Lone Star Quilt Makeover with Four Tips for Design Success I rarely make the same quilt design twice. Tweaking the number of fabric colors, adding sashing, turning the block on point, and/or using portions of the quilt design rather than the entire design are just a few ways to makeover the design, keeping the process fresh. Case in point, the Original Lone Star Quilt Design. I originally modified the traditional method to eliminate Y-seams. Rather than using inset squares and half-square triangles, the unique template configuration includes a diamond, and two half-square triangles. I designed this template set for Clover. It s called the Trace n Create Quilt Template Lone Star Collection.
Only straight seams are needed to create this tried and true quilt design. After creating numerous Lone Star Designs, I knew there were many more options. It was time for a makeover!
Lone Star Makeover Tips Makeover Tip #1: Add fabric colors Fabric choices make or break a quilting project. Changing or rearranging color can transform a design. Magic happens when even the slightest variation takes place. For this makeover, I chose a playful collection of fabrics, with two background fabrics yellow and blue instead of one. Aligned with the fabric colors chosen for the diamond shapes the blue fabric tricks the eye to see a Tumbler block rather than a Lone Star design. Makeover Tip #2: Add sashing strips between the block Adding sashing strips between the block is an easy, yet dramatic makeover tip. A solid strip of fabric, or a patchwork strip both of which are used in this design add interest and a touch of whimsy to this quilt design. Makeover Tip #3: Turn the blocks on point Laying out quilt blocks on point turning the blocks 45-degrees is one of my favorite ways to showcase a design. I think of it as posing for a photo. Turning slightly at an angle is generally more flattering than facing the camera straight on! Makeover Tip 4: Repeat the design in a smaller scale Repeat a portion of the block design and/or repeat it in a smaller scale. The smaller designs frame the center motif. The Lone Star Templates can be used to create four different block sizes: 12 24, 32, and 36. The middle of the wall hanging features the 36 block and the four corners are half of the 12 blocks. Lone Star Makeover, 52 x 52 Tools & Supplies Begin with the Trace n Create Quilt Template Lone Star Collection traditional (12 ) to super-sized (36 ) blocks can be easily created. I am particularly fond of this design since the use of the templates eliminates YSeams all seams are stitched perfectly straight! Cutting Prior to cutting half-squares and diamonds, refer to the instructions included with the Trace n Create Quilt Template Lone Star Collection. Prior to cutting half square triangles and diamonds, use Mary Ellen s Best Press, a clear crisp spray starch, to stiffen the fabric. The crisp fabric increases accuracy in cutting and makes it easier to stitch a bias edge to a straight edge together. Light yellow print 1 yard Small half-square triangles, one strip 8-1/4 x 40. From strip, cut eight 36 finished block half-square triangles using template A. Small half-square triangles, one strip 3-1/4 x 40. From strip, cut sixteen 12 finished block half-square triangles using template A. Sashing, eight strips 2-1/2 x 40 Center square, 2 x 2 Medium multi-color dot print 1 yard Diamonds, two strips 8 x 40. From strips, cut four 36 finished block diamonds using template B. Diamonds, one strip 3 x 40. From strip, cut eight 12 finished block diamonds using template B. Scrappy sashing, one strip 6-1/2 x 40, 4 strips 3-1/2 x 6-1/2 Dark teal print 1-1/4 yards Diamonds, two strips 8 x 40. From strips, cut four 36 finished block diamonds using template B. Diamonds, two strips 3 x 40. From strips, cut eight 12 finished block diamonds using template B.
Scrappy sashing, one strip 3-1/2 x 40 Binding, six strips 2-1/4 x 40 for 225 of continuous binding Light blue print 1 yard Large half-square triangles, two strips 11-3/8 x 40. From strips, cut eight 36 finished block half-square triangles using template C. Large half-square triangles, two strips 4-1/2 x 40. From strips, cut sixteen 36 finished block half-square triangles using template C. Light green print 5/8 yard Sashing, 10 strips 2 x 40 Backing 3-1/2 yard Two panels 32 x 63 Sleeve 5/8 yard Two pieces 9 x 25 Batting 54 x 54 Create the large center block Following the directions included with the Trace n Create Quilt Template Lone Star Collection, separate pairs of small half-square triangles, diamonds, and large half-square triangles. Arrange into two groupings: Group One and Group Two. Follow the layout of the templates aligning A-B-C as printed on templates, placing fabric pieces right side up. Group Two is a mirror image of Group One.
Stitch Group One: Align right sides and diagonal edge of small half square triangle (template A) and diamond (template B). The points will match at the top and the seam allowance of the small half square triangle will extend 1/4 beyond the seam allowance of the diamond at the end of the seam. Stitch the seam. Repeat process, joining all small half square triangles to diamonds in Group One. Press seams towards the diamond. Align right sides and edges of diamond (template B) and large half square triangle (template C). The corners will match at the top of the pieces and the seam allowance of the large half square triangle will extend 1/4 beyond the seam allowance. Stitch the seam. Repeat process, joining all large half square triangles to diamonds in Group One. Trim away excess seam allowances where seams converge. Press seams towards the diamond. Stitch Group Two: Repeat the process of stitching the diamond to the small half square triangle; then stitch the large half square triangle to the diamond as detailed for Group One. The difference will be that the sewing pieces for Group Two will mirror image Group One. Press all seam allowances for Group Two toward the half square triangles. Lay each sewn section on a gridded cutting mat and square up each section by trimming away any imperfections. Stack one sewn unit from Group One to one sewn unit from Group Two. Align right sides together. Stitch. Press seam open. Square up blocks. Repeat the process to create four blocks.
Stitch 2 light green sashing strips between quarter blocks.
Add 2 yellow square at center. Arrange four blocks to create Lone Star Makeover. Stitch. Press seams to sashing. Stitch 2-1/2 light yellow sashing strips to green sashing strips. Press seams to yellow sashing. Assemble the small corner half-blocks Separate pairs of small half-square triangles, diamonds, and large half-square triangles as detailed above.
Rather than creating two complete blocks, create four half-blocks and place on point. Stitch 2 light green sashing strips to each half-block. Press seams to sashing. Stitch 2-1