This week I took a break from my seemingly endless Storm at Sea piecing to put together a block for the Scrap Club at Intown Quilters in Decatur, GA. This terrific quilt shop has started a monthly program led by Taffy McLaughlin where we meet to learn about different techniques for using our scraps.
In January we worked on a sashing pattern of small squares set on point. The blocks in the pattern were 15" finished size before the sashing. I simplified mine to finish at 12" including the sashing.
This month we learned about using templates of different types. I really liked one of Taffy's samples with 8-point stars. Afterwards I came home and cut strips from many of my blue fabrics. I made strip sets of different reds and blues, then cut 45 degree diamonds from them. It has been great fun playing with the different ways I can arrange the pieces.
I am thinking I will use red and blue scraps with a light background fabric to make at least one block each month based on the demonstrations at the scrap club. These stars were so much fun that I might make several more. I hope to end up with enough different blocks to put together into a quilt at the end of the year.
Those star blocks look so nice!! What size are they?
ReplyDeleteI love the stars, too!
ReplyDeleteI like the way changing your pieces around gives you subtle differences in each star. But I think I like the kaleidoscope effect the best! What a great program you've got available every month! :)
ReplyDeleteI love these stars! ...and your Storm at Sea! Is the storm pattern available in a book or single pattern? I would love to do one. I will have to add a pattern search to my to do list for today. I'm new to all of this blogging as well...stop by and see me if you get a chance. http://institchesonthecompound.blogspot.com/
ReplyDeleteThe star blocks will finish at 12". I used 1-1/2" strips by 18" long, 8 of them together for each set, then cut 45 degree diamonds that measure 3". I used freezer paper templates as a cutting guide to be sure to get them centered.
ReplyDeleteThe stars are so much fun, I love how much they change with different placements.
ReplyDeleteFun! I love those strippy stars! :o)
ReplyDeleteLovely star blocks. Very nice and great to use scraps.
ReplyDelete