Chained Stars: A Modern Transparency Quilt Pattern Using Just Four Fabrics
I am so excited to announce the 10th of 12 quilt patterns I have to release in 2026! The fun thing about this quilt is that it comes together so quickly. The blocks are a little bit larger, and the two blocks repeat throughout the whole pattern. They are classic patchwork-style blocks: a 16 patch block and a Sawtooth star block. To make it even faster, strip piecing is included for the 16 patch block. Read on to learn more about Chained Stars, which uses four different fabrics to make five different sizes of this awesome modern quilt.
Get a copy of Chained Stars Pattern Here
Where Chained Stars Fits in My 2026 Quilt Patterns Collection
First off, if you haven't been following along in this blog series, I designed 12 different quilt patterns for 2026, each using six fabrics or fewer. I like making a parameter for myself to really force myself to design within a specific area, rather than having total chaos when it comes to my designs and my aesthetic. I feel like I fell into using a lot of checkers and stars in this collection, and I don't regret it one bit.
If you are on the hunt for modern quilt patterns that come together quickly and don't require a stash the size of a small quilt shop, this whole collection was made with you in mind. Every pattern in the series sticks to that six-fabric limit, so you can spend less time agonizing over fabric choices and more time actually sewing. Chained Stars takes that idea a step further by using just four fabrics.
Get a copy of Chained Stars Pattern Here
Two Classic Blocks: The 16 Patch Quilt Block and the Sawtooth Star Quilt Block
The whole quilt is built from two blocks, and that is the secret to how fast it goes together. Once you get the rhythm of one block, you simply repeat it, and before you know it your ready to assemble the quilt top.
The first is the 16 patch quilt block pattern. If you have never made one, a 16 patch is a simple four-by-four grid of squares, and it is one of the most beginner-friendly patchwork blocks out there. It is also a great way to practice your accurate quarter-inch seams without any fancy cutting or tricky angles.
The second is the Sawtooth star quilt block pattern. This block has a center square surrounded by four flying geese units and four corner squares, and it gives you that classic star look that never really goes out of style. Because the blocks in this design are a little larger, there are fewer seams to sew and fewer points to match, which is exactly why this quilt moves along so quickly.
Together, these two blocks are the building blocks of Chained Stars. They alternate to create a chain of stars that links across the whole quilt top, which is where the name comes from.
Get a copy of Chained Stars Pattern Here
A Transparency Quilt Pattern: How the Fabrics Play Tricks on Your Eyes
My favorite part about Chained Stars is what happens when you use the right fabric combinations, like the quilt you see in this blog post. You get kind of an illusionary effect with the 16 patch blocks. They get lost within the design because of the colorways.
Here is what I mean. When you look at the patches going from the top right to the bottom left, they give us that transparency effect. Meanwhile, if you look at the blocks going from the top left to the bottom right, they hold true. The orange still gives a transparency effect in that direction, just a little bit less than it does the other way around.
This is what makes Chained Stars such a fun transparency quilt pattern. You are not doing anything complicated in the piecing, because it is still just a 16 patch block and a Sawtooth star block. The magic is all in where you place your colors. If you have ever wanted to try a transparency quilt pattern without feeling overwhelmed, this is a great place to start.
Get a copy of Chained Stars Pattern Here
Bright Is the Name of My Game: Fabric Choices
I know some people shy away from orange fabrics, but bright is the name of my game, and I love it so much. I love how the orange turned out with the green. It shows up a little more yellow in these photos, but the two play so well together with the blue. The white acts as the contrast fabric, and since the other colors are so bright, the white feels extra crisp.
All of these fabrics are from Paintbrush Studio's Painter's Palette collection. Here is the breakdown:
- Blue: Artisan
- Green: Lemon Ice
- Background: White
- Orange: Carrot
If bright colors are not your jam, please don't let me talk you out of your own favorites. The beauty of a four-fabric quilt pattern is that swapping the colors is easy. Just keep the same contrast relationships between your fabrics, and you will still get that transparency effect.
