Star Sampler Quilt Along – 3and3quarters

Star Sampler Quilt | Quilt Top Construction

PATTERN SHEET: Star Sampler Quilt QUILT TOP

Sorry it’s been a while a since I last checked in on my Star Sampler Quilt Along! Things have been crazy over on this side of the computer monitor. Work. Family. Sickness. Winter. The list goes on and on! But hooray! After many weeks of coming and going with filming this tutorial, I finally got it finished! Whew!

Hopefully my little hiatus has given you the time to catch up on completing all 12 Star blocks and are now ready to sash and piece them all together! Cos that’s what we’re doing today!

When placing the blocks into their final positions, feel free to mix them up and place blocks in any order you wish. Also, if you want to make your sashing and border pieces wider than mine than that’s okay too! Just be aware that the wider and longer you make your quilt top, the more batting and backing fabric you’ll need in the next part!

As always, everything you’ll need to know in regards to the measurement and cutting information as well as the fabrics* I’ve use to piece the quilt top together are in the pattern sheet linked at the beginning of this post!

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Depending on my work schedule and other social thingys I’ve got happening over the next month or so, I hope to get started on the next stage of the Quilt Along very soon! (Fingers crossed for next week!!) Now that the blocks have been pieced together and a lovely quilt top has emerged, I can’t wait to see it finished in it’s all glory! The fabrics I’ve chosen for the backing and binding are going to finish the quilt off beautifully!! So exciting!!

I hope you’re all having a lovely week and enjoy the weekend ahead!!

Happy Sewing, Friends!

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*A big thanks to Australian wholesale supplier and fabric distributer Dayview Textiles for supplying me with such beautiful fabrics! If you want to see all of the fabrics I’ll be using in this Quilt Along, check out this post where I share them all with you!

Star Sampler Quilt | Block #12: Aunt Eliza’s

PATTERN SHEET: Star Sampler Quilt BLOCK12

Can you believe it!? The final block tutorial in my Star Sampler QAL is here! Yay! (And also boo!! There are no more stars to make!)

I think I saved quite a little darling of a block to make right at the end… All of the hard blocks are over and done with and now it’s just plain sailing into the finishing off of the blocks. The Aunt Eliza’s Star is simple, quick and very effective to make – you’ll have yours pieced before you know it!

For all of the measurement and cutting details, along with the fabrics* I’ve used to piece this block together and a diagram of the block layout, click on the pattern sheet linked at the top of this post. If you would like to use a similar 12.5″ set square as me, you can find it here:June Tailor Get-Squared 12.5″ Ruler.

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Now that we have all of our blocks made, it’s time to piece them together into a quilt top!

Although at the end of the tutorial I mentioned that I didn’t know whether I wanted to do sashing and borders, I’m 99.5% sure that I’ll do a smaller sashing than I have in the past… I’m thinking a 1″ sashing between each of the blocks and a 2″-3″ border around the edge.

So once we have the quilt top pieced, we’ll be able to start talking about what types of batting we can use along with what fabric prints/colours you’ll like to use for the backing AND what type of design we can use when it comes to quilting it!

So although the making-the-blocks-part has come to an end, there’s still so much more to think about, plan and do before we have a lovely finished quilt!

Bring it on!! 🙂

Happy Sewing, Friends!!

PS. Once they’ve all been pieced, I would love to see a photo of all of your 12 finished blocks together like I have above! Although this isn’t my final layout, it’s so exciting to see them all sitting so prettily next to one another! 🙂

Star Sampler Quilt | Block #10: Martha Washington

PATTERN SHEET: Star Sampler Quilt BLOCK10

Hello Friends!

Today I bring to you the next block tutorial in my Star Sampler Quilt Along series! We’re up to no. 10 – this one is called the Martha Washington Star! And gosh, isn’t it a pretty one! The pretty little pinwheel in the centre has me swooning every time I look at it.

Named after the very First Lady of the U.S, this sweet block is perfect for all levels of quilters and has lots of basic piecing techniques all patchworkers should have under their belt. Techniques used to make this block include half square triangles, quarter square triangles and in come cases (not in ours today though), the making of flying geese units.

