezers
- Sewing machine (I sew with a BERNINA 590 E)
- Reverse pattern foot #1D or Patchwork foot #97D
I’ll show you how to prepare the fabric strips for folding, then scroll down below for detailed video snippets to follow the folding instructions.
First, cut 4 strips of fabric 2 1/2″ wide by 15″ – 16″ long. Press the fabric strips well with spray starch, let it dry, and press well. Pre-starching the strips will help the final star press nice and flat.
Get ready to sew a straight seam down the long end of each strip.
Fold the strip right side together long-ways, and stitch down the long end with a quarter-inch seam. Backstitch at the beginning and end of the strip.
Use a bodkin or large safety pin to turn the strip right side out.
When the strip is turned right side out, press well with the seam to one side of the strip. Roll the seam back and forth with your fingertips to make sure the seam is turned out all the way.
When all the strips are pressed flat, fold each one in half long ways and press a crease in the strip.
Now you’re ready to put the strips together and start folding the star! It’s easiest to see how this process works with the video snips below using four different colored strips. If you’ve ever made these stars with paper strips, it’s a similar process, first you arrange the strips to overlap.
Start folding the fabric and tucking the star points…
Until you’re all finished.
I use a large needle to add a hanger. You can use embroidery floss, fine ribbon, or heavy thread. I use a heavyweight monofilament cord for beading, it’s strong yet looks invisible when the starts are hung on the tree.
