Thursday, March 23, 2023

Star Upon Stars


Star Upon Stars
Pattern by Edyta Sitar inspired by an 1846 antique quilt from the Grand Rapids Public Museum. 
Re-created with permission.

I am tentatively saying this 12" block is the first of many, but I'm honestly not sure yet. I've never done such a labor intensive block. It took days, and isn't together yet. I had decided a few months ago to do a challenging project this year, and first bought the pattern Common Bride by Edyta Sitar. While I gathered my ideas for that quilt, I came back again and again to look at Star Upon Stars. I wasn't sure I could actually make it, though, as I had practiced those pesky stars for months, and still wasn't great at it. 

I had watched her video (link below) over and over on how to make a star. I did all the steps, and somehow still I wasn't consistently successful. I felt like Thomas Edison touting how he knew all the ways not to make electricity. Then I broke the process down to the accuracy of cutting, rulers vs. templates, seam allowances on different machines, pressing or not or waiting until the end as she suggests, and on and on. And then one day, by gosh, I made a star, and I was hooked. 




Second Colorway of a 12" Block
Star Points Flipped Around

The lovely thing about working with star points is the option of turning them one way or the other. I've gone back and forth thinking I like one or the other better, but really I'm good with either. I do think the block itself looks better with the pink points to the outside edge as above. It spreads color throughout the block, and cheers up the darker stars in the corners and edges. 

I think there is a lot of experience to gain in making this quilt, but it will probably take me all year. This trial block has had more ripping than anything I've ever done, and I would hope the next ones go much faster. I was shocked at the difference in time between learning to do the corner stars and then the half stars. By the end, I was chain stitching, and zipping through them.


The pattern is in the book above and also available at her website Laundry Basket Quilts.

The quilt along information and tutorial are below, and I encourage you to watch the star construction if not both. Perhaps it will be encouraging enough to tempt you to join, too. This week's quilt along video focuses on the corner and half stars only. Two more videos are scheduled to follow, and I'm looking forward to them.

Do you have a favorite of my stars above? I'd love a little help in deciding, and in turn I'll tell you some hints I've learned along my star making adventure the next time I'm here. Please leave me your ideas in the comments. 





Edyta is one of the sweetest quilting voices out there, and I'm so grateful she's doing this. She's a very talented quilter, and also gifted with inspiring us we can do the hard quilts as well as the easy ones. 


Come on, Doxie girls.
Let's go sew.

Delightfully linking up with Sarah at~



4 comments:

Nancy said...

I LOVE your first star, Julie. That coral, brown, and pink in the center star is luscious. On the other hand, I see what you mean about having the coral at the outer points to spread the color throughout the star. This looks so complicated and way beyond my abilities (and interests) at the moment. But I'll enjoy yours!

Susan said...

I have to admire you for sticking to it. The first star looks great, beautiful colors. Thanks for linking and sharing.

Gene Black said...

I think that it looks great both ways, but I prefer the pink in the center. Ha ha... I am a bit weird that way.

Janice Holton said...

It looks wonderful either way but I personally prefer the pink on the outside. And now you've gone and done it! I wasn't planning on starting anything new but this pattern is SO GORGEOUS!! Maybe I can do just one block . . . (are those famous last words?) Thank you for introducing this lovely pattern and I know I really enjoy watching yours come together!