Quilting Chained Stars: Retro Lines, Primo Soft Thread, and a Black Binding
For the quilting, I wanted something that wasn't going to be too distracting. The quilt top and these colors already create a very intense look, so I stuck with a very simple design called Retro Lines #2, which is available over at Urban Elementz. This is one of my favorite designs when I want to add that extra crinkle or a little more subtle texture to a quilt, rather than adding another element that may distract from the overall quilt top design and fabrics.
I don't think I have ever touched on what type of thread I use, so here you go. I use Premo-Soft thread from Hab + Dash, which has a matte finish. It does lint up a little bit more, but I love that it looks like a true cotton thread, even though it is actually 100% polyester.
The one through line that goes through every single quilt in this collection is that the binding is black, from Paintbrush Studio. For this quilt, the black binding adds a frame rather than blending in, and I really love the crisp, clean line it adds. It defines the border of the quilt beautifully.
Get a copy of Chained Stars Pattern Here
The Quilt Back: Brushstrokes From Studio E
For the quilt back, I went with a lovely black and white wide back called Brushstrokes from Studio E. I have actually used all of the remaining yardage, so I no longer have any. I might have some remnants that I will use for background pieces or accent pieces here and there.
It is such a clean, white and black contrast that it adds a fun element to a quilt top that is so bright. I love the organic design of the brushstrokes. It adds a kind of graffiti element to such a clean quilt top, and I think a surprise on the back is one of the best parts of a finished quilt.
Make It a Scrappy Quilt Pattern
I made my Chained Stars quilt with four fabrics, but the 16 patch blocks are a great place to play with your scraps. If you want to turn this into a scrappy quilt pattern, you can pull from your stash for the 16 patch blocks and keep the star blocks consistent. Just keep an eye on your values so the transparency effect still reads the way you want it to.
Quilts are meant to be used and loved, and scrappy versions are some of the most fun to see. If you make one, I would love to see it!
Get a copy of Chained Stars Pattern Here
Longarm Quilting and Binding Services: Mail-In and Local Drop-Off
If you are interested in my longarm quilting and binding services, I would be more than thrilled to help you with the quilting and binding of your next quilt top. I offer mail-in longarm quilting services as well as local drop-off and pick-up if you are in the central Minnesota area. I typically run less than a two-week turnaround time, and I have received many compliments and reviews. You can find those over on Google to see what everyone is saying about my quilting and binding services.
I would love to help you next, because I think all quilts deserve the longarm quilting treatment. I am just your friendly neighborhood quilter, and I don't judge your quilt top whatsoever. I love the process of quilting, so if you accidentally cut off the points of your stars or don't have perfectly pressed seams, that's A-OK. I love quilting as a hobby, and even though this is my full-time professional job, I am just enthused for you to complete your quilt so I can enjoy it with you. Quilts are meant to be used, and as Bob Ross would say, happy accidents are meant to be.
Whether you choose mail-in longarm quilting services or local drop-off, I will treat your quilt top with the same care and excitement as one of my own.
Join the Newsletter for a Free Charm Pack Quilt Pattern
If you love quilts like this, I would love for you to subscribe to my email newsletter. It goes out weekly during the academic year. During the summer it goes out a little less frequently, because I am enjoying as much sunshine and Mother Nature as I possibly can. Living in Minnesota, that doesn't happen too frequently, so you've got to capitalize when you can!
If you join, you will receive a free charm pack quilt pattern. It is perfect for using up a charm pack with some additional fabric for the background, or, if you want to cut up a bunch of your scraps and use them for the charm pack portion of the pattern, it is perfect for using up some of that scrap stash!
Ready to Make Your Own Chained Stars Quilt?
Chained Stars is quick to make, bright, and a whole lot of fun, and it is a great addition to any collection of modern quilt patterns. Grab your four fabrics, cut your squares, and let's get those stars chained together.
Get a copy of Chained Stars Pattern Here
