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So happy to share (another) finished Rise Above quilt! I made my first version of this pattern last winter as

In 1820 – for the very first time – thread was sold on spools. (Before that, it was skeins or hanks. Can you imagine the tangles?!)

The spools were made by a local woodturner, and the thread was wound by hand at the Clark Brothers’ factory in Paisley, Scotland. Like old fashioned soda bottles, these wooden spools came with an extra half-penny charge that was refunded when the empty spool was returned to the shop. My, how times have changed!

This week, Jenny is whipping up a homage to the magnificent spool with a brand new jelly roll quilt.

Spool Stars and ...

The first quilt top created was the last one finished. That happens sometimes. But I am pleased with the outcome and look forward to sharing a round up of all of them (four sizes).

If you have a Star Kissed top/quilt you would like included, let me know. I would love to see how you finished yours.

The pieces in this one are SO TINY! It makes my heart happy.

For now it is staying here with the other three. I have some notion about doing a presentation of some kind on scale and setting options in quilts…I ...

3 Radiant Star Quilts, 3 Machine Quilting Options

We started another 3 quilt machine quilting comparison series. This time we are looking at my Radiant Star quilt.

The first machine quilting option uses free-motion and ruler quilting to create a beautiful surface design. 

WATCH

Watch the replay of Quilt Conversations LIVE! Episode 4  to learn how it was quilted with rulers to create space for  free motion quilting.

The second Radiant Star quilt is a patchwork of color.  This option looks at using the patchwork to contain free-motion quilting. This is perfect for practicing new quilting patterns.  

WATCH the replay ...

The 4th of July is getting close. Let’s celebrate with stars!

The original American flag had just 13 stars—one for each state, and we’ve added a star with every new state. 

Imagine those poor flag makers. Just as they mastered one design, they’d get the news: “Hold up, everyone! Kentucky is now a state! Start unpicking, and rearrange your stars!” 

(Sometimes the layout was changed every single year. That’s a lot of star shuffling!)

This week we’re stitching up a Star Sashed Nine-Patch in ...

Star Kissed 2″ quilt is complete!

I love everything about it: It is large (about 80″ square). The colors are just right. The muslin background gives a different look than the bright white I often use. The quilting is customized to the quilt and adds a dimension all its own.

Yep, it makes me happy.

Soon the 1-1/4″ version will be complete and I will have the entire happy family together to admire. What fun that will be!

You’ll see in my recent posts that I’m obsessed with learning how much mileage I can get with my Accuquilt GO!Cutter and the dies I already own.

I love the simplicity of the Sawtooth Star block and so I decided to see if I could design some pieced items with it using the dies I have.

Although I don’t own the 8” Go!Cube, I have almost all the shapes (see those in bold print on the list below). The only one shape I was missing was for the “flying geese” part of the star: the ...

The closest star in the night sky is about 25 trillion miles away, give or take. If you plan to visit, be sure to pack a lunch; it will take 75,000 years to arrive. Of course, if you’re short on time, you can create your own gorgeous stars at home!

This week Jenny is stitching together a breathtaking star quilt made with jelly rolls and the Missouri Star Equilateral 60 Degree Triangle Ruler. 

This pattern produces very little waste, and the bits of extra are used to make a fun, pieced strip for the back of the quilt!

To keep the MWM momentum going as we prepare for the next series, we decided to give a weekly glimpse into the lives of our designers each week. No kits or supplies are needed, just sit back and get to know them better by enjoying some of their most recent creative escapades…

This week’s check in with Paula Barnes and Mary Ellen Robison of Red Crinoline Quilts…

Paula reports: “Mary Ellen has been busy piecing the blocks for our new quilt made from my Bountiful Blues line. We chose one of our favorite patterns “Hanover Stars”. It’s a ...

The night sky is an ocean of glittering stars. Have you ever tried to count them? In our galaxy alone, there are 100 billion, and we plan to quilt at least that many! 

Over the years, Jenny has stitched up stars galore. This week, she’s adding one more to the bunch.

The Outstanding Star is a quick and easy layer cake pattern made in a patriotic palette of red, white and blue batiks.

In today’s tutorial I give you a play-by-play description as I quilt my latest design Star Sign.

You can follow along so you can learn how this easy star and loop de loop quilting meander, and see how I use it to work around the log cabin areas of the quilt, filling the space evenly and working around the star blocks to avoid getting stuck.

I also show you an introduction to ruler work, which is the technique I used inside the stars to make them pop.

This is the last in our mini series on the Star Sign ...

On cold winter nights, the sky is an icy blanket of twinkling stars. The truth is … I rarely take notice. It’s just too cold for stargazing! 

But if you are willing to bundle up and brave the winter chill, you will be treated to a glittering show far brighter than any summertime stars. 

This week Jenny is whipping up a Winter Star quilt in icy shades of blue and white. This quick and easy layer cake pattern is perfect as a lap quilt or winter wall hanging.

When Suzy Snowflake comes tap, tap, tappin’ at your windowpane, how do you react? 

Do you welcome winter with open arms or do you wrap up in your thickest quilt and “hibernate” ‘til spring?

Do you curse each icy flake, or do you set up the Christmas tree and drink peppermint cocoa for breakfast, lunch, and dinner?

Love it or hate it, winter is on its way, and Jenny has just the quilt to get you in the mood:

The Snowball Star is a quick and easy jelly roll pattern. We’re using Ombre Snowflake Metallic strips, and every block ...

Twins have a mysterious connection, even when it comes to quilting! 

In 1999, Lisa Norton decided to learn how to quilt, so she signed up for a Block of the Month program. By some strange coincidence, her identical twin Lora Zmak did the exact same thing—1,000 miles away!

It must have been fate, because 21 years later, these talented ladies have their very own company, Material Girlfriends Patterns! 

This week, Jenny is stitchin’ up one of their prettiest designs: the quick and easy Confetti Star. It’s an intricate layer cake quilt pattern that comes together with no ...

I am SO HAPPY with how this quilt looks so far.

It is a perfect scrappy pattern (I added the extra inner and outer border for size) and it looks so nice in blue.

My mother says it reminds her a little of the Starry Night paining by Picasso.

Maybe a little…

Did you know Pablo Picasso was a classically trained artist? His traditional realism was as beautiful as any on earth.

Jenny’s Design

But, early in his career, he started to experiment—and that’s how he became one of the most famous artists of all time. Picasso said, “Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.”

Misty’s Design

In this month’s Triple Play tutorial, the Doan ladies are “breaking the rules” with the Ohio Star.

Natalie’s Design

You will be amazed at the magic they create with the addition of ...

I have been doing a lot of wishing and hoping and thinking and praying, planning and dreaming upon Falling Stars. Yes, another My Best Friend’s wedding reference. LOL. Such a great song. You guys, I have been dreaming about getting into this magazine for years!! I am ecstatic to present a quilt, which is in this month’s edition (August – Issue 88) of Love Patchwork & Quilting magazine, called Falling Stars Quilt. Hopefully the name is obvious to you and you see the movement in the colors from light to dark emulating a star falling in the sky.

I have ...