This variation of Pat Speth's Morning Star pattern has uneven star points instead of identical ones. I like it if I look at the stars, less if I look at the shapes in the sashing created by the star points.
Because I'm so late with this quilt I wanted something that wouldn't take much time but wouldn't look like I'd taken the easiest way out. I thought this quilt fit the bill. With 5" blocks, sashing half that size, and only four seams per sashing unit, I thought I'd whip through this in no time. But let me tell you, I was wrong. It might be quick for someone who already has a lot of 5" squares and 2 1/2" strips cut, but I have neither of those. And the points take time, too. Only four seams, but each has to be pressed, then trimmed, then the fabric behind cut away. Time, time, time.
I'm more than half-way finished sewing the star points on the sashing but have a few more sashing strips to cut and eight more squares. It would be great if I could finish the top this week, but that may be too high an expectation.
And all the while I'm sewing little star points I'm thinking about the star border for my Gwenny medallion. I suppose her stars influenced the stars in this quilt.
I'm linking this post to
Oh Scrap! at Quilting is more fun than Housework
Moving It Forward Monday at Em's Scrapbag
Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt
Design Wall - August 8, 2016 at Patchwork Times
Let's Make Baby Quilts! {8/12/16} at Michelle's Romantic Tangle
Thanks for hosting, ladies.
I hope you're having a good day.
--Nancy.
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Your Morning Star quilt looks really good to me.
ReplyDeleteAnd I can't wait to see your next round of your medallion quilt.
Thanks, Janet. The more I sew on it the more I like your idea of using larger squares! ;-) I think--and hope--it will be a fun quilt. Thanks for your encouragement.
DeleteI can't wait to see the next round on my medallion, either. I've set myself a challenge that I may get the better of me!
I like the wonky little star points, but I quite agree that they are time consuming.
ReplyDeleteHi, Vic. I've done star points before but they were more exact than these. I guess, for some reason, I thought less accurate ones would go faster. Ha! Lesson learned.
DeleteIt's a great pattern, and I don't think you should use smaller bits to make up the squares. You do want it finished in this baby season! It looks like you've done the most time consuming parts, so it's fast from here on, after you finish those last few pieces. Did you assembly line sew the sections? That always helps with time. Great pattern decision, and definitely worth the time spent. I like Pat Speth patterns.
ReplyDeleteHi, Susan --
DeleteYou're right about not using smaller scraps for this particular quilt. I was just envisioning some possible future quilt. Maybe.
My process is this: I cut a pile of rectangles, a pile of triangles, then sew them one after the other until the first corner is sewn onto all the cut rectangles. I press, square, cut away the little triangle of colored fabric from the seam, then sew the next triangle, and repeat the process. When all those rectangles are finished, I cut more and begin again. Thank goodness I only have to have 104! I would never try a bed size quilt with this pattern unless I didn't have a deadline (self-imposed or otherwise).
This hasn't received my undivided attention this week but I may yet get those rectangles finished by week's end. I can always hope!
Those stars are cute. They look like they would take a bit of time. Pressing all those little seams would suck up time in a hurry. Hope your husband is recuperating and feeling better each day.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Bernie. I think pressing the seams takes less time than recutting the edges of each block (4 times!) after sewing and pressing each seam. But really, I suppose they are faster than making a 9-patch block or a more complicated one.
DeleteI have had quilts like that. The more pieces, the longer it takes.
ReplyDeleteHi, Missy. When deciding the block for this quilt I actually counted seams, thinking that fewer seams would go more quickly. This block only has four but after pressing, trimming, and cutting away the triangle at the back ... well, it all takes time. I suppose the simplest, fastest quilt would be a one-patch -- in 12" squares or larger?
DeleteThanks for visiting and leaving a comment. I appreciate it.
I love this pattern. I've made this quilt a few times. It would be perfect for your grandson.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Emily. I like that I can use so many different fabrics. I think it would be a fun I Spy quilt (except I don't have enough fabrics for that, at least not yet).
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