The Sphragida Star or 7 Seals Star Patch

Sphragida Star Patch Pattern Pieces.
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        The Sphragida Star Patch is made from a seven pointed star known in geometry as a septogram or a heptagram. The diamond pattern for the star is not a true diamond, one end has a narrower angle! It also has seven radiating square pieces and it is set inside of a circle, surrounded by a square. This is a difficult patchwork primarily because those who attempt it, cut the shapes out on the bias, causing the piecing to stretch and warp the dimensions of the patch slightly.

       You may choose to piece it together with half triangles, eliminating the squares altogether. Although I think this would be kind of a crazy thing to do, making a difficult piecework even more difficult? English paper piecing to assemble this patchwork may keep the fabrics from stretching too much.

       Don't forget to add a 1/4 inch seam allowance to your templates, to iron open seams as you go and to clip the corners as well. Piece the star first before sewing in the other shapes. Then applique the entire patch onto square backgrounds or applique the final resulting patch directly onto a whole quilt top.
       I have seen the Sphragida or Seven Seals Star patch most frequently in album quilts. I think the reason for this is obvious; it is a frustrating star for some quilters to piece, and they soon tire of working it. If you find an entire quilt made with this patch in a consignment shop or bazaar buy it, because it likely was fashioned by an expert quilter!

Download, print and color to help imagine the color palette you would like.

Origins of The Pattern's Name: The Seven Seals of God from the Bible's Book of Revelation are the seven symbolic seals (Greek: σφραγῖδα, sphragida) that secure the book or scroll that John of Patmos saw in an apocalyptic vision. The opening of the seals of the document occurs in Rev Ch 5–8 and marks the Second Coming of the Christ and the beginning of The Apocalypse/Revelation. Upon the Lamb of God/Lion of Judah opening a seal on the cover of the book/scroll, a judgment is released or an apocalyptic event occurs. The opening of the first four Seals releases the Four Horsemen, each with his own specific mission.