LUCKY STAR
Go back to basics and give a classic Lone Star quilt a modern makeover with sunny solids and simple quilting
Go back to basics and give a classic Lone Star quilt a modern makeover with sunny solids and simple straight line quilting
YOU WILL NEED
■ Fabric A (light blue) 1/8yd
■ Fabric B (turquoise) ¼yd
■ Fabric C (mid blue) ¼yd
■ Fabric D (navy) 3/8yd
■ Fabric E (dark purple) ½yd
■ Fabric F (light purple) 3/8yd
■ Fabric G (red) ¼yd
■ Fabric H (orange) ¼yd
■ Fabric I (yellow) 1/8yd
■ Background fabric: 2yds
■ Backing fabric: 4yds
■ Batting: 72in square
■ Binding fabric: ½yd
FINISHED SIZE
■ 62in square
NOTES
■ Seam allowances are ¼in unless otherwise noted.
■ Press seams open throughout, unless otherwise instructed.
■ WOF = width of fabric.
■ HST = Half-square Triangle.
FABRICS USED
All fabrics are Kona Cotton Solids by Robert Kaufman.
CUTTING OUT
1 From each of Fabrics A and I cut:
■ One (1) 3in x WOF strip.
2 From each of Fabrics B and H cut:
■ Two (2) 3in x WOF strips.
3 From each of Fabrics C and G cut:
■ Three (3) 3in x WOF strips.
4 From each of Fabrics D and F cut:
■ Four (4) 3in x WOF strips.
5 From each of Fabric E cut:
■ Five (5) 3in x WOF strips.
6 From the background fabric cut:
■ Four (4) 15in squares. Subcut in half diagonally to make eight (8) HSTs.
■ Four (4) 20in squares. Subcut in half diagonally to make eight (8) HSTs.
PIECING THE QUILT TOP
7 Take one strip from each of Fabrics A–E and arrange as shown in Fig 1. Sew all of the strips together, offsetting each strip 2½in from the left edge. Press the seams open as you go.
8 Use your quilting ruler to cut the strip edge at 45-degrees, trimming the offset edges. Make marks 4¼in apart along the bottom edge of the strip. Continue cutting at 45-degrees at each of the marks to make eight strips (Fig 2). These will be your Group 1 strips. Set aside.
9 Repeat step 8 to make Group 2–5 strips, using the following fabrics:
■ For Group 2 use Fabrics B–F.
■ For Group 3 use Fabrics C–G.
■ For Group 4 use Fabrics D–H.
■ For Group 5 use Fabrics E–I.
10 Take one strip from each of Groups 1–5 and arrange into the star point formation (Fig 3). Begin joining the strips, taking care to match the seams between each strip. You may find it helpful to mark the ¼in seam allowance along each seam line on the wrong side, then pin together (Fig 4). Carefully sew, then press open.
11 Continue joining the strips until all five strips are joined, completing one star point (Fig 5). Repeat to make eight identical star points.
12 Take one star point and join a 15in triangle to the Group 1 strip, as shown. Then join a 20in triangle to the opposite side (Fig 6). Don’t worry about lining up the edges perfectly, but make sure there is at least a ¾in of background fabric beyond the Fabric A point.
13 Repeat step 12, switching the sides the triangles are sewn to the star point, to make a mirror image piece. Trim the sides of the background triangles in line with the sides of the star points. Then sew the two points together, carefully matching all the seam points (Fig 7).
14 Repeat steps 12–13 to make four quarters of the quilt. Sew the quarters together in pairs, then sew the pairs together to complete the quilt top. Make sure you keep matching the seams across the points for each seam.
QUILTING AND FINISHING
15
Cut the backing fabric in half across the width. Remove the selvedges and sew the two pieces together using a ½in seam. Press the seam open.
16
Press the quilt top and backing well. Make a quilt sandwich by placing the backing fabric right side down, the batting on top, then place the quilt top centrally and right side up. Baste the layers together using your preferred method.
17
Quilt as desired. Karen quilted around the star shape with 50wt Aurifil thread and highlighted around each colour with coordinating 12wt Aurifil cotton and lana wool. Trim off the excess batting and backing fabric and square up the quilt to 62½in square. Make sure to leave at least ¼in of background fabric outside each point.
18
Sew the binding strips together end-to-end with diagonal seams. Press the seams open. Fold in half lengthways, wrong sides together, and press. 19
Sew the binding to the right side of the quilt, creating a neat mitre at each corner. Fold the binding over to the back of the quilt and secure in place temporarily with pins or binding clips. Hand stitch in place using a coordinating thread to finish.