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~

Can I Get a Whoop Whoop

Kansas Troubles Block: Improving Accuracy

Kansas Troubles Block 

Do you want to be a better quilter, and improve your accuracy? It's not as hard as it seems. Think while you sew. Keep your brain engaged, and focus.

• Don't depend on a pattern or directions to tell you everything because most often they don't. 

• Use logic and geometry to figure measurements out. It's a few formulas, and pretty standard stuff.

• Watch for bias edges.

• Square for accuracy as often as necessary.

Civil War Blocks: Round 2

 

Civil War Blocks: Round 2

Indiana Puzzle

I've had an internal dialogue going whether to write much about these Civil War blocks, or just let them stand on their own. Because it's supposed to be joyful sewing only, I've decided to say little. I won't titter on about missing points or meeting seams. I'm sure that wasn't so much of an issue in those times as I have some of those old quilts, and I've seen it firsthand. I would venture it was much more about the fabrics then, and how they added so much color to fairly plain interiors in many cases. The fabric and quilts might have been the stars of the room all their own so I will try to allow these blocks do the same unless necessary.

Enjoy!

Civil War Sampler Blocks

New England

Civil War Sampler by Barbara Brackman

My conscience is saying, "Have you no shame?! Yet another quilt along when you have two out there hanging?" And I answer it with, "I need this! I need the adrenaline, the frenzy, the routine." And honestly, I think that's true. I crave joyful sewing right now. I need camaraderie. I want to hear and feel the struggle of other quilters moaning about a difficult block, and not thinking about the world at large for just a tiny bit!