A Star like Quilt - with only 2 blocks!

Here's what is almost finished on the layout board today.  A simple design that consists of only two blocks and looks pretty dynamic.  A little concentration on how to position the units creates a star like look.  I made a larger, but very similar version HERE.

I am not a pattern maker but this is how I made this quilt - please forgive the rough diagram. 

The final size for this quilt is 53" x 53".  All units are 4.5" x 4.5" unfinished.  

You will need:

(64) focus fabric squares - indicated in dark blue

(25) white squares - for corners and between "stars"

(80) half square triangles - trimmed to 4.5" x 4.5"

There are many tutorials that show how to make HST (half square triangles).  I opted to begin mine a little larger than necessary and cut my HST starting pieces 5.25" x 5.25" so I could trim down. 

No matter what size you choose to begin your HST's - you will need 40 focus squares and 40 background squares.  

This will yield you the necessary (80) Half Square Triangles for the design above.

To recap you need: 

  *(64) focus fabric squares,  (unfinished 4.5" x 4.5")

  *(25) white background squares,  (unfinished 4.5" x 4.5")

  *(80) Half Square Triangles  

           made from 40 focus/40 background squares

           final trim size unfinished 4.5"x 4.5" 

           

  

I opted to sew the (16) four-patches together first - and add the HST's as a second phase.  It's all up to you.  If you layout everything without sewing the four-patches first - you can sew everything together ... row by row. 

Important Note:  If you sew the four patches together like I did above - you will need to sew SOME of the HST's together first - top to bottom.  Basically, the ones that nestle up to the four patch  See pix below. 

I was so focused on balancing all the center squares, (there are 35 different colors & patterns), I didn't think ahead to the construction phase.  

Anyway - keep laying out according to the 'rough' diagram at the beginning of the post. Enjoy seeing your quilt come alive as you arrange the 13 blocks across and 13 rows down.  This is a good time to try something simple with just two blocks that show lots of pretty colors and fabric patterns.

Materials:

Regent Street Lawn 2016 / Moda

Cotton Couture in Bright White / Michael Miller

Aurifil 50wt. Muslin thread (#2311)

Size: 53" x 53"

April 2021

Two Retro Drunkard's Path Quilts

Some of my favorite fabrics have been the Japanese quilting cotton from Lecien, which sadly closed in 2020.  Luckily I had enough of their Retro 30's Child Smile 2016 to make two identical quilts for two sweet sisters.  

All the information on how to make these quilts: the AccuQuilt die, the sewing, trimming - as well as the diagram I made to assemble the blocks are HERE in February's post:  Modern Layout of a Drunkard's Path Quilt.

Today's post shows the pretty finished pictures to maybe inspire you to make a smaller Drunkard's Path Quilt using either the AccuQuilt die or any of the other methods available. 

There are many different sizes of plastic templates and lots of tutorials on how to make your own template out of cardboard and how to sew curves.

If you are hesitant to try curves - start with a larger curve and know you can trim down a block smaller to 'erase' edges that come out wonky.  (That's what I do.) 

While I am not buying much fabric and using my saved stash -  I do enjoy picking different color minkys and bindings to match my current projects.   Hawthorne Supply Co.  is my go-to shop as they have a wealth of minky colors and samples that make the whole process a lot of fun!

An added bonus is that Hawthorne Supply Co. has oodles of coordinating designs printed in these very colors to match their minky.  While these little quilts have just a white minky backing -  Hazel likes purple so her binding is Lilac, while Mia likes pink, so her binding is Begonia -- both in the collection called "Candy Stripe."

All quilting was done with a walking foot in a wavy line stitch.  The joining seams are quilted with either a pink or purple color - and white thread for the lines in between.  

I learned something making these quilts.  Usually a universal #14 needle worked out great for most of my minky quilts - but this time I had lots of skipped stitches.  My sewing machine repairman (and many quilt bloggers as well) suggested trying a top stitch needle - it worked out perfectly.

So that's it for April - sewing up pretty fabric, learning about a new needle - and sending these little beauties to their new home 

Materials:

Retro 30's Child Smile 2016 / Lecien

AccuQuilt large Drunkards Path 7" Finished Die (#55034)

Hawthorne Supply Co. - binding in Candy Stripe Begonia & Lilac printed on quilting cotton 56" wide and white minky

Aurifil 50wt. thread #2425 (pink) #2526 (lavender) & #2024 (white)

Warm & White batting

Size: 45.5" x 45.5"

April 2021