When pulling the fabric for this block, you can choose to go either way in your colour schemes. You can use the same fabric for the pinwheel centre and the surrounding HSTs or do like me and use two contrasting fabrics. Heck, if you really want to, have some fun and do a scrappy block! The choice is all yours! 🙂

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Goodness! With block 10 made, we’ve only two more blocks to go until we start piecing our quilt top together! Huzzah!

I can’t wait to share with you what block 11 is! The best way I can describe it is that it’s a bit on the chunky side, design wise! Te-he! Despite that, it’s a beautiful block and I’m super excited to make it!

Until then friends, keep on sharing your finished blocks and I hope you all have a lovely and safe Easter break!

Happy Sewing!

Star Sampler Quilt | Block #9: Missouri Star

PATTERN SHEET: star-sampler-quilt-block9

Hello there!

Are we ready for another block tutorial in my Star Sampler Quilt Along?!

Block 9 is the Missouri Star, a design I’ve actually never made before. Fun fact of the day; when I was filming this, it was actually my first time making too!

When I was piecing it together, I was honestly unsure whether or not I had made the right choice in fabrics. I felt that the prints and colours of my two main fabrics didn’t quite mesh well together… But once I finished the block and took a step back, I think it works. The contrast in the fabrics show the design of the block and help highlight those semi-tricky half quarter square triangle units!

My tips for making this block:

Taking your time to make sure you square up the centre unit to a 6.5″ square as well as ensuring your HSTs and then half QSTs are trimmed and squared up to the measurements mentioned in the tutorial.

When making your half QST units, pay attention when placing the marked background fabric squares on top of your HST units. The marked line should be running in the opposite direction to the seam of the HST underneath.

Keep true to a 1/4″ seam allowance. All of your seams and points will match up perfectly, resulting in a precise 12.5″ block at the end after squaring it up.

As always, everything you’ll need to know in regards to the measurement and cutting information as well as the fabrics* I’ve use to piece this block together are in the pattern sheet linked at the beginning of this post! If you would like to use a similar 12.5″ set square as me, you can find it here: June Tailor Get-Squared 12.5″ Ruler.

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Can you believe it, we’re nine blocks down with only three more to go?! Time flies when you’re having fun, huh?!

I’m super excited for block 10! We’ll be making the Martha Washington Star block (google it to see how pretty it is!). The thing I love most about that block is the gorgeous half QST pinwheel in the centre! Too cute!!

Keep sharing your blocks! (Use the hashtag #AmandasQuiltAlong on Instagram!) If you can, post a picture like mine above showing me all nine of your blocks so far! All of your quilts are going to be beautiful, I just know it! 😀

Happy Sewing, Friends!

Star Sampler Quilt | Block #7: Indian Star

PATTERN SHEET: star-sampler-quilt-block7

And away we go again!

Block seven is finally here for you to watch, enjoy and make! Yay!

I’m so sorry for taking ages to get this one out to you – I’ve been terribly ill with a nasty flu/chest infection for the past week and a bit and needed some urgent R&R!

But happy days, I’m back and feeling a lot more like myself again!

Like I promised last time, block seven is a more simpler and kinder block to piece together compared to what block six was. The Indian Star is a lovely and gentle design consisting of a few classic patchwork construction techniques – flying geese and a four-patch!

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As mentioned in the video, block eight is a similar variation to the Indian Star. It’s another easy one where we’ll be re-visiting the flying geese technique again, which I’m all sure you’re all pros at making by now!

Until then,

Happy Sewing, Friends!

Star Sampler Quilt | Block #4: Janet’s Star

PATTERN SHEET: star-sampler-quilt-block4

Hello to you on this very warm Spring Sunday afternoon from a Western Sydney suburb in Australia!

I had a weird moment just now when thinking about how far in we are in the series… Can you believe we’re already a quarter of the way through?! Holy-moly! 😮

So block four is a fun one! A lot less tricky than what the Kansas Star block was. The Janet’s Star is made of three different but very simple units that come together to make, what I think is a very beautiful star!

So here’s how you make it!!

