Fat Quarter Stars #2 UFO

Another UFO is bound and complete. This one has been on my UFO list for at least 3 years with just the binding to do. My photo isn't very good but it was windy and grey outside yesterday when I took this photo.

Fat Quarter Stars was an online BOM quilt-along that I joined back in 2011.  I liked the blocks so much that I made 2 sets using different fabric lines.  The other one is in blues/purples/greens from the Terrain line. And it's currently on my bed.  This fabric line was called Ellie II.  I love the reds and yellows and the border fabric in this quilt in particular.

The back is a speckled red so that yellow batik binding looks good. It might just change places with the blue version and bring a touch of spring to my bedroom.

Fat Quarter Stars #1

I can cross off another UFO because I finished the binding on the Fat Quarter Stars quilt made from the Terrain fabric line.  I made this a couple of years ago and had it quilted fairly soon, but then I just never put the binding on it - until this week.  Yay!!!  I love this one - love the colors, love the fabric, love the blocks, love the quilting.  And I have the same basic quilt done in a red color scheme that also needs binding.

The Terrain fabric line has such lovely blues and greens. I did add a rich purplish-blue solid for my sashing and binding, and used a medium purple fabric in a few places as well.

And Carly did a great job on the quilting as always. She echoed the flower petals in that border print.  I wonder if she misses quilting as much as her customers miss her talent since she has changed careers.

I'm back!

I've been missing in action since the middle of last week. And I was not doing any sewing. Instead I played a little golf, had fun attending some social events, and spent time with family for Father's Day. So I've had my "grandma" fix for a week or so.

This morning I ran out to pick up my last quilt that Carly quilted for me.  This is my second Fat Quarter Stars project where I primarily used Kate Spain's Terrain fabric line. I asked for just an edge-to-edge design and Carly did a lovely swirly pattern in a powder blue thread that matches the backing.  Can't wait to get the binding on this one.

A big thank you to Carly for all of the beautiful quilting she has done for me over the past few years. And best wishes on your new job!

Another UFO is a flimsy

My last May goal project is now done. My Terrain version of the Fat Quarter Stars sampler now has borders. I love this one just as much as the red version I did (which still needs binding).

This was an online quilt-along project hosted by Moose on the Porch Quilts a couple of years ago. She had guest bloggers design some of the blocks and she did others. I really really LOVE star blocks and these were such fun. I couldn't wait to see each new design.

I decided to do these blocks using 2 different colorways and bought 2 very different fat quarter bundles.  This one is mostly Terrain, by Kate Spain. I did add one purple and the white background.  The narrow borders are Iris - and it is just the color of those deep purple iris that my mom grew.  This photo is a little dull since it is a very overcast gray day, but the purples really dominate in this quilt.  I love it.

Sashing & binding

Yesterday I worked on 2 of my February UFO goals.

First I made the binding for the Hugs & Kisses quilt and sewed it on. So that one just needs the handwork done and a label. No rush though since it doesn't have a "home" yet.

Then I made the sashing sections for the Terrain version of Fat Quarter Stars. I fussy cut the cornerstones from scraps left over from one of the Terrain fabrics. And I used the same white background as I used in all of the blocks.

Now I'm ready to put the rows together.  That will happen AFTER I rearrange a couple of blocks.  I didn't notice the 2 top center blocks were the same shape until looking at the photo this morning. So one of those 2 blocks needs to move to a new spot - maybe the bottom right corner.

Funny how you forget some details when a project lays around too long. I actually had 13 blocks made. I substituted a different star block for one that I had trouble making.  That troublesome block is pretty, but it was too small. So it is destined for some other life.

Framing my blocks

Not the best photo, but I can report that my Fat Quarter Stars blocks are all framed with blue 1.5" strips.  Now they are ready for sashing. 

These blocks are all different 12.5" star patterns, and they are made with various shades of blues, greens, and purples mostly from Kate Spain's Terrain line.  I decided they needed something to tie them together a bit more, so I framed each one using the same solid fabric before adding some white sashing.  Then a floral border will finish it off.

Fat Quarter Stars top

Forgive the poor photo quality . . . I'll post a better one when it's done.

Over my lunch hour I dropped off this quilt top with Carly to quilt.  It's my Fat Quarter Stars top done with the Ellie II fabric line.  I have another set of identical blocks done in greens, blues, and purples that I still need to put together.

I picked out a beautiful red backing fabric and will leave it in her talented hands to decide how to quilt it. It's always a pleasant surprise to pick them up when she is done.

While in The Pin Cushion I lingered over a gorgeous machine embroidered wall hanging.  It made me realize that I really, really need to make use of the embroidery unit for my sewing machine. I've had it over a year now and haven't taken the time to even try it out. It's time!!!

Progress on Fat Quarter Stars

Easter Monday - I enjoyed a quiet day sewing today and feel as if I made some progress on a WIP.

I made 2 sets of blocks for the Fat Quarter Stars Quiltalong. Not sure yet how I want to lay out the blue-green Terrain set. But I decided to use a narrow (1") frame using leftover fabrics from the blocks. This was similar to the design shared by the quiltalong. Then I chose to use simple sashing and cornerstones.

And I think I have enough of 2 of the bolder fabrics to make an outer border. My goal is to finish the top this week so that its status is no longer a WIP.

Fat Quarter Stars Block #12

This week brought the 12th and final Fat Quarter Stars block. This one is called Faceted Friendship Star.

I have the block done in the Terrain fabrics (plus the purple dot), but still need to make it in my Ellie II fabrics.

The fun thing about doing 2 sets of blocks is that once I'm done with the blocks, then I'm all ready to put together 2 quilts. And it usually doesn't take much more time to do 2 blocks at a time rather than just 1.

Now I can look forward to seeing what Moose on the Porch Quilts is going to show us for setting ideas.

Fat Quarter Stars - Terrain block #11

Block 11 in the Fat Quarter Stars quiltalong is called Fractured Star. It turned out beautifully.

However - I made this block twice due to a big mistake I made.

It looked kind of tricky, so I read, measured, cut, laid things out and then double checked to make sure I had it right. Should have triple checked!!!

I've been making these blocks in 2 fabric lines. And I managed to mix in one of the "warm" colors from my other fabric line when I put this block together. So then I took it all apart to replace those pieces rather than just remake the block from scratch. And my reason was that I had used the last of that blue dot in here - and I really, really wanted it in this block.

But it was worth the 2 and a half hours this whole process took. The block turned out beautifully.

Fat Quarter Stars - block 10

Block 10 in the Fat Quarter Stars quiltalong is complete in both fabric lines. Another fun and simple block. this one was designed by Michelle Foster of the Quilting Gallery website. I really like the rounded effect that the block has.

In the Ellie II version, I cut the little corner on the bias because I just had to make the stripe look like it radiated out of the center like the sides did. It was so small however that it didn't stretch. I like the result.

The Terrain version gave me the first opportunity to use the fun purple fabric that is in the center. The geometric design seemed lost in most of the early blocks, but this center is 6.5" square, so it worked out perfectly.