Hello Everyone,
I am sure quite a few of you will remember me posting about the quilt in the picture below. If not, you can read about it here.
First, I need to ask, has anyone else out there started this quilt? Well, my friend Karen and I , both really wanted to make this and set aside a date to begin. She came over last Saturday and was here from 9 am until 6 pm.
We both really love this quilt and are both making it in reproduction fabrics. Mine is in 30s and hers is in Civil War repros.
Karen had some time before coming over and had picked her selection of fabrics for this quilt. But I hadn't had time and she helped me pick some selections out. The above photo is the selection for the first star in this quilt.
Above you can see the "mess" we made when all my 30s fabrics were pulled out to make selections for 8 more stars. This was definitely a fun part, for sure!
Here you can see that I have pieced all my bands together which will form the star block.
Above you can see Karen's bands all pieced together. Nice right?
Here is Karen pressing her bands and still has a smile on her face. Note that we are still happy at this point in the process of this quilt.
Well, needless to say, things started to go awry here. We found the directions to be not too well written and frustration began to set in. This is why we really need to know if anyone else has attempted this quilt. Please, please let me know, we need some HELP!
The interesting thing is that we both consider ourselves accomplished enough that this quilt should cause minimal or NO problem. Au contraire, this was not the case. So as I go on talking about it, I am beginning to feel the frustration build. So I will save more photos and hopefully more tips about this quilt until next post. In the meantime, my January Newsletter is online for your reading pleasure.
On a side note, we really do love this quilt. Are we nuts or what?
Until Next Time...
34 comments:
How fun to have a friend to work on a project with and boy is that some project! It'll be stunning in both fabric choices. Now this pattern designer really needs some Supremes to do testing for her, right?
Quilters are not nuts, just passionate!
No I haven't even seen the pattern untill now, looks fantastic though.
What went wrong?
cheers
Christine
I was so impressed looking at the pattern, thinking to myself "never in a million years". Then reading on, and seeing the strips, got to thinking "well, maybe". Then whammy!! You report problems, and I'm thinking "whew, glad it's not me!!", sorry....
Hope you get this thing figured out, keep us posted on your progress! lol! Thanks for sharing your insanity, I've got my own.....
The fabrics are great and I have every confidence that you know what you are doing so - give that designer a call and ask her! Both quilts will be stunning!!
In a word - yes.
Yes, you are crazy for attempting that quilt. :o)
That is a gorgeous quilt -- I can't wait to see your stars -- BOTH versions.
Step away from the instructions. Look at the pics and let all your quilt experience kick in and see what happens???
Bless you for trying this. I am sure you can figure it out and it will be a beautiful quilt when you finish. At least you have a friend working on it with you - that is always helpful.
I haven't seen that pattern before, I agree with someone who said to step back and look at the block and maybe you can figure out a method of putting it together with your own instructions.
Karen
http://karensquilting.com/blog/
It sounds like it was a frustrating day of quilting. I agree that often you can figure the pattern out by looking at the block.
Figured out your block. Not sure if you got my previous post as I didn't see it posted.
Cut your diamonds out from your strip sets. Make sure your top and bottom fabrics are the same so your don't have alternating star points.
Label all strip sets so you don't lose track of them..ie A, B, C for each separate star.
You will have 8 diamonds for each star point. Then for your backgrounds you'll have 8 sections mirrored together by cream triangles to complete the block. 4 triangle pieces top/bottom, left/right. Then 4 square pieces for the corners.
Does that make sense?
Great book is "Radiant Star" by Eleanor Burns if you need help.
I've done this kind of quilt before. Just not with the extra background. It's not hard, just time consuming.
Sigh..it's been awhile..not sure if your strip sets need to be the same top and bottom. Just make sure you don't get alternating points.
Do just one star first so you get the idea. I hate to mess you up.
I have never made the quilt, but I sure hope you find someone QUICK who has. It must have terrible instructions because you are a very accomplished quilter!
What a lovely project to do with a friend. The quilt on the cover is spectacular! I love both versions of your fabrics.
Sorry to hear about the troubles with the pattern though. It's not fun when you so enthusiastically started on the project. Hope you find solutions to solve it soon.
You and your friend, Karen, had such a fun time! Wow, what a productive duo you guys are! That is a neat quilt and with the fabrics you've chosen, it will be so great! Can't wait to see the finished product!
I bet this makes you appreciate Sue Garman's Star Crazy instructions even more, huh?
What an incredible pattern! Have fun!
Looks like an amazing pattern and your fabric choices look great. I like how you use your longarm as a glorified display shelf too ... I do that. They come in very handy sometimes!
That is one awesome quilt...more than I would tackle alone but seeing how there are two of you...then it would be a maybe...good luck with it....
Sorry no help but your fabrics are wonderful!
I love that pattern. Which edition did you get that out of? I may have to buy it.
If you figure it out, please let us know! It's going to look great.
What a gorgeous quilt design. I look at it and figure out how to do it by hand, so am not any help on that score.
I've had my share of crappily written patterns recently, so I totally understand the frustration! I have to say, looking at all of those 'bands' makes me feel ill...but it would be a great one to do with a friend! That's just the 'distraction' you need from the hard work! ;) Good luck!
Yes....this is what I would call a "WOW" quilt...LOVE IT!! And yes...I would consider you a master
seamstress/quilter...so what's the deal???
I hope you gals can get some answers soon...I would be a little disgruntled!!!
Oh no, just as the fun starts, problems. I have not seen that pattern and to be honest even if I saw it, I would never be able to make that quilt. I hope someone can help you girls. Why not call the pattern company?
So how many projects do you have going now?
I'm really impressed. This one seems hard.
Such a pretty quilt....can't wait to see how you figure it?
Sometimes you need an engineering degree to figure out certain quilting instructions -- frustrating, isn't it?? I know you'll succeed. And, boy, is that one huge stack of squares! What a lot of work!
Diane
Jackie, it is always more fun to work on projects with others! It will be a great quilt when it is done. I have never done anything that detailed. I wanted to let you know that I have nominated you for a Lemon Stand Award! You have been a frequent commenter on my posts and you are always supportive not to mention very talented! Thanks and Congrats!
What a great pattern I hope you can figure it out (you will, you are such a tatented quilter!) and this will be a beautiful quilt for sure!
What a fantastic pattern. I love it too but am only just on triangle patchwork not big suns of accurate sewing.
I think sometimes when someone knows what they are doing they just do things automatically and forget to write up a stage as it is 2nd nature to them. A newb like me then has to clamber over that gate or find the missing step on the net. Have you tried emailing the designer?
It really does highlight the need to have pattern testers like Stephanie does.
Looks like a difficult pattern to me. Did you contact the designer, maybe she has a website if there's an error/mistake in the pattern directions. Good luck figuring it out. Can't wait to see yours completed.
No help from me :) Just wanted to say it is a fantastic pattern, and I hope that you get it figured out because I want to see what it looks like in your fabrics.
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