Lone Star Blog Hop

Our last challenge of the year was to make a Lone Star quilt with the Surprise fabric we received in our last box from Island Batik. My fabric was a beautiful collection called Emperor’s Treasure.

We were also given 2 yards each of 2 fabrics from the collection. I was give Bamboo Leaves- Green and Ginko Leaves- Green; a bright limey green and a dark green.

I have made a few Lone Star quilts using the QuiltSmart Interfacing designed by Bill Reinhold. I taught classes here in Tallahassee when he first developed the method. It’s an easy, no fail method.

I have also made a Lone Star quilt using Studio180 Design’s pattern, “Deep in the Heart”. To better understand this method, Deb Tucker recommends Jan Krentz’s book, Lone Star Quilts. I started my Lone Star with this method, because I knew how large my Lone Star would be and I could design my quilt from there.

I started by sewing 2 1/2″ strips together, offset. I used a Schmetz Microtez needle to do my piecing; I love the sharp point for Batik fabrics.

Next, these strips are cut on the diagonal which can be challenging, with all those bias edges.

To sew my strips together accurately, I mark the quarter inch seam using my Quilter’s Magic Wand from Studio 180 Design. I pin each intersection and sew carefully to avoid any stretching of my fabric.

Once I had my diamond’s together, I had to decide where I was going from there. I really wasn’t sure about making such a dark diamond with the green background, but other ideas just didn’t have the pop I was looking for.

What do you think?

There are lots of Y-seams to deal with here… not my favorite thing, but it turned out ok.

From here it was just playing with different ways to finish the quilt. There are multiple ideas in books and on Pinterest, but I had fabric limitations to work with.

I chose to quilt with several complimentary Aurifil threads. I used Hobbs Wool/Cotton Blend batting, which is lightweight and shows off the quilting.

Over Thanksgiving my husband and I traveled to Arkansas. It was perfect for taking pictures:

Disclosure: The products in this post were provided by Island Batik, Hobbs Batting, Aurifil Thread Prairie Spirit Alpaca & Schmetz Needles

Island Batik is giving away two fat quarter bundles this week: Click on the Rafflecopter link to enter the contest! Click Here

Be sure to check out the beautiful Lone Star quilts made by my fellow Ambassadors.

WEEK 1

December 5

Maryellen McAuliffe, Mary Mack Made Mine

Gail Sheppard, Quilting Gail

December 6

Megan Best, Bestquilter

Brenda Alburl, Songbird Designs

December 7

Preeti Harris, Sew Preeti Quilts

Emily Leachman, The Darling Dogwood

December 8

Jennifer Thomas, Curlicue Creations

December 9

Blog Hop Round-Up Week 1 and Giveaway

WEEK 2

December 12

Reed Johnson, Blue Bear Quilts

Suzy Webster, Websterquilt

December 13

Gail Renna, Quilt Haven Threads

Jennifer Fulton, Inquiring Quilter

December 14

Denise Looney, For the Love of Geese

Claudia Porter, Create with Claudia

December 15

Leah Malasky, Quilted Delights

Andi Stanfield, True Blue Quilts

December 16

Blog Hop Round-Up Week 2 and Giveaway

WEEK 3

December 19

Mania Hatziioannidi, Mania for Quilts

Michelle Roberts, Creative Blonde Gifts

December 20

Pamela Boatright, Pamela Quilts

Connie Kauffman, Kauffman Designs

Sandra Starley, Textile Time Travels

December 21

Jane Hauprich, Stitch by Stitch Custom Quilting

Lisa Pickering, Lisa’s Quilting Passion

December 22

Brianna Roberts, Sew Cute and Quirky

Anorina Morris, Samelia’s Mum

Elizabeth DeCroos, Epida Studio

December 23

End of Blog Hop + Final Round Up