I don’t have any finished quilts to show you, but I do have two quilts “getting there”. Some quilts tops just take more time to make. I am not a very patient person and I prefer quilts tops that are quickly pieced but STARLIGHT seemed the perfect pattern to use the blue with white print fabrics I had been collecting for a couple of years.
Remember my fat quarters from the Quilters’ Christmas party?
This is the Starlight pattern designed by Sherri McConnell of A Quilting Life Designs. She used one her fabric lines, which gives a very coordinated look. But I saw the pattern made up in a scrappy yellow version, so I gave myself permission to make it in scrappy blues.
The pattern is not difficult–just time consuming. Each block is composed of sixty-four 2.5″ squares! Sixteen blocks make up the top–that is a total of 1,024 two and one-half inch squares! Half of those blocks are “half-square triangles! For each half-square triangle, one must mark a diagonal line on a pair of three inch squares right side together, sew two seams along the diagonal line, cut along the line and trim each triangle to be exactly a two and one-half inch square and then press it open. So …half-square triangles take a lot of time but they are so versatile!
My next step was to sew the two and one half inch squares into rows. The block has eight rows but row #1 is the same as #8 just up side down. Same for the rest of the block, #2 and #7 are the same, etc. The rows are pieced but not pressed. Less thinking to do all of one row before starting on the next.
I listened to two audio books during these steps. Phone calls were made while trimming half square triangles.
This week end I found some time to assemble one block. I really like it!!
Assembling the blocks will also take time–after I select the rows to be used for each block, I press the row of squares so that the seams go in alternate directions. (I borrowed a diagram from Carolyn Gibbs Quilts to illustrate this technique.)
I pin at each seam in the row so the seams match–aiming for perfect corners. After sewing the rows together I press again so the long seams all go the same way.
The block is not a perfect sixteen inch square but when it is assembled with sashing it will be great.
I purchased this fabric for the borders and binding. It and the white background fabric are the only fabrics I bought for this 76″ x 76″ quilt top -so far.
Of course, I will be showing off the top when it completely pieced and again when it is ready to sell. No promises when that will be –this is a test of my patience!
The hand quilters reached a mile post this week also. They have been hand quilting this top for approximately forty-five weeks and that is not counting marking the top using stencils, sandwiching the top, batting and backing, basting and loading it on the frame. The hand quilters only meet once a week from 9 am to 3 pm to quilt with plenty of stretching breaks and lunch.
Usually “whole cloth” quilts, such as this one, are made from one large piece of fabric and are designed to show off the quilting. The hand quilters at First have made several “white on white” whole cloth quilts and in fact won ribbons at the State Fairs for their excellent work. But on this quilt, they went one step further and used colored thread to hand quilt sunflowers and mockingbirds. (The Kansas state flower and bird–very appropriate!)
Colored thread on white is very brave! Each stitch stands out! Yellow, brown and blue threads were used. Some of the hand quilters chose not to work on this quilt–too stressful! (I apologize for the poor photos–I was in a hurry on a cloudy afternoon.)
The backing is a mottled gold-beige. The true test of the quality of hand quilting is stitching on the backing.
This week they took it off the frame–a much anticipated event!
The basting threads will be pulled out and the binding sewn on. The binding will be white with a blue flange.
The quilt is a king size. It should become a family heirloom, especially if you have ties to Kansas! I will be showcasing this treasure when it is completely finished.
Often I won’t attempt a recipe, or write down a family story or piece a quilt top, because it will just take too much time. Maybe I should take to heart this quote by Earl Nightingale, a commentator and author in the 1950’s–
Don’t let the fear of the time it will take to accomplish something stand in the way of your doing it. The time will pass anyway; we might just as well put that passing time to the best possible use.
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What do we have new?
Placemats straight from a kitchen of the 60’s. Machine quilted and washable, these 12″ x 16″ retro placemats would add a touch of whimsy to your table. $40
Create a new family tradition–give the birthday person a special placemat on their day. Or you could hang it on the person’s door to remind the world why you are celebrating! The multi colored print letters are machine appliquéd. $30
Ahh, if life were really that simple! The cute wall hanging would be a perfect gift for your favorite quilter –and that favorite quilter might be yourself!! The pincushion is embellished with tiny buttons for pin heads. The attention to detail is signature Janis! Machine quilted and machine appliqué –$50
Give yourself a valentine this week–give yourself permission to do something you would like to do but are afraid it would take too much time.
Quilts, Etc. 