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Keep on sharing all of your lovely blocks with me! The new hashtag we have on Instagram is going great guns and I’m loving seeing everyone’s blocks altogether in one place! It’s all very exciting! If you wish to hop on to the Instagram hashtag train, don’t forget to add #AmandasQuiltAlong in your photo description/comment and you’re in the club! 😀

Have fun making this one and I’ll see you in about a week with block five, which happens to be very, very similar to the Janet’s Star layout! The block is called the Maple Star and features a slight difference in design! Anyway, you’ll see what I mean in the next tutorial!

Until then,

Happy Sewing, Friends!

Star Sampler Quilt | Block #2: Star X

PATTERN SHEET: star-sampler-quilt-block2

Sooo….. Who’s ready for block two?? I know so many of you are excited for the next piece in my Star Sampler QAL puzzle!

And here it is!!

Week two brings the Star X Block!

Now, I absolutely love this block for how similar it is to one of my all-time favourite blocks – the Ohio Star! I also love how the metallic grey fabric (called: Notorious in Cloud Metallic) sparkles and glimmers in the light! It just finishes the block off so beautifully! 🙂

So in the following tutorial, I go through how to make HSTs (as usual) as well as how to make those super-effective QSTs (that is Quarter Square Triangles) that form the ‘Star’ and ‘X’ shapes in the block.

If you click on the pattern sheet linked at the top of this post, you’ll be able to find a full list of all of the measurements and cutting info, along with the fabrics* I’ve used to piece this block together! If you would like to use a similar 12.5″ set square as me, you can find it here: June Tailor Get-Squared 12.5″ Ruler.

Enjoy your weekend sewing up this block and don’t forget to share it with me on Instagram or Facebook!

See you next week for block three! It’s another ‘out-of-the-box’ type one again but will be fun to piece together nonetheless!

Happy Sewing, Friends!

INTRODUCING: A Star Sampler Quilt Along!

I’m not sure why I’ve just titled this post as ‘Introducing’ as most of you already knew that this Quilt Along was happening! But I thought, if any newbies come by looking for something different this title just might catch their eye!

(If you are that newbie, welcome! I’m so glad you’ve popped by!)

But yes! Finally I can announce that my next Quilt Along series is ready to begin!! Yay!!!! We’re only just a few months behind schedule, but nonetheless we’re ready to go!

So let’s first go through a few of the important details about this Quilt Along…

+ After a world-wide vote on a past post, the majority of you wanted to do a 12 block Star Sampler Quilt. So that’s what we’re doing!

+ The fabric range that I’m using is called Print Shop by Alexia Marcelle Abegg for Cotton+Steel. I’ve based the design of the blocks/quilt using the black and white version of the range (as requested by all of you!), with sprinkles of the bright colour way that’s also a part of the range, along with a few staple favourites from the Cotton+Steel Basics range. (You can see the full range of the fabrics I’ve hand-picked further down in this post.)

+ Although I’m using yardage/meterage, most* of the blocks can be made using either charm packs, layer cakes and/or fat quarters (*just be aware that there are a few blocks that have 6″-6.5″ unit pieces). However, you will need extra fabric for the sashing and border pieces, for the backing and the binding. (A full list of measurements are listed further down in this post.)

+ For the batting, I’m using a beautiful 100% Cotton batting from a company called Bosal. I’ve never used this particular type batting before so I’m really interested to see how easy it is to work with. I’ll go into more detail about it when the time comes for basting and quilting!

+ All depending on my work schedule/roster, I’m hoping to have each block tutorial up on my YouTube channel as well as here on my blog every week… Okay, now that currently might be a bit of a stretch to promise when I don’t know what my working hours are each week! So just be aware that every now and again there may be more than a week between tutorials! At the moment I’m thinking my upload/release day will possibly be a Thursday as I don’t usually work that day. (Weekends are no good as I work most of them!) I hope that this works for you – at least then you’ll have the weekends to make each block as we go along!

+ Now, if you’re new to the way my block tutorials/Quilt Along series go, in each tutorial I let you know all of the measurements and cutting info as well as what fabrics I’m using for that block. Then I take you through step-by-step on how to piece that block together. And just like with my HST Quilt Along, a beautifully coloured information sheet for each block will be available for you to print off and follow along with at home! (These will be available to download from my blog.)

+ Interested in what Star blocks we’ll be making?? Well here they are in the order that we will be making them!

