Star Puzzle Block Course: What You Learn in Year of Blocks

What the Star Puzzle course actually teaches

This is a machine-quilting class, not a piecing course. Natalia Bonner walks you through twelve different ways to quilt a Star Puzzle quilt block using free-motion quilting and machine quilting rulers. The lessons are delivered as step-by-step videos, and you keep access forever, so you can rewatch a technique whenever a quilt top calls for it.

The course is built around a custom Star Puzzle panel from Honest Fabric, which Natalia quilts in the 50" x 60" size. If you prefer to piece your own top, the Let's Stitch a Year of Blocks Piecing Workbook provides full-color piecing and applique instructions. Either route gives you a real quilt to practice on rather than a sample sandwich.

Star Puzzle course at a glance

• Let's Stitch A Year of Blocks: Star Puzzle: This hands-on class contains twelve Star Puzzle lessons. Twelve distinct designs give you a full design library for one block shape, which is the main value of the course.

  

• Let's Stitch A Year of Blocks: Star Puzzle: BONUS videos will cover background fillers and more. Background fillers are often the hardest part of quilting a block-based quilt, so the bonus material extends the course beyond the twelve core lessons.
• Let's Stitch A Year of Blocks: Star Puzzle: Work at your own pace and share your progress in our online community. (You will have access to video lessons forever.) Lifetime access means you can revisit a ruler technique months later without repurchasing the class.

The prerequisites: are you ready for this class?

The course description states that students should have a basic knowledge of free-motion quilting and machine quilting with rulers. It also recommends the Beginner's Guide to Free-Motion Quilting book or online class as a pre-requisite (but not required), and the Visual Guide to Creative Straight-Line Quilting as another recommended resource.

If you have never free-motion quilted or used rulers on a home machine, this is probably not the place to start. The class assumes you can already move the quilt under the needle and keep a ruler steady. If you are comfortable with those basics, the twelve lessons will stretch your skills without asking you to relearn the fundamentals.

Class Only vs. Class + Design Workbook

The course comes in two versions: Class Only and Class + Design Workbook. The Design Workbook is the Let's Stitch a Year of Blocks Star Puzzle Design Workbook, which contains all twelve blocks plus blank blocks for sketching your own designs. If you like to plan quilting motifs on paper before you stitch, the workbook version gives you a structured place to do that.

Choose Class Only if you already keep a sketchbook or prefer to design on the quilt itself. Choose Class + Design Workbook if you want the twelve block designs printed and ready to reference, along with space to draw your own variations. The Quilter's Sketchbook is also available separately if you want a general sketching tool rather than a course-specific workbook.

• Class Only: Video lessons and community access. Best if you already have a sketching system or only want the quilting instruction.
• Class + Design Workbook: Adds the Star Puzzle Design Workbook with all twelve block designs plus blank blocks for your own sketches. Best if you plan your quilting on paper.

Tools Natalia uses in the lessons

The class lists specific supplies, which is helpful because you can see exactly what the instructor is using on screen. You do not have to buy every item to learn the techniques, but matching the setup reduces guesswork.

• Machine quilting rulers: Natalia uses The Trailer, 4N1, Mini 4N1, Inside Out, and Mini Inside Out. These are the rulers used in the ruler-work portions of the lessons.
• Ruler grip: The Piece N Quilt Pop Socket Ruler Grip is recommended for holding rulers securely.
• Thread: So Fine! #402 on top and Bottom Line #624 in the bobbin are what Natalia uses in the class.
• Batting: One layer of Quilter's Dream Poly Deluxe Batting is used in the demonstrations.
• Marking tools: A Blue Mark-B-Gone Marker and a misting spray bottle are used for marking and removing lines.
• Measuring: A foldable tape measure is listed for measuring.

How the class is delivered and what to expect

After checkout, you receive a download link email. You log into the classroom dashboard using the same email address you used at checkout, then click LEARN to access the lessons. The course also points you to the Piece N Quilt Show & Tell Facebook group for sharing progress and interacting with other quilters.

Keep in mind that class registration is valid for one student only, and lessons may not be shared. If you are buying this as a gift or for a friend to learn alongside you, each person needs their own registration. The workbooks are not spiral bound, so plan for a flat workspace or a clipboard if you like to keep pages open while you sew.

Is this the right online quilt block class for you?

This course suits a quilter who already has basic free-motion and ruler skills and wants a structured, twelve-part project to build confidence and a repertoire of designs. It is less suitable for a complete beginner, who would be better served by the recommended Beginner's Guide to Free-Motion Quilting first.

If you are looking for a block-of-the-month style course, this is a self-paced class rather than a monthly subscription. You get all twelve lessons at once and work through them on your schedule. That flexibility is a strength for busy quilters, but it also means you need to be self-directed enough to practice between videos.

The course does not promise a finished quilt by a certain date, and it does not include fabric or batting. You will need to supply your own materials, including the panel or piecing workbook if you want to follow along exactly. Treat the supply list as a shopping list for the full experience, and adjust if you already have suitable alternatives.