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Moda’s Blockheads

Are you following along on Moda’s weekly block series? Blockheads 5? Today is my day to share a quilt block pattern.

I choose a block that was inspired by an antique Americana quilt. I somehow rembered this block in my mind and just jumped in to create it. I made several different versions and finally decided on this one.

Spinning Star

This block is certainly a skill builder. Anything that has eight points all coming together could be problematic. Moda made a video with tips and tricks and here is the link.

Spinning star is assembled ...

I first made Avantika for the Island Batik catalogue. The working title was Mosaic Stars but once the quilt was completed, it needed a better name. Avantika means princess :-)

Avantika, the original princess :-)

Sunset Backing and Binding

Made using Island Batik Juicy Mosaics fabric collection, Avantika finished at about 64" by 84". 

Juicy Mosaics is a beautiful collection and I love every fabric in it. 

Of course, we took her out for a photoshoot, thanks to Paul!

Ooh, the reflection!!!

I was so much in love that I chose to make these blocks for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge 2023. 

Since ...

I like the first design today. Nice mix of interesting pieced and applique blocks.

Also interesting, though because of the shape it looks like a perfect design for a floor mat!

 My last blue project for the rainbow scrap challenge at so scrappy is Lucky star. I bought a layer cake of batiks last fall to use for bright colored stars. 

I never make a dent in the blue scrap bins, but, I am excited for a new color next month. I did not bring home any free fabric from the quilt guild free table, And I took 12 yards from my stash to the table ...

The colours look old fashioned, but the block designs are new, and are part of a growing collection which started with one diagonal square design with a star, with five different corners. There are now about ten corners, along with three variations on the square.

I will share the sampler quilts when I have mixed all the centres with all the corners.

I also want to add some quilting motifs to fill in those blank spaces!

If you have a layer cake in your stash, that hasn't found a perfect quilt, this is for you. Usually Layer Cakes have 20 fabrics, two squares of each fabric for a total of 40 squares. Of course you don't need a layer cake to make this block. 

This tutorial is in two parts. In Part 1, we will make the four identical units. In Part 2, we will look at ways to make blocks ...

Hunter and Lemoyne Stars Made EasyYes, we can make our favorite quilt blocks, the hunter and lemoyne...

Today, we feature this gorgeous 36″ square quilt by Red Crinoline Quilts, done in the BOUNTIFUL BLUES collection by Paula Barnes! You’ll love this design as a wall accent, or as an elegant table topper. Download the free pattern, or order the optional kit for maximum convenience.

Come back each Monday thru May 17 for another fun free project from your favorite Marcus designers. This time around, several projects will also be redone by other designers, in their own signature styles, for a wider variety of creative options… You ...

I haven't been able to add to the pink drawer of 2 1/2 inch strips in a long time. It is full. I noticed some red had worked it's way into the drawer when I wasn't looking, too. I have a new rainbow scrap challenge block I want to make to use from this drawer and help clean and organize it.

The first step was to divide the strips into width of fabric strips and shorter. I was curious about how many would fall into each category. I grabbed a part of the pile for the ...

Make a colorful quilted wall hanging to add a retro vibe to your home decor. Easy paper piecing and large blocks help you create this artwork in no time!

Photograph by American Quilter. Used with permission.

“On Broadway” was just published in the January 2021 issue of the American Quilter magazine by the American Quilter’s Society. I was inspired by the theaters on Broadway and love this photo setup! Lots of gold and bright colors, just as the ones we see as we walk the streets of Midtown Manhattan.

The quilt measures 60″ x 60″ and the blocks finish ...

Choose your favorite star blocks, a fabric collection, and make a sampler quilt with stars like we did. Exchange blocks once a month!

I am calling this my Friendship Star quilt! Deb, Lisa, and I agreed to work with the Gretel fabric collection by Amy Smart for Riley Blake Designs. I love Amy’s fabrics! Deb suggested our blocks should be 12″ stars, any stars we liked. So, we met every month or so to exchange the blocks we made.

We would choose a design, make three blocks of it, and share. We each had purchased a fat quarter bundle ...

Interesting!

I like the second design.

Notice that the quilting lines in the second and third designs show the how the blocks fit together in the first.

The Star Kissed tutorial/pattern is written for four different sizes, and I just HAD to make all of them.  Tops were finished for three sizes and the fourth is in the works, but it was time to get one truly finished:

This is a single block based on 2-1/2″ squares, with borders added.

Finished at 36″ square. A fun table topper, wall hanging or baby quilt.  Or, make four blocks for a bed size quilt (with borders, of course).

YAY!

How are you doing with your Star Kissed blocks?  Remember there is no hurry, but I do like to know how it is going and if there is anything I can do to help.

Today I am sharing another option for your blocks.  (Information on the entire quiltalong HERE.) Since the quilt is designed in four different block sizes, I decided to make four different quilts to show some ideas that might work for you.

These blocks are based on 1-1/2″ squares.  Four of them, with triple sashing (also based on 1-1/2″) makes a 37″ baby quilt or ...

Welcome if you are new!  Welcome back if you have been here for a while!  It is time for the Star Kissed Quiltalong! This is an ongoing quiltalong with no deadlines and no race to the finish.  It is a great day to get started.

You can find all you might want to know about previous steps in the quiltalong HERE, or you can link from the button to the right or the menu above.

Today’s focus is the star points, and then block assembly.  It is possible that there will be some concern about fabric waste due to ...

I am working on another layout variation for the Star Kissed Quilt.

How is yours coming?

Any questions?

The final step in the quiltalong and a number of alternate ideas coming soon.

Just one block, recoloured to fill spaces with much more interest than just making the same version over and over.

The centre block in the second design is the block as it appears in full colours.

Also has the quilting design ready to stitch … just follow the seam lines which are not there!

If you are new to the Star Kissed Quiltalong, welcome!  No, you are not late.  Today is the perfect day for a new idea. You can find all you might want to know about the quiltalong HERE, or you can link from the button to the right or the menu above.

It’s finally time to get sewing! YAY!

Hopefully you have decided what size squares you are going to use and how many blocks you are going to make.  If you need more thinking time, feel free to stop by the QUILT SIZE CONSIDERATIONS post for information and suggestions ...

Your response to Star Kissed was so kind!  Thank you!

I am still sewing along on blocks.  There are 8 of them now.  And I still like them a lot.

So, here’s the deal:  If you find this project interesting, start gathering squares–1-1/2″ or 2″ or 2-1/2″.  Whatever makes you happy.  I will shortly produce a quiltalong that will make a quilt using that size.  It has been a while.

Come, sew along!