Star Kissed Quiltalong: Patch Pieces–Centers And Corners

If you are new to the Star Kissed Quiltalong, welcome!  No, you are not late.  Today is the perfect day for a new idea. You can find all you might want to know about the quiltalong HERE, or you can link from the button to the right or the menu above.

It’s finally time to get sewing! YAY!

Hopefully you have decided what size squares you are going to use and how many blocks you are going to make.  If you need more thinking time, feel free to stop by the QUILT SIZE CONSIDERATIONS post for information and suggestions.

Whatever size base square you are using, these directions are for ONE block.  So, if you are using 2-1/2″ base squares and making a baby quilt, you only need to create ONE set of a single 25-patch and FOUR 4-patches.  If you are using 1-1/2″ base squares and making a queen size quilt, you need to create THIRTY SIX  25-patchs and ONE HUNDRED FOURTY FOUR 4-patches.  (Don’t give up already, it isn’t as bad as it sounds.)

Go to your cut squares boxes, or start one now.  Get out some scraps (you do have them, don’t you) and start cutting.  The more the merrier.  You can do it “anything goes” style or controlled scrappy, but remember that the star points will give a dominate color to the quilt anyway and “anything goes” is kind of fun.

If using 1-1/4″ squares, the finished 25-patch should be 4-1/4″ or 3-3/4″ finished.  The 4-patches should be 2″ or 1-1/2″ finished.

If using 1-1/2″ basesquares, the finished 25-patch should be 5-1/2″ or 5″ finished. The 4-patches should be 2-1/2″ or 2″ finished.

If using 2″ base squares, the finished 25-patch should be 8″ or 7-1/2″ finished. The 4-patches should be 3-1/2″ or 3″ finished.

If using 2-1/2″ base squares, the finished 25-patch should be 10-1/2″ or 10″ finished. The 4-patches should be 4-1/2″ or 4″ finished.

Let me know how it is going, and feel free to ask questions.  I look forward to hearing and seeing your progress.

Star Kissed Quiltalong: Quilt Size Considerations

It is time to decide what size quilt you might want to make.  There are so many options!  Aren’t choices fun?

You will notice that I show “base square” sizes, then the block size those will create.  Then, a variety of size quilts you might want to make along with the number of blocks that will require.

NOTE:  The finished quilt sizes assume a single sashing between blocks and a single border the same width as the base block size.  I do plan to share a few other options later, but this is enough complexity for now, I think.  The baby quilt sizes will be improved with a triple border, for example.

NOTE:  n/a here means, Not Advised.  Just that the block size doesn’t lend itself well to a quilt of that size.  Too big, or too small, or too awkward.  You are, of course, free to give it a go if you wish.  And I am interested to see what ideas you might come up with.

So, what do you think?  What size base squares are you considering?  What size quilt do you want to make?

Next week the first set of directions will be officially published!  YAY!

Star Kissed Quiltalong: Block Sizes

A few more thoughts on scale.  It is remarkable how different blocks look made in different sizes.

I have tried the Star Kissed block in four sizes now.  Here they are based on 1-1/4″ squares, 1-1/2″, 2″ and 2-1/2″.

The blocks finish at 10″, 14″, 21″ and 28″.  WOW!  There’s something to think about!

Star Kissed Quiltalong: Scale

As I prepare for the Star Kissed Quiltalong, I thought to share a few thoughts on scale.

It is amazing how the same quilt made with different size pieces changes appearance.  Yes, the block pattern remains the same, but the quilt will feels different.

What size is right?  The size that YOU are happy with.  Yes, I tend to use very small pieces (or small to some people, at least) but that doesn’t mean I am a better-worse-or-otherwise quilter than you are.  It is just that small pieces are my preference.

Husband observed early in my quilting history that the sizes seemed to get smaller as my stress level rose.  Hmmm…he might have something there.

Anyway, let’s take a look at scale.

Here are squares:  1-1/2″, 2″, 2-1/2″.

Turn those into 4-patches (think the corner accents in the blocks) and they are 2-1/2″, 3-1/2″ and 4-1/2″ square.

When you get to 25-patches, they are 5-1/2″, 8″, and 10-1/2″.

A single block center based on 2-1/2″ squares is the same size as the entire block made with (crazy lady) 1-1/4″ squares.

Hmmm….think on that for a while and I’ll be back soon with more information.

 

Twenty Five Blocks Later

The Star Kissed Quiltalong has not vanished.  Life has been unusually busy and I haven’t had the brain space for multi-size block design.  But, I could keep sewing.

The 25 blocks (based on 1-1/4″ squares) are now complete.  I am still contemplating sashing and borders but hope to have answers and models (and measurements) soon.

 

Quiltalong Alert: Star Kissed

Your response to Star Kissed was so kind!  Thank you!

I am still sewing along on blocks.  There are 8 of them now.  And I still like them a lot.

 

So, here’s the deal:  If you find this project interesting, start gathering squares–1-1/2″ or 2″ or 2-1/2″.  Whatever makes you happy.  I will shortly produce a quiltalong that will make a quilt using that size.  It has been a while.

Come, sew along!