Stars on Top
In a surprising burst of effort, I turned all my star blocks into an actual quilt top on Saturday. Amazing what a cloudy, grey, cool weather day can do for my crafty motivation. Which is to say that when it's cooler outside, it's much more pleasant to be in my third floor office/craft space.
I'm very happy that I went with the pieced, multi-color border. It was more work in the end to do it this way, but I think it's the perfect border for the multi-colored stars. I give credit for the little corner pieces to Colette -- I just wish I could remember what she called them, since they have an actual quilting name for borders done with those little corner pieces.
Amazing how a picture can make things look more perfect than they are. I assure you there are plenty of small alignment mistakes when you get up close to it. But this turned out much better than Serenity did from that perspective. Every time I sit down at my machine, I learn a little more about making seams come together better, and this project taught me a good deal about careful block construction -- and why sewing triangles on the bias can be a little tricky. Next time I tackle a similar project, I'm sure the construction will improve again. I think that's one of the fun parts about learning a new craft -- in the beginning, you see so much progress in your technique and skill with every project.
This quilt is going to be off to the machine quilter sometime in the next week or so -- just as soon as I can get it to Quiltology for the hand off. I'm going to have it backed with a lovely plush, washable fabric, in a soft lilac color, that I think will be very baby friendly and give it a little extra thickness. Hopefully it will be back in my hands before the Z baby decides to put in an appearance. I think it would be awfully nice to bring her home from the hospital and greet her with her very own quilt.
Gorgeous!
Beautiful. It turned out amazing.
Although I'm not at all a quilt-person, I really like the look of this one. Can't decide which block is my favourite, great job you did there!
Wow. Just wow. The quilt turned out beautifully! That's one lucky baby :)
It's wonderful! Can't wait to see it all quilted.
The border is just perfect for that sweet little quilt. The little miss is going to love all those bright, contrasting colors.
You did a wonderful job. It is just precious.
I agree! The border looks great! It's really fantastic.
Looks great! Nice job with the pieced borders...She'll love it!
Lucky Z!! I love your blog. It's so unpretentious and down to earth, and yet you are so talented and crafty!
WOW!!!!! I'll admit that all along I didn't really care for the fabrics - just not my cup of tea on their own - but now that is finished it is really beautiful. I think that is one of the big challenges of quilting - being able to see the end result when you are just starting with a few yards of fabric. The top turned out stunning.
What kind of quilting are you going to have done?
I barely have enough time to knit--your quilting is so beautiful it makes me want to try that, too. I love the pieced border. The engineering side of me loves the symmetry of it. :)
You also might want to consider flannel for a backing. I still have a Holly Hobby quilt mom made for my 10th Christmas that was backed with flannel. Of course, the front seems to have seen many better days, but that quilt is old enough to drink legally, so we'll let it slide.
I love the "piece-ful" ending :) The corner pieces - are you referring to "cornerstones"? I think your little one will love this quilt.
Dene
Great border. Beautiful flimsy (non quilted quilt top). Have you decided on a color to do the binding?
Now that's a blankie that is going to see a lot of loving. I hope you have leftovers for patching because it is going to get loved to pieces. Nice work!
I am so proud of you - your quilt is lovely. You should be so proud of it - and yourself!
I had a great aunt, named Fannie, who hand quilted. She was amazing: she lived to be 98, had all of her own teeth, which were perfect, didn't even wear glasses and created over 200 quilts in her life. Her stitches were tiny and perfect - they looked like they had been done on a machine, but there were no sewing machines at her home, let alone in her whole town!
She tried to teach me to quilt when I was a little girl, as she did with all of her nieces and grandchildren. All of them had the "Fannie gene" and were (and I suppose, are) amazing quilters - except for me! You could have put your foot through my stitches and my piece cutting was no better! It was hysterical!
I was so sad that I didn't have that gift, but what happened was that I learned to love and appreciate others who do and the magnificient works their hands create. Now, many, many years later, I am a knitter and cross-stitcher - and I am a master button-sewer-oner - who enjoys seeing others do the quilt making! Keep up your excellent work!!!
Congrats on Baby Z's approaching arrival - she is lucky to have such a caring and talented Mommy!
Lovely work on bringing it all together.
Very pretty! Congratulations on it!
Fantastic!! That border is perfect!
*applause!*
It's beautiful! The Z baby is going to be one lucky little bundle, to have a quilt like that.
You made an heirloom! It's just lovely.
i know that pieces looking like your border between squares are "sashing" but not sure if just the corner has a name itself. great job!
That's really beautiful! You did a fantastic job with that quilt. Baby Z is going to love it.
Beautiful! Makes me want to start quilting though I don't have the patience :)
Great job-
Beautiful! I love the way the different fabrics make the stars look like they have different shapes. It's just stunning!
Oh, I really like how the pieced border came out too! I think the blocks are called cornerstones too. And I wouldn't back it with flannel - I would stick with the same kind of fabric that you did the front with, in case of shrinkage (mmm...did you wash the fabrics first?).
Yes, that border was the right decision! It's a beautiful quilt top!
It's lovely!
I'm so glad you finished it. :) Must feel nice getting that accomplished.
Wow! It came out great. I love the colors you choose. Great job:)
SPECTACULAR! I've been waiting to see this -- all of the stars are so intriguing all on their own, but together they spell: F.A.B.U.L.O.U.S!
Well done, T!
It's beautiful. Watching all your gorgeous quilts come together is making me itch to try one of my own.
Wow! The quilt is so beautiful, congratulations!
This is beautiful! I love what you did with the border too - lucky baby!
I have to throw in my praise on the quilt top. It is just stunning, I love the care you took in matching up the fabric design on the points of the stars.
I am finishing a sweater for someone and it is knit in Colinette Giatto. In a search your blog came up and I see you have knitted with it at least twice. My question is about the blocking. My first instinct is to pin it dry and spray it, but did you immerse your pieces first and then pin them? Thanks so much in advance for any advice you can give.
Beautiful, beautiful!
Your star top is beautiful. As one quilter to another, I'll be stereotypical and say, "I have that fabric!" The pink version of your background was used in a challenge for our quilt guild. The subject was, "When I was a girl," and the fabric that everyone had to use some of was the pink. So many people in the guild have a fat quarter of that fabric!
So pretty!!