Missouri Star Quilt Co Hunter Star Block

I have been working on this Missouri Star Quilt Co pattern called Hunter Star pretty much all summer.  It seemed scary because there were lots of bias edges but it worked stunningly well.

A bit bright but I was using up my stash :)

and Buggy Stars is done too.

It is surprising how much can get down when you just sit down and start the process.

Lots of hemming and hawing about the borders and the quilting itself so I just did straight lines - mainly stitch in the ditch.

Simple Spinner

These new blocks are sort of an experiment.  You know how you read instructions in a new magazine and wonder at the cleverness and then wonder if it works...

Spinning Wheels, my Aunt Maude Quilt

When my parents married, my Mom was sent a quilt top made by her Aunt Maude who lived in BC.  The top languished for a few years and then my Mom undertook to quilt it herself although she had never done such a thing.  Winters in Manitoba are long and cold. It seemed like a good idea.  I have always admired that quilt and was mesmerized by the pattern.

It has seen a lot of wear since the early 1950s.  Recently my Mom gifted it to me.  I am delighted to be the keeper of Aunt Maude's quilt.

But I had to go one better and try to make some of these blocks.  Well I found out why you don't see this block in quilting magazines.

It was a challenge just to get it drafted up.  But I think my effort was worth it.

When I finished nine blocks I called it a day.  Let me tell you though there are lots of mis-cut and wonky pieces in the bottom of the bin, sigh.

Small Items: and old quilt come home and Tilda doll stuffed

I really admire the work of Tone Finnager and her wonderful dolls.  So here is mine stuffed.  She may just stay this way as she seems at home in my sewing room in her pink underwear.

On a side note my youngest son was home from University and brought back his quilt for repairs.  I made it quite a few years ago now but I still like the bright colours and slick way those stars went together.  The red edging is velvet and that has worn very well.  Its the corners where I neglected to put velvet - oops!

Re - Quilting

I had made my eldest son an orange star quilt when he was in grade mmmm, 11 I think, in 2000.  It was my one and only time using an invisible thread for the quilting.  It turned out to be awful mainly because over time it grew a terrible beard of see through threads...

I took it back into my care after Christmas and began doctoring it.  There was enough intact thread to act as basting so I ran a line of quilting with cotton thread on either side of the original diagonal lines in one direction.

It was a bit troublesome but I wrestled it into submission.

Considering the fabric is 15 years old the quilt is hanging in there pretty well.  I did not find any other problems other than normal wear.

Delightful Stars QAL

Still sailing along on the Delightful wave of Stars.  I have been following along for quite a while and I have a lovely pile of stars waiting...  This pattern comes from the Quilting Gallery and it's all about precision.  I am very pleased with my efforts.

Another day another block...

If you visit the site you will see that the blocks are shown on dark even black backgrounds.  I had to change that of course.  I am pleased with my results.

Delightful Star Blocks QAL

Don't they look nice?  My points are great, if I do say so and pressing the seams open makes the blocks really flat.

Here's last week's block:

And now together...

My Journal

I had a great visit with my cousin and she insisted honestly, she did! ) that we clean up my old sewing room (which was in the basement )  It was a time of enlightenment for me.  I discovered that I have a habit of drawing in books.  There were sure a lot of them.  Some full some not but still quite a few.  So I thought I might share some of what I've done here.

It seems I'm quite addicted to this sort of thing.

Spinning Star Blocks

I'm not quite sure when I started these but I came across them and decided I would just do a few more before I put them away again.  I remember them being a bit tricky but I think I was trying to learn partial seams.

I realize that things like pinning that I avoided at all cost back then, come quite naturally to me now.  Needless to say they are going together great this time around.  But now I am willing to spend the time pinning ( less ripping )

This is how the pile looked when I first dug it out.  Hmmm....

What is this mysterious block??  Let me tell you; that jog stitch in the centre of the block is amazing in that you get four HSTs exactly the same (no mirror images).  So you put the two contrasting colours together right sides facing.  Draw two diagonals on the lighter square.  Start sewing 1/4" to  left of a diagonal line.  When you reach the line crossing the one you are following stop with needle down in that crossline.  Make a ninety degree turn. stitch 6 stitches (at 2.0mm stitch length) Turn 90 degrees again.  Now you are on the right side of the same diagonal line you were following at the beginning.
Do the same for the other diagonal line.  Press.  Rotary cut the square apart on the pencil lines.  Press seams open of course.

Another Blue Star

Paper piecing is tricky but so satisfying when complete.

First the piecing with the paper...

Then the piecing of the triangles.  Those perfectly matched seams are gratifying...

And there the final block.  Yummy, huh?