Friday, April 18, 2014

You Get a Gold Star

My newest quilt is entitled You Get a Gold Star.

In progress.

My parameters for the design of this quilt were:
1.  Use my "module" idea for one or more of the units of the block.
2.  Use the Tri-Recs rulers.
3.  Colors:  scrappy and cheddar/gold.

I really like the look of the 54-40 or Fight block, and I wanted a chance to use my Tri-Recs rulers, but ultimately decided I would like the block to look a bit simpler.  There's lots going on in this quilt, and I really wanted the gold/cheddar stars to stand out, so I substituted a plain block for the center of the star.


My two modules for this quilt are a simple scrappy 4-patch module, and the Tri-Recs star points module.  Both very simple.  The sashing will incorporate more scrappy 4-patches, and I'm thinking an outer border of 4-patches will be very effective as well.



4-patch module

I've been making these little (3" square, finished) scrappy 4-patches as part of my new quilt, You Get a Gold Star.

Very simple, very easy!

I raided my 2" strip bin for dark and light strips.  There needs to be enough contrast here to read as dark/light in the finished quilt.  I threw out some strips that were just too "medium" in value to fit in either category.

Sew them together as strips.

Press to the dark.

Cut in 2" units.

Pick two at random and sew together.



Spin the seams and press.

A few hints that help me:
1.  When sewing strips together, just pick a new strip of the value you need and add it in there.  If two strips run out at the same time, start with two fresh ones.

2.  Chain piece, chain piece, chain piece!

3.  When cutting 2" units, you may need to square up your edge from time to time.