Block One: Eccentric Star / Block Two: Star X / Block Three: Kansas Star / Block Four: Janet’s Star / Block Five: Maple Star / Block Six: Amish Star / Block Seven: Indian Star / Block Eight: Crystal Star / Block Nine: Missouri Star / Block Ten: Martha Washington Star / Block Eleven: Star + Square / Block Twelve: Aunt Eliza’s Star

Each will finish at 12.5″ squared and range in different levels of difficulty. However, I believe what ever level of quilting you’re up to, you’ll definitely be able to make each and every one of these blocks listed!

+ Just like with my last Quilt Along, I’ve been so lucky to have it sponsored again by Australian wholesale supplier and fabric distributer, Dayview Textiles. If you’re in Australia and are keen on using the same fabrics as me, pop over to their website to find the nearest quilt store to you that they distribute fabrics to!

+ And now on to all of the fabric deets!! Like I previous mentioned, all of these fabrics have been handpicked from the range to individually suit each of the blocks I’ll be making for my quilt. So because of that you’ll notice that not all of the fabrics in the Print Shop range are here.

The black and white fabrics in the range I’m classing as my ‘main’ fabric. Each block features one of these key fabrics which has then been paired with either a coloured print from the range or with a C+S Basic print.

The fabrics are:

1. ‘Meadow’ in the colour Midnight

2. ‘This + That’ in the colour Linen

3. ‘This + That’ in the colour Black

4. ‘Bricka’ in the colour Black

5. ‘Grid’ in the colour Dark Charcoal (This one reminds me of little British flags! Do you see them too?)

6. ‘Point’ in the colour Charcoal

7. ‘Hello’ in the colour Grey (Those little animal heads are a-dor-a-ble!!)

These are the coloured prints from the Print Shop range I’ll be using… Along with the C+S Basics, these will add a delightful pop of colour next to the black and white prints!

1. ‘Meadow’ in the colour Citrus

2. ‘Starry’ in the colour Seashell

3. ‘Hello’ in the colour Seaglass

4. ‘Moons’ in the colour Grass

5. ‘Grid’ in the colour Peach

And lastly, these are the C+S Basics and other fabrics I’ll be using:

1. ‘XOXO: #2 Pencil’

2. ‘XOXO: Lightning’ (This one is insanely bright and fluro-like! It’s absolutely gorgeous!)

3. ‘XOXO: Thistle’

4. ‘Sprinkle: Peacock’

5. ‘Netorious: Black Cat’

6. ‘Sprinkle: Petal’

7. ‘Netorious: Cloud (Metallic)

8. ‘Dottie: Rosewater’ (This is the fabric I’m using for my binding.)

9. Cotton Supreme Solid in the colour Kerchief (This is my main background fabric that will used in my blocks, sashing and borders.)

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+ If you would like to use fabric yardage/meterage like me, here is a list of the measurements you’ll need… (Apologies for how I write out the yardage measurements – they’re very foreign to me!)

Of each print:

Meterage: half to three quarters of a metre (50cm-75cm) – these are the lengths I’ll be working with

Yardage: 0.60-0.85 of a yard (22″-31″)

(PS. You will have fabric left over – I just want to make sure you’ll have enough and won’t run out!)

Background & Backing fabrics:

Meterage: 3 metres for each

Yardage: 3.3 yards for each

Binding:

Meterage: three quarters of a metre (75cm)

Yardage: 0.85 of a yard (31″)

Batting: (estimate)

Meterage: 1.5 metres x 220cm+ width

Yardage: 1.7 yards x 2.4+ yard width (61″x87″)

I’ve planned for the finished quilt to roughly measure around 50″x65″ (127cmx165cm)

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Now I think that’s everything that is important to know right now… If you think there’s any important details I’ve missed or have any questions about this Quilt Along, please feel free to let me know in the comment section below!

Ooo! One very important thing I haven’t mentioned yet is when we’re starting! I’ve penciled in for Thursday the 22nd of September to have the first block tutorial in the series up on my channel and blog!

I can’t wait to get started and to see all of your beautiful Star Blocks come to life into a beautiful Sampler Quilt!

Happy Planning, Friends!

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Of each print:

Background & Backing fabrics:

Binding:

Batting: (estimate)

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