Stunning Stars #6 - "A Star Is Born"!

Hi, all!

Welcome to the final week of the Stunning Stars Quilt Along!  It's hard to believe we've made it this far - and next week marks the beginning of this year's Hands2Help Charity Quilt Challenge!!  

Today I'll be sharing a simple baby quilt with you.  This quilt killed three birds with one stone - a baby quilt for a gift, a quilt using some beautiful Free Spirit Fabrics I'll be introducing in a week, and the final Stunning Stars quilt.  May I introduce to you.... A Star Is Born!

For the record, this quilt is made using a print called Prismatic from the upcoming collection Modernist by Joel Dewberry, surrounded by various prints from the Modern Backgrounds collection by Zen Chic.  

Aren't those wonky stars cute?  And really pretty quick and easy!

I had lots of fun quilting this one, too, using some new designs I learned at QuiltCon.  It will be for a little girl, so I think these swirls are perfect!

And here's one last shot of this cute baby quilt being modeled on my vintage rocking horse!  My grandchildren all love this particular horsie, but it also makes a great photo prop.

So now let's get started with the tutorial!!

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“A Star Is Born”

A Baby Quilt for the 

Stunning Stars Quilt-Along

Finished size:  approximately 42” square

FABRIC REQUIREMENTS:

44  - 6.5” squares background fabric - if scrappy, use low volume neutrals

5 -    6.5” squares for the star centers.  You can use one color for all of the stars, or choose 

to make your stars scrappy by choosing a color for each one and coordinating your fabrics accordingly, or by using a different fabric print for each star.

8 -    scrap pieces for each star point in coordinating color or matching print to each center 

(you will need 5 sets).  Your scraps should be basically rectangular, about 2.5” - 4” wide and any length long enough to make your points.  My pieces were about 4” wide by 6-8” long.

1/3 - 1/2 yard of fabric for binding, or about 180” of scrappy binding (this is a great way to

use up your binding scraps!)

1 1/4 yards of fabric for backing (if your quilt is no wider than 42” and your backing fabric is a full 44 or 45”, you can probably quilt it without having to piece your back. If not, you may need more fabric for your back.)

CUTTING INSTRUCTIONS:

From your background fabric(s), cut forty-four 6.5” squares.

From your star fabrics, cut five 6.5” squares for the star centers, and if you need to cut your star points, cut eight rectangles varying from 2.5” - 4” wide and 6” - 8” long.  If you are using scraps, choose coordinating scraps for each star sufficient to make all eight of your points.

ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS:

Your first step is to make your wonky star points.  Rhiannon at The Nifty Stitcher has a great tutorial for these so I won’t repeat the instructions here.

Now arrange your quilt by placing your centers and arranging the points around them.  As you can see from the diagram, they interlock a little bit so you can’t just make the separate star blocks and assemble them.  Once you have it laid out, assemble it however works easiest for you.  Check your layout frequently to be sure you don’t have something out of whack!  (Don’t ask me how I know this…)

Once it’s pieced, check the width.  If it’s 42” or less, you should be able to use just one width of fabric for the backing (always a great thing, in my book!)  If not, piece your back as needed.

Now get to work quilting!  This should be a quickie, whether you do straight line quilting or FMQ on your domestic machine or throw it on the long arm.  

A quick, sweet baby quilt for either your newest arrival or a charity quilt!

PS This quilt would be super-simple to make larger, simply by making your blocks larger.  7.5” squares would yield a 49” square quilt; 8.5” squares would yield a 56” square quilt, and 9.5” squares would yield a 63” square quilt.  

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And this concludes our tutorials for the Stunning Stars quilts!  If you've missed them in the past weeks, here's a quick recap of the previous five quilts...

"Scrappy Stars"

"Exploding Stars"

"Speak To Me Of Love"

"Supernova"

"Ring Around The Roses"

Be sure to come back next week as we start this year's Hands2Help Charity Quilt Challenge!  I'm so excited to get this party started!

Hugs!

Sarah