Birthstones - for Project QUILTING 16.4

Project QUILTING 16.4 - BIRTHSTONES challenge is the annual color project. Participants must use the colors in their birthstone to design the entry. My birth month is April which is diamond. This gemstone can reflect many colors in the mostly white stone giving me free range to select a colorway. I chose to add an additional design element of shape to this challenge. This lone star quilt project will include the blue colors and yellow highlights found in a diamond along with the shape of diamond..

THE MATERIALS

This Lone Star Quilt block requires nine strips that are 2-1/2 inches by WOF (width of fabric). I selected these from the Buttercup strip set by Island Batik. It’s best to use a coloring sheet to assist with color placement in the finished block. I chose two high contrast brights along with two darks, two lights and one medium value.

THE PATTERN DESIGN

Years and years ago…okay, so maybe it was decades…I had made an Eleanor Burns Quilt-in-A-Day version of this Lone Star design. Having no idea where the book I originally used might be, I turned to the internet to jog my memory on the size of strips and stitching instruction. I found a 2021 You Tube video by Material Girl Quilts titled, “Lone Star quilt block tutorial {using 2 1/2" strips and NO Y-SEAMS!!}”. Her provided coloring sheet is below.

THE CONSTRUCTION

• Three sets of 2-1/2 inch by WOF strips are arrange according to my planning sheet.

• Each set of three strips are stitched at a scant quarter inch.

• Ends of each strip set are offset approximately 2-1/2 inches to acommodate the cutting process. (See top left photo in photo group below.)

• Seams are pressed open to illuminate bulk in the finished work.

Constructing the diamond block:

• Each strip set is cut at a 45 degree angle into 2-1/2 inch segments.

• Eight segments are cut from each strip set.

• Twenty four strips (eight in each of the three color arrangements) are cut.

• One completed diamond shaped block is stitched into a diamond shaped nine patch.

• Stitching contiues on diamond nine-patch blocks

• Eight diamond shaped blocks are completed

• Auditioning layout for lone star quilt design

• White triangle blocks are addred to frame out star without any dreaded Y-seams.

THE Final steps - quilting and binding

Edge to edge design is stitched out with Superior Brand Bottomline thread in silver on my Handi Quilter Amara. QOV Stars design by Anita Shackelford provides stars connected with waving lines with the use of computerized Prostitcher. Life is good when points exactly match!

Leftover strip sets are stitched together to form a patchwork bias binding. I always say, you paid for the entire yard, use it all!

THE FINISHED PROJECT

The Lone Star Quilt finished at approximately 30 X 30 inches. It can be used as a table mat, sofa throw or wall hanging.. Find it in my Etsy Shop.

Additional views of the completed project. I’m linked up to the challenge here.

Published by Sally Manke, Fiber Artist

Sally Manke's mission is to delight others with textile art that exemplifies her passion for joyful, creative expression through color and texture. She is a speaker, teacher, pattern designer, and fiber artist. Contact her to book a workshop or trunk show at this link. Visit her Etsy Shop at www.sallymanke.etsy

Sally is a brand Ambassador for BERNINA USA. All stitching on this project was completed on a BERNINA 790 PLUS.

A huge thank you to Kim Lapacek of Persimon Dreams and Trisha Frankland of Quilt Chicken for sponsoring Project QUILTING each season.