Syzygy

 (read on for a discount code for the pattern)
I have been planning this quilt for a while. The pattern is "Designer Star" by my friend May Chappell. She brought her quilt to our guild meeting and I was smitten! I love big, bold, one-block quilts and hers fit the bill. I bought her pattern and set out on this experience.

Syzygy (pronounced siz-uh-gee) 55" square

Lee (the genius behind May Chappell) and I are buds, yet I had never made one of her patterns. She is gifted at combining fabrics, has a fantastic color sense and is a great designer, but can she write a pattern?

Heck, yeah!

(Lee is also an excellent teacher!)

(And she won 2nd place in this year's Accuquilt Barn Quilt contest)

The pattern description states "Want to make a quilt top in a day? This graphic quilt comes together very quickly and is so fun to make! Using simple techniques, the pattern is written for a beginner, but fun for an advanced piecer as well."

The instructions are clear, concise and easy to follow. There are pictures and diagrams, and instructions available for 11 (yep, eleven) sizes! My quilt is the 55" square version. This is a great pattern for a quilt that will make a tremendous visual impact. And it goes really fast! I pieced mine in about 3 hours.

My version the pattern photo

I chose to cut into my Moda Cross Weave Natural stash for the background, some Kaffe and Tula Pink give it the zing!  I free-motion quilted in soft wavy lines to accent the star.

Like this and want to make your own? Well, Lee has graciously offered a discount to my readers!
This pattern is available in the May Chappell etsy shop. You can order the pdf or printed version. And until July 31, enter the code "kheli20" in the special instructions area and you will receive 20% off!
Check out all of her amazing patterns. Do you have an Accuquilt die cut system? The Designer Star pattern is also available as an Accuquilt GO pattern.

I believe making a quilt out of the 10" or 19" blocks would be awesome too! I am going to make a pillow from one of those for me! This quilt now is hanging behind my sofa, so we can enjoy it every day!

What are you waiting for? Go, use the discount! Make a quilt!

Why "syzygy"? The astronomical definition of a syzygy is an alignment of 3 celestial objects; for me this was 1) the perfect pattern at 2)the right time, with some of 3)my favorite fabrics!

"Stellar" evolution

Here is how "Stellar evolved:

I had a bunch of scraps, so I cut them into strips. I put this version together (ALL scraps except the back):

(phone photo)

Then, I had more scraps (all batik strips) and used them with 2 gray solids:

A patriotic version needed to be assembled (stashed fabrics):

Finally a pattern tester/shop sample:

And I have fabrics for a Christmas version yet to come.

Now if I can figure out how to get this pattern published! Any suggestions?

"Stellar" class

I was asked to teach a class for my "Stellar" quilt. That meant writing a pattern. A pattern that made sense! So I set forth doing so.

I am fortunate to have a "master quilter" as my Mother, and a dear friend (& second mother, also a "master quilter") who graciously proofed my pattern and offered excellent suggestions.

Then 2 days of class. With 4 awesome students. I am always amazed at how much I learn through teaching. I had 4 students with 4 different sets of skills, and all 4 created amazingly wonderful quilts.

With my pattern (giggle)!

Casey created a gorgeous purple and blue on white:

Betty used bright greens and solid yellow with a gray/white pin dot background:

(She got it put together, but my picture file was corrupted)

Donna loved my patriotic version and set out to create a similar one (her first quilt!):

(She had hers 80%completed)

Colleen's is a gorgeous riot of color on muslin:

(Colleen probably has hers completed now!)

Aren't they all AWESOME? I am so proud of these quilts and so excited by their enthusiasm!

I am so grateful for these ladies, and their perseverance and patience. I teach this again in October and I am looking forward to seeing the quilts those students create!

And they have asked me to develop a pattern, and teach Monolith!

I don't get to keep this one

This is a shop sample for Sewingly Yours. It was also a pattern test for my first pattern that I am teaching in August.
I call the pattern "Stellar", this quilt I call "Summer Star".

