Windham Fabrics Ink Star - Downloadable PDF

Ink Star Quilt Pattern by Wendy Sheppard for Windham Fabrics

The Ink Star is a free, downloadable PDF quilt pattern designed by Wendy Sheppard and published by Windham Fabrics. This pattern produces a stunning pieced star quilt top measuring 57" x 67", making it an ideal size for a lap quilt, throw, or generous bed accent. Rated at an intermediate skill level, this project is well-suited for quilters who are comfortable with precise cutting, accurate piecing, and working with multiple fabric placements across repeated blocks.

What Is Being Made

The finished project is a pieced quilt top in the star tradition, constructed from a combination of pieced star blocks, sashing rectangles, sashing strips, and a framing inner border. The overall design creates a bold, graphic star arrangement that is both classic and contemporary in feel. The pattern is presented as a digital representation of the quilt top, with a note that actual fabric may vary from the digital image.

Fabrics and Materials Used

The Ink Star pattern is specifically designed to feature Midsummer by Hackney & Co., a fabric collection available through Windham Fabrics. The pattern calls for four distinct fabric colorways, each assigned a key letter for easy reference during cutting and piecing:

• Fabric A – White (SKU 31835S): Requires 2 yards. This is the primary background and structural fabric, used for pieced block components, sashing rectangles, sashing strips, and the inner border.
• Fabric B – Sage (SKU 52320-10): Requires 5/8 yard. Cut into a variety of rectangles for use in the pieced star blocks, including both 3" x 3-1/2" and multiple sizes of 4"-wide rectangles.
• Fabric C – Stone (SKU 52316-3): Requires 1/2 yard. Used in pieced blocks with similar rectangle cuts as Fabric B, contributing to the layered color depth of the star design.
• Fabric D – Sky (SKU 52318-7): Requires 5/8 yard. Also used in pieced blocks with a range of rectangle sizes, adding a cool-toned contrast to the overall palette.

As a quilting project, this pattern requires standard quilting cotton fabric. In addition to the fabrics listed, quilters will need batting and backing fabric (not detailed in the cutting notes provided) to complete the finished quilt, along with quilting thread for the quilting stage.

Techniques Used

The Ink Star pattern employs several core quilting techniques that are characteristic of intermediate-level patchwork construction:

• Precision rotary cutting: All pieces are cut using width-of-fabric (WOF) strips that are then subcutted into specific squares and rectangles. Accurate cutting is essential to achieving clean block assembly.
• Strip piecing and strip joining: Several components, including sashing strips and inner border strips, require piecing multiple WOF strips together end-to-end before subcutting to the required lengths. This is a standard technique for achieving longer continuous pieces without waste.
• Block piecing: The star blocks are assembled from a combination of 2" squares, 3-1/2" squares, and a variety of rectangles in multiple sizes. Careful organization of cut pieces by block assignment is strongly recommended in the pattern notes.
• Sashing construction: The quilt layout incorporates sashing rectangles (2" x 10-1/2") and sashing strips (2" x 46-1/2") to frame and separate the individual star blocks, a technique that adds visual breathing room and structure to the overall design.
• Inner border application: A 3"-wide inner border frames the quilt center, with specific cut lengths for both the horizontal and vertical sides, requiring accurate measurement and mitered or butted corner construction.

Stitches and Construction Methods

As a quil