Tuesday, July 31, 2018

Spiral Lone Star


Spiral Lone Star
at Block Stage


Family has taken priority this summer, but I've still tried to squeeze in some sewing each day. These blocks took a bit over a week to cut and assemble while I slipped in and out of the studio when I had time. While I might not have gotten to blog as much as I'd liked, process pictures were flying back and forth with close friends to get their thoughts. A few said a Lone Star quilt was a bucket list quilt for them, and wondered which method I used. I thought you'd be interested to know as well. All and none.




45 Degree Diamond Dimensions Ruler 
by Creative Grids

Hints,Tips & Tricks: I recommend finding the new Judy Martin book from which this pattern came, Singular Stars, and another, Star Struck Quilts by Barbara Cline. They are worth the money and time investment, and both were read cover to cover more than once. Each uses slightly different techniques, and I tried them all. Sometime during the first quarter of piecing this quilt, I gave both up, and did it similarly as I did in my post, How to Piece a 6 Pointed Star from Scraps. 

The Creative Grids ruler above is indispensable, in my opinion. It's over-sized, and almost covers the whole block. The number of grippy spots in just the right place means ease in trimming strips accurately, and is a snap to get the point and initial 45 degree angle. Squaring up the block at the end is a bonus. 




Fabric

I anticipated making a Lone Star quilt some months ago, and purchased fabric for the project. I had just purchased a vintage Lone Star quilt full of 1930's and 1940's prints, plaids, and stripes. I was head over heels with the busy look so that's what I bought. Of course, both books warned against any directional fabrics, and even suggested using only fabrics that read as solids, but I threw that to the wind.

Do wash your fabric! You don't want uneven shrinking after all this work in piecing!




Day One



Masking tape: I used it extensively to mark strips, blocks, and added notes that helped me remember the order to sew the blocks. It's amazing how hard it is to remember the order when there are 12 different blocks to deal with. I would forget between the cutting table and sewing machine! I ripped many times before I finally gave in to labeling. I could have saved myself a lot of trouble by starting out this way. You sew and learn.




It never seemed to make sense when I looked from across the room, and constantly second guessed the position. I referred to the strip of fabrics on the right while laying the blocks up on the wall. Even with a cheat sheet of sorts, I struggled getting these up in the correct orientation.



Can you spy the blocks out of order here?
Check out those at 5 and 6 o'clock.


It seemed like a crazy pattern to make at the time, but when I laid in the final 3 blocks it all came together. Seeing that spiral was pretty sweet, too. I wasn't sure it was going to happen until I saw it with my own eyes. And my opinion about using fabrics that all read as solids? I'm so glad I did it my way. 

Come on, Doxie girls.

Let's go sew.

Linking up with~
Esther's WOW
Let's Bee Social
Midweek Makers
NTT



14 comments:

Stitchin At Home said...

Oh Julie I love this!! One day I will make a lone star.

Rebecca Grace said...

Oh, COOL! I didn't realize it was going to spiral like that in the center! So, to clarify, this is made by rotary cutting and strip piecing, not by cutting a bazillion little diamonds and stitching them together individually? I was just about to open a new browser tab for Amazon to buy the books you mentioned when I read that you abandoned both of their methods, which left me unsure of whether the books would help or not. So I'm going to hang out and follow along with your project to try to get a better feel for it before I jump off the Lone Star Cliff and attempt one of my own. I'm currently stuck in the Too Many WIPs Quicksand anyway, like up to my armpits in the quicksand to where I'm all but paralyzed and accomplishing next to nothing lately...

piecefulwendy said...

When I first saw the quilt, I thought you must've quilted it with a spiral. Then I saw the spiral in the piecing! Fantastic! And I really like your choice of fabrics! A lone star is a bucket list for me too.

Barb Neiwert said...

My engineering husband would have a Mind Explosion with this pattern! Any time I do something that isn't evenly balanced and symmetrical, he thinks I've pieced it wrong. The spiral in this has the brain doing a double take, but I like it! Sounds like lots of concentration to get everything in order. Good job!

Carol- Beads and Birds said...

Being a new quilter, I can't imagine stitching this block. I was mesmerized by the spiraling too. A lot of work and the outcome is superb.
xx, Carol

Janine @ Rainbow Hare said...

This really is incredible! I feel that if I devoted my entire life to quilting from this moment on I would never manage that! It really does look fab :)

audrey said...

What a great lone star! Have not seen this version before but it is really striking. Still looks way too challenging for me though. I am such a scaredy cat.:)

Janice Holton said...

Oh this is gorgeous! Just another beautiful confirmation that this quilt will remain on my bucket list. Thank you for the book recommendations too. :)

Pamela Arbour said...

Very striking. Love the look. You did an excellent job on it. Wow.

Linda Swanekamp said...

Yikes, your skill level is a much higher plane than mine. I can't imagine sewing a top like yours. It is amazing and awesome.

Angie in SoCal said...

Fantastic!

Susan said...

That is so awesome! I haven't seen a spiraling lone star before, and this one is fascinating to look at. Great job putting this together!

Sandy Panagos said...

I'm glad you did it your way, too. It looks so cool.

KaHolly said...

Oh, my goodness, this is amazing! You really challenge yourself! Masking tape is one of my best friends, too! Happy family time!