This quilt finished at 78" square after laundering.

I have been on a star binge this year. I love making stars from half-square triangles. Star quilts are very traditional, and I think you get a lot of "bang" for a relatively simply constructed quilt.

I developed this pattern over the past 2 years. The first one was an exercise in using scraps. So was the next. Teresa at Sewingly Yours asked me to teach it, so I had to write it down. I then made a batik scrap version, a patriotic version, a "Flea Market Fancy" version (which will be finished for the class) and then this version.

I FMQ-ed this using a bright polyester thread in a stipple. I used a zig-zag stitch design in the border that I saw in Angela Walter's book.

I love the texture! And while this is not my preferred color palette, I love how this quilt turned out!
The fabrics? A custom bundle I created at the shop.

This quilt will hang there for a while (I am teaching it in August, then again in October), then they will offer it for sale.

A little "stunt sewing"

What is stunt sewing you ask? Well, it where one steps in and sews for someone who can't! In this case, I am sewing some store samples for a friend who is opening a new quilt shop! I know, you are wondering how I can make such a sacrifice? Well, I get to sew with new, beautiful fabrics. FOR FREE! Oh, yeah, I have to give them to her, but I still get to play with them! 

I am also developing the pattern for each sample I make. None of these patterns are re-inventions of the wheel, but they are my method of constructing a classic quilting design. 

The first up, I call "Simple Stunning Star". It measures 42" square and this sample is done in Christmas fabrics. 

This pattern could also be used for a baby quilt, or you could put 4 together for a bed sized quilt. I will post the pattern here, once it has been proofed. Have a good weekend!

a mid-week update

No sewing going on right now. I am staying with my sweet MIL who was just released from the hospital Monday after 7 weeks (the first 3 were very tense), but thanks be to God, she is on the recovering path now. Anyway, we are rotating night time sleep-overs and I was there last night and tonight. So, I am taking this time to recharge some creative batteries. That being said, I have bought some (old, $1 each) quilt mags, ordered 2 new FMQ books and just today bought a pattern on etsy!

This pattern, as a matter of fact!

I believe the large solid areas will be great to show off FMQ stitching.

How I make my pinwheel quilts

So my first 2 quilts of this year are pinwheels. This one and this one. A great template makes these both easy and fast.

Start with this tool:

 Full instructions come with the template.

(I bought my template at my local quilt shop)

Also this book and this book.

Add 10" squares. I love the fabric layer cakes, it is a great way to get an entire collection of fabrics and this is a great way to use them. I like to loosely arrange the fabrics allowing for some contrast.

Sew the squares together into rows.

Then sew the rows together. I added a border.

Now the fun! Line up the crossed lines on the template with the intersection of your seams.

Cut it out!

Now align your new pieced squares. See the pinwheel forming?

Cut all the new squares from the intersecting seams. 

Sew blocks into rows, then sew rows together. Layer over batting and backing then quilt as desired.

 I really like how this pattern/template shows off the fabrics while making the process really quick, really fun and the end result looks really detailed! 


I need to get backing for this cutie and will post it again when complete.

Design Wall Monday

It rained here so much yesterday and last night, that we started looking for an ark! We had 4" of rain! It was dull. drab and gray all day, but the deluge geared up after dark. So what was I to do? Quilt, of course! Or in this case, piece! Since I had finished Penumbra, I wanted to do something a little smaller and quicker. And I had ordered fabric from Connecting Threads and it had arrived Saturday, so I had a new collection of FQs to play with. This was the first time I had ordered from them and I was very pleased! The fabric has a great hand, the colors are bright and the collection I purchased, Cheep Talk" is just too cute! So I began a baby quilt. (soory it is blurry, I will take a better shot once it it complete!)

I have a friend who expecting this summer. She doesn't know the sex, and wants to wait, so I thought this group would be fun for either boy or girl!
I love the little birds:

I also ordered several 4 yard cuts to use for backings. They have a group of fabrics on sale for $2.96/yd! Plus free shipping on orders over $50. I ordered Monday afternoon and received on Saturday! Nice to discover a new source. 

this bag is for me

I made this Buttercup Bag for me!



Took about 2 hours total. That includes cutting out fabric and interfacing. Ironing interfacing (I use Decor Bond on the outer bag, fusible fleece on the lining and straps), and assembly.



It has 2 inner pockets, 1 for my phone and 1 for my camera. Fast, fun and easy. And not to mention unique. As mentioned before, this pattern is by Rae Hoekstra of Made By Rae. You can purchase it there. If you like the bag, but don't want to make one, email me, I accept custom orders. I am also listing these bags in my etsy shop.

Enjoy the day!

Another post

Trying to catch up on crafting desires:

Finished a Buttercup Bag for my mother-in-law. Her birthday is this month and she picked out the fabric.



Dyed some fabric. My new obsession!

I love the texture.

I love my colors!

What to make........

what a week!

Is it just me, or did the activity level in the world suddenly jump into hyper-drive?

Must be the "back-to-school" timing. Classes started here in NC week before last, so I now have school traffic to contend with in the morning. My son is having the textbooks he ordered shipped here, so I have had to deliver them to him. I have 3 big dogs to care for and since I am currently a single-pet owner (during the week), my time is not my own! I did complete this quilt:


And I love it!

Some details of the quilting:





Completed and listed this Buttercup Bag from pattern designed by Rae Hoekstra of Made By Rae.

If you want a cute fun bag to make, visit Rae's blog and buy this pattern! It is fun and easy to make and easy to make your own!

Then, last night, Hubby, Man-cub and I met at my parents and made our pilgrimage to Basketball Mecca (UNC-CH's Smith Center) to the Alumni Pros game. This is like the NBA All-Star game. Cetainly basketball's royalty was in the house. Coaches Emeritii Dean Smith and Bill Guthridge joined Coach Roy Williams and all surrounded the Greatest Basketball Player in History, Michael Jordan. It was an evening full of Tar Heelia and we all enjoyed it!


So now, I am going to take a breath and get a glass of ice water. Then I am going to put some fabric in to dye! The hubby and I are going to work in the yard. Then I am going to finish the Buttercup Bag I am making for my mother-in-law. And I am glad it is a long weekend!

My 1st Bento Box quilt completed

This is "October Sunset". Made completely of batiks, front and back. You can see the fabric I used for the back in the lower left corner, the brown and white batik. A stunningly beautiful piece of fabric. And it fits this quilt top perfectly.



52" x 71" I FM'ed using the stipple.



This quilt was so much fun to make. The pattern is fun to put together, the batiks are gorgeous, I love the dramatic spice tones throughout.

Now, I need to start a handbag for my MIL's 80th birthday, and a quilt for my nephew. So much to make, so little time.

work in process

I started this today. Loosely based on Ricky Tims' Harmonic Convergence (I have ordered the book but do not have it yet).



I like the composition. My husband loves the colors. Not sure if it needs something else. This will be a wall quilt (25" x 25") and I haven't quilted it yet. The quilting always brings them to life. Any comments/suggestions?

New quilt top complete!

I have completed my version of the "Bento Box". I love both the quilt top and the pattern. I will definitely use this pattern again. I deviated from the recommended fabric choices (more contrasting) and went with vivid batiks in the same mid-tone. The colors are oranges, purples, wines and blues, and some dark yellowy greens. This is a fun pattern to piece and contains great directions along with alternative sizes for larger and smaller blocks. I made the 7.5" blocks and love how it turned out.
It now goes in the "to be quilted" stack. I am quilting my Cake Mix quilt this week. I am also cleaning out my studio and will be posting some "give-a-ways". Stay tuned!