Sewing Scraps

Saturday, March 24, 2018

Kaleidoscope Quilt ... Again (#95)

Kaleidoscope novelty fabric quilt #2 - just as fun to make as the first one. It's like an eye spy quilt for every age.
After making four kaleidoscope quilts I am still not tired of this pattern - nothing obsessive going on here!
Accuquilt die + white Kona + lots of fun scraps = a happy quilt.
Novelty kaleidoscope tips here.
Little Ruby star kaleidoscope with more details here.
Vintage style kaleidoscope quilt post here.

Materials:
Novelty cotton fabric / Kona white
Aurifil 50wt. #5007 & #2311
Warm & White batting
Dimple dot minky in Azurite & Candy Strip in Azurite from Hawthorne Threads
Accuquilt dies: Triangle-Isosceles 5"x6" / HST 3" Finished
Size: 60" x 70"
March 2018

Wednesday, March 7, 2018

Starburst Quilt ... Missouri Quilt Co. Style (#94)

I love a simple large scale pattern for novelty fabrics and Starburst from the Missouri Star Quilt Co. is perfect.  While the Starburst tutorial uses layer cakes - I choose to make my half square triangles with fabric yardage and the 6" finished square HST Accuquilt die.
My graphic skills are a little rustic so please ignore the color scheme and focus only on the diagram:  I made my guide with 10 blocks across by 12 rows down. The MSQC tutorial has larger half square triangles, a border and is configured in a square.  This is for a bed so I made the 'pattern' into a rectangle and changed the size of the HST.  It's really a great pattern to alter both in HST size and dimensions.  Making a graph to follow beforehand is very helpful!
I did exactly like Jenny said in the video - working in quadrants which was fun and easy to keep track of.
It's nice to use bold colors. Bright turquoise minky on the back (to match Captain America), and Aurifil 50wt. black thread for the top.  I really wanted those black elongated starbursts to stand out without distraction.
Using a smaller 6" finished half square triangle had some nice benefits.  I could use yardage, not distort the pattern too much when keeping it to 60" wide - and the best bonus of all ... a 'bigger starburst!"  This two tone quilt needed 240 Accuquilt cut HST pieces - 120 black triangles and 120 comic book triangles. 

If you are making your own half square triangles - here is a good tutorial from Jacquelynne Steves and a wonderful chart on what size to cut your squares.  She gives two sizes - one that allows wiggle room and further trimming - love that.  
If you are making this quilt in two colors you need 60 squares in each color.  Using a generous 7.25" square for your half square triangles so you can trim them after sewing - 2.4 yards of each fabric is the math.  I would go a bit more generous and get 3 yards but I always err on more than less.  The extra can always go towards the binding.

Materials:
Marvel Retro Comics Covers fabric
Wintergreen Aged Solids / Moda
Aurifil 50wt. #2600 (Dove) #2692 (black) #1148 (Turquoise)
Warm & White batting
Dimple Dot Minky in Peacock / Hawthorne Threads
Accuquilt Half Square Triangle 6" finished square
Thanks to Missouri Star Quilt Co. for the Starburst tutorial
Thanks to Jacquelynne Steves for the HST tutorial 
Size: 60" x 72"
March 2018