Well, it's not out of my scrap bins, but it looks pretty scrappy to me! I've been staring at this pile of fabric for pretty much forever. Pattern ideas have come and gone and I always flinch and then start another project altogether. It's just a little bit too bright and playful for me to feel totally comfortable diving in!
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| Just playing.... |
But you know what they say about stepping out of your comfort zone! So I took it a step further and cut pieces for a smallish lone star quilt. My goal {someday very, very far into the future} is to make a Bethlehem Star quilt and wowsers, can I definitely see that there are miles to go before I launch into one of those!
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| My final setting |
I started out mixing all the colors up into a very scrappy looking star. Yuck. Ick. I couldn't handle it, scrappy control freak that I am. Who knew? So I rearranged them with the yellow in the centers, then red and finally with the lighter blue/greens dead center, taking out the very darkest ones. The red didn't even last long enough for all the pieces to get back on the design wall--too overpowering. And I know,
I know, the yellow center is very striking! I totally get that. But it doesn't suit
me. And it seemed like there was a bit too much tension in the prints for me to be comfortable sticking with that arrangement. I am who I am....
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| It's not working!! |
My very first efforts at sewing the diamonds together were absolutely NOT encouraging. I obviously have a lot to learn here! With a little determination I eventually got the points to match up reasonably close, at least to the point where I'm not going to be humiliated and shunned. I'm planning on taking this project pretty slow. Maybe sew one larger diamond together at a single setting. You know, if that setting doesn't take
all day.....
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| Getting the points to match up |
It's a start. And it's interesting. And still not my favorite colors to work with! I love the fabrics individually and buy this sort of thing when it's on the FQ sale table. But then never know what to do with it 'cuz my mind doesn't seem to work 'modern'. Oh well. My daughters are in LOVE with it and it could turn into a cute baby quilt too. Linking up with
Scraptastic Tuesday!
I think it looks fabulous! I know I don't work with colors this bright much myself either but I LOVE it. I've been playing around with a star block like this myself - a bit of a challenge but fun!
ReplyDeleteThis post made me giggle.
ReplyDeleteNot your usual colours, but sometimes it's fun to stretch a bit and see what you learn. I like your green-y centre better than the yellow too, though the yellow is striking.
ReplyDeleteI made a long star years and years ago - other then the very center of the quilt - it wouldn't lay flat and was like a little pop up in the center - I was able to quilt it flat but I know I did something wrong and wasn't sure what! I'm sure now that my seams weren't correct or my cutting not accurate - but it was years ago and a lot of experience since then! these are pretty colors that you have.
ReplyDeleteNow I love the colours! All the seams make it tricky. Thanks for linking up to #scraptastictuesday!
ReplyDeleteThe way I get the tips to match (this works for me) is to draw the 1/4" seam line on the back of the fabric. Then I pin the diamonds together matching all the tips to the intersecting lines on the other side of the fabric pieces. I stitch directly on that line. The colors work together very well. It's quite cheerful.
ReplyDeleteThese are definitely my colours. Utterly gorgeous and a rainbow of colour. I love the look of lone star quilts but have always been put off by all those points too . You're doing great Audrey!
ReplyDeleteWell, your points are looking pretty darn good there to me! I really like this scrappy approach, it seems to make it more sparkly. A big Lone Star is on my bucket list too!
ReplyDeleteI love both settings and the colors are terrific! Keep going, I bet they'll grow on you. I don't know if this would work with your super scrappy look, but The New Lone Star Quilt Handbook (Blanche Young & Helen Frost Young - although there may be a newer version since I bought mine 100 years ago) uses a strip piecing technique that makes everything easier and helps prevent that pop-up in the middle. I used the book to make a really traditional Lone Star quilt for my mom. I have wanted to make another, or even a Bethlehem Star, but I haven't gotten around tuit yet. This starts to sound dangerously familiar!!!! ;-)
ReplyDeleteA lone star is a great quilt to make. Your colors look like a giant bouquet of summer flowers. Looking at your pieced diamonds, it looks like your 1/4" seam is a bit too narrow. Pinch the seam and see if it doesn't bring those tips together closer. If they overlap, the sa is too deep. :0)
ReplyDeleteI like the second lay out with the light star center. I think diamonds would be hard to work with, bias edges. It looks like you have the start of another fantastic quilt!
ReplyDeleteI made a small Lone Star several years ago as a grandmother quilt for a friend. Scary but I loved it. My parents had a beautiful large Star on their bed when I was young and, like you, I still want to make one... with applique, too! Yours looks lovely!
ReplyDeleteI love the lone star pattern and the bright fabrics you're using. I totally understand your dilemma. I often buy fq of brights and then wonder what to do with them.
ReplyDeleteI think your final setting is the better of the two and I love the colors! I do as another commenter suggested, draw the stitching lines on the back, pin at intersecting lines and stitch carefully. I'm still not as accurate as I like but am improving. You'll know how accurate your stitching was when the star lays flat or not so flat when stitched together. Steam pressing also helps.
ReplyDeletehumiliated and shunned. LOL you cracked me UP ! : )
ReplyDeleteIt's nice to work in a different palette sometimes but also nice to recognize and honor what's truly "you"! I tend to use brights only in baby quilts or when the palette is given to me (by teenagers for example!)
ReplyDeleteI LOVE the color placement. You could spend hours just fiddling with it before even getting to the sewing machine (Ha! I know I would, but that's the fun part) This is going to be a beaut. Somewhere in my cupboard is a half done paper pieced version of this pattern. Maybe I should go look for it.......
ReplyDeleteIt has a 70s vibe and I like it. Those were the days!
ReplyDeleteI love, love, love these fabrics and love both settings. Yes, let your spirit run free and have a ball with this quilt!! You can do it, I know you can!!
ReplyDeleteThis has been on my list so long not sure I will ever tackle it. A friend show her king size quilt and I fell in love all over. Have the magazine with the Minick Simpson star quilt. Their tip was to use cans and cans of starch to control the stretching. I also have difficulty when tryting to choose the colors and decided maybe a two color red and white of blue and white would be what I could handle. Although, I do love your scrappy version! It definitely is a pattern where some thought needs to happen about color placement.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with this, I've never tried it. But your colors re fabulous!!!
ReplyDeleteSuch fun fabrics and colors. Something really different, that is true, but I really like it.
ReplyDeleteIt is fun! When I work on projects that are bright, my daughter always likes them too. :)
ReplyDeleteGlad to see you back Audrey! Lone Stars have been on mind lately - I'm really looking forward to see what you do!
ReplyDeleteLove your fabric choices. Very happy!
ReplyDeleteI always wanted a lone star - it was "ONE AND DONE' quilt for me.
ReplyDeleteI love your fun colors - no wonder your daughters love it.
Interesting project!
ReplyDelete