Wednesday, November 21, 2012

My First Lone Star

My quilting goal this past year has been to challenge myself (my goal next year is to actually quilt and finish all these wonderful tops I've been making!). I'm a sucker for easy and quick patterns with modern, fun fabrics. But after awhile, I was getting bored.

Here is the finished quilt top for my very first lone star quilt.


Before you become too impressed with my mad skills, this was pieced using what I describe as the "cheater method." I used a jelly roll and followed a pattern out of the Jelly Roll Quilts book:
This means I didn't have to do any of that pesky y-seam piecing shananagins. I simply sewed some strips together, then cut at an angle, sewed strips together again, and wall-lah! 8 diamond chunks to sew together for each star. I would show a picture from the book that shows this technique but that is probably illegal, so I won't. Just know it sure as heck was quicker and easier than the traditional method.

First step, selecting strips to go together for each of the four stars. Sounds easier than it was. I had plenty of brain fart moments trying to figure out which color went where to end up in the finished star how I wanted it.

Here are my four sets of strips:


First star done:

All four done, sans sashing and border:

And another shot of the final top:

The fabric used was a jelly roll of Hometown by Sweetwater for Moda. No clue how I will quilt this baby.

Thursday, November 8, 2012

The Ghastlies

I just got done with another wonderful weekend at CJ's Quilt Retreats. I was able to finish three quilt tops, almost a fourth (just have a little bit of sashing left), and start one additional project. So much fun! Love quilt retreats!

Here is what very well be may be my favorite quilt of all time...not just that I've done, but ever in the history of quilts. Just love this!



I have been admiring The Ghastlies by Alexander Henry for a couple years now, but I already had a Halloween quilt in the works and just wasn't sure I should start another one until I finished the first one. But, like any good quilter, I realized how foolish I was being and went ahead and picked up some yardage a couple weeks ago. 

I didn't really have a plan, other than I had to have this fabric. Then I was flipping through some quilt books for inspiration...and it hit. Strawberry Fields from Material Obsession. This pattern is by Sarah Fielke and it is fabulous.
It had a big center piece - 10 inch squares for each main center block - that would show off the wonderful Ghastlie family, and some fun additional piecing. I wanted a bit of a challenge. I think it complements the fabrics and showcases The Ghastlies perfectly.

I can't wait to do this pattern again...maybe in something less scary next time!


How much fun are these guys!