Welcome to Blockheads 6 – Block 11: “Folk Star” by Lisa Bongean!

This week’s Blockheads 6 block is Folk Star, a bold and beautiful design by longtime Blockheads designer Lisa Bongean of Primitive Gatherings. Lisa has been part of the Blockheads journey since the very first series, and her designs always bring a unique blend of tradition and sophistication.

The Folk Star block finishes at 27 inches and is constructed entirely from half-square triangles. That’s right—just one unit repeated and rearranged to stunning effect!

You can find this week’s pattern here: BH6 – Block 11 – Folk Star by Lisa Bongean

Follow along with Lisa!

Instagram: @lisabongean
https://primitivegatherings.us/

If you’re new to Blockheads, here are a couple of quick things to know:

• This is a free quilt-along. No sign-ups are required. Just download the pattern and you’re ready to sew!
• The PDF patterns will be posted on the Moda blog and in the official Facebook group every Wednesday by 8:00 AM CDT.
• You can also bookmark this page: Blockheads 6 main page to find a convenient list of all the patterns as they are released.
• If you’d like to sign up for our blog newsletter to get blog posts delivered to your inbox, you can sign up here: Blog Newsletter Sign-Up 
• If you want to sew along with a virtual Blockheads community, head over to Facebook and join our official Moda Blockheads Facebook group. Our group is an active and vibrant community of 81,000 quilters and counting! It’s a great place to be inspired and share pictures of your Blockheads progress.
• If Instagram is where you prefer to hang out, be sure to follow us (@modafabrics) and the hashtags #modablockheads and #modablockheads6 to see the latest blocks from our designers and other Blockheads.

(Looking for a little more information about Blockheads? You can check out the Blockheads 6 archive HERE.)

 

Be sure to watch Lissa Alexander’s video tutorial below for step-by-step guidance and tips.

Big Impact with Simple Units

Half-square triangles (HSTs) are the backbone of this block, and they’re used in a variety of combinations to create striking secondary patterns. Whether you go with a planned palette or a scrappy mix, this block is sure to stand out.

Lissa shares two ways to make your HSTs:

• Using triangle papers like Triangles on a Roll, which are especially handy if you want to batch-sew a large number of units.
• The traditional method: cut 3¼″ squares, mark the diagonal, sew ¼″ on either side, then cut, trim, and press to the dark.

She even recommends mindless HST sewing in the evening so you’ll have a ready-to-go stash when it’s time to assemble your blocks.

Breaking It Down: Sections and Assembly

The Folk Star block is built in sections—each one a small unit made up of HSTs and squares:

• Some are as simple as three HSTs sewn together
• Others include a combination of HSTs and squares to form four-patch–style units

You’ll make:

• Eight units for the outer sections
• Four slightly different units to form the bold center row

Once all your units are complete, join them into four rows, then sew the rows together to finish the block.

Lissa showcases both a version with consistent background fabrics and a more scrappy approach—both are equally striking.

A Note on Puckers and Needles

Lissa also shares a helpful troubleshooting tip: if you notice puckering where seams meet, the culprit could be fabric easing—or it might be time to change your sewing machine needle. A fresh needle can make a big difference in maintaining crisp, smooth seams.

Thank You, Lisa Bongean!

We’re so grateful to Lisa Bongean for designing this week’s dramatic block. Folk Star is a stunning addition to the Blockheads 6 quilt, and we can’t wait to see your version!

Join the Community

Don’t forget to:

• Download the free pattern for Block 11: Folk Star
• Watch the video tutorial below with Moda’s Lissa Alexander
• Share your block with us in the Moda Blockheads Facebook group or on Instagram using #modablockheads6

Ready to sew your own Folk Star block? Follow along with Lissa in this week’s video tutorial!

We’ll see you next week for another inspiring block—happy sewing!

— The Moda Team