Lone Star, Part 2

This is another project I have had on my mind, waaaaay longer than the Rogue hoodie, ie. since we moved in.

Stars are probably my favourite kind of quilt patterns, maybe because there are so many different ones to choose from? I've always liked the graphics of the Lone Star design, which is rows of 45 degree diamonds set in contrasting rings radiating from the star's centre to the tips. It is a classic, eight pointed star, also known as Morning Star and Star of Bethlehem.

When I saw the jelly roll in the shop, I knew it would be an effective, efficient way to use the fabric. I also knew I would be using the strip piecing method of construction and I didn't want to cut any more than I had to.

I wanted to use as much of the jelly roll as I could, in a variety of fabrics, but not make the star so big that it wouldn't look right in the space I had in mind for it to hang. I also knew I was going to machine quilt this one, and I have learned the hard way many times over that I can't quilt a big quilt easily and comfortably using a regular machine, which is what I have. That also helped me determine the size to make.

The width of the jelly roll strips was 3 inches, which, in a 5 x 5 diamond layout using 1/4 inch seam allowances, meant I would be making a finished star measuring approximately 60 inches (across the full width and height of the star). This would work for me.

I studied a few different quilt designs for lone stars, and finally decided using a continuous curve method from Harriet Hargrave. It's not too fussy to do, and the best part is that the process eliminates the need to constantly stop and cut threads. The only time you have to stop is when the bobbin runs out (and when you finally quit for the night).

Here we are pinned and getting ready to start the actual quilting (and psyching myself up).



I batted up a sample for my "practice sessions." This is quite important to "get in the zone," I call it, before I start machine quilting. I usually have a beverage by my side and music playing to help this process. I go at it for a bit on the practice piece, then go for real on the quilt after I'm all loosened up. That sounds funny and odd, but ...it works for me! Not to mention it's pretty fun. :o)



After I finished machine quilting the star, I was stumped about the design in the setting triangles. I had enough going on in the star, and did not want to complicate things with anything too fancy. I sifted through all my patterns for borders and corners, and came up with a simple scroll design from Hari Walner that I enlarged, traced onto a template, cut out, then traced around the template with a special marking pen onto the sections. I initially machine quilted it, but was having trouble making the curves smooth enough for my liking. I ended up pulling out the stitches and hand quilting it instead, which did not take long (2 nights). I'm really happy with the result.



One might think that after spending so much time and thought on this quilt that the process would carry on through completion. For some reason unbeknownst to moi, I did something rather impulsive, with some regret. I attached the binding to the back (instead of the front, my usual), and brought the binding to the front to machine quilt into place using the serpentine stitch.



I think it's an interesting look, but not exactly the one I was going for with this project. It is too much to unpick, so now I am learning to embrace my quick decision and going with "the look." I have too many other things to do!

Voila, another checkmark on my life list.