Finishing the Star Sampler Quilt!!

Okay, I’m super excited.  This is the big reveal of my first quilt along.  The Star Sampler Quilt we have been working on for the last twelve weeks.  Are your blocks done?  If not, maybe the finished quilt pictures will inspire  you to get going and finish your last few blocks.

I love all the bright colors in this quilt.  I decided to keep the borders super simple so they wouldn’t distract from the blocks themselves, but it needed a little pop.  Hence, the bright blue polka dot border and striped binding. 

I loved the blue polka dot so much, I even chose it for the backing…

You can finish yours anyway you want, but just in case you wanted a few details on how I finished mine, here they are:

The sashing strips, inner cream border, and dotted border are all 2 1/2 inches.

The outer border is 4 1/2 inches.

The finished quilt size is 56 x 70.

If you want more specific instructions, please let me know.  And, send my your pictures!  I would love to see other versions of the Star Sampler Quilt.  Thanks so much for doing this with me!

Stormy

Star Sampler Quilt Along–Block 12

It’s the last block!  I’m super excited to show you this one.  As I was searching through my archives of star blocks, I just couldn’t find what I wanted.  So, I decided to design my own.  I know that somewhere out there, somebody has probably made this block (it’s not that complicated), but I sure couldn’t find it.  So, I’m introducing it as Stormy’s Star!  Let me know if you know it by another name.

CUTTING AND FABRIC

Fabric 1 – Background – (8) 2 7/8 in squares and (4) 2 1/2 in squares and (2) 1 1/2 x 8 1/2 in rectangles and (2) 1 1/2 x 6 1/2 in rectangles.

Fabric 2 – Yellow Floral – (8) 2 7/8 in squares

Fabric 3 – 11 – Center – (1) 2 1/2 in square of each fabric

STEP 1

Draw a diagonal line along the back of all the Fabric 2 – 2 7/8 in square blocks.

STEP 2

Stack the Fabric 2 squares RST with the background 2 7/8 in squares.  Sew 1/4 in seam along both sides of the drawn line.

STEP 3

Cut the squares along the drawn line.

STEP 4

Press open and trim squares to 2 1/2 inches.

STEP 5

Lay out quilt block as shown.

STEP 6

Sew together top and bottom row, then sew the side blocks together.  Sew the center 9 patch together and add the side 1 1/2 x 6 1/2 strips.  Then sew on the top and bottom 1 1/2 x 8 1/2 inch strip.

STEP 7

Sew the side half square triangle strips on.  Press, then sew the top and bottom strips on.  Your finished!  Yeah!  All the blocks are done.  Now for the finishing…..

Stormy

Star Sampler Quilt Along–Block 11

I know, I’m a few days late posting block 11.  We had family in town for four days and I think I have spent about five minutes in front of my computer.  So, here it is Squares and Stars (just a little late).

CUTTING AND FABRIC

Fabric 1 – Background – (4) 2 1/2 in. squares and (8) 2 7/8 in. squares

Fabric 2 – Floral on white – (1) 4 1/2 in. square and (4) 2 7/8 in. squares

Fabric 3 – Small Floral – (4) 2 1/2 in. squares and (4) 3 in. squares

Fabric 4 – Blue Dot – (8) 2 7/8 in squares

STEP 1

Draw a line on all the background squares and Fabric 2 (not shown)  2 7/8 in squares.

STEP 2

Now we are going to stack all of our 2 7/8 in. squares together to form all of the Half Square Triangles.  I hope I can make some sense of this….  Stack:

Four – Background and Fabric 3

Four – Background and Fabric 4

Four – Fabric 2 and Fabric 4

Then sew a 1/4 in seam along each side of your drawn lines.  Cut each square along the drawn line to form two half square triangles.  Are you still with me?

STEP 3

Now, you get to press and trim all the half square triangles you just made to 2 1/2 inches.

STEP 4

Lay out all your pieces to form your block.

STEP 5

Instead of sewing this block row by row (which I think would be much harder to match the corners).  I made four patches from the smaller 2 1/2 inch blocks, then sewed the four patches together by rows.

One more block to go!!

Stormy

Balloon Weekend

We don’t live very far away from Albuquerque, but for various reasons we never made it to the balloon festival…. until now.  I can tell you it was awesome, but I’d rather show you.

The kids LOVED these….

Can you spot Elvis?

This was my favorite….

They even had a quilt raffle featuring some of the favorite balloons of the past few years.  (I’m crossing my fingers!) I can’t believe I forgot to take a picture.  I borrowed the picture from the New Mexico Quilt Association web page. Isn’t it awesome?

If you ever get a chance to go, it is totally worth it.  We will definitely be going again.

Stormy

Star Sampler Quilt Along–Block 10

For this week’s star, I decided to throw in a traditional block, the Ohio Star.  It’s easy, quick, and I think, quite pretty.  It’s amazing all the different looks you can get by just switching up your fabric a bit.

CUTTING AND FABRIC

Fabric 1 – Background – (4) 4 1/2in. squares and (1) 5 1/4in. square cut twice diagonally.

Fabric 2 – Center – (1) 4 1/2in. square

Fabric 3 – Circle Print – (1) 5 1/4in. square cut twice diagonally

Fabric 4 – Blue Flower – (2) 5 1/4in. squares cut twice diagonally

STEP 1

Lay out your triangles as shown above.

STEP 2

Sew the two sets of triangles together to make to larger triangles. Press open.

Sew those triangles together to form a square. Press. Trim to 4 1/2 inches.

STEP 3

Lay out your blocks as shown.  Sew together into rows and sew rows into block, making sure to pin all corners.  That’s it!  The classic Ohio Star.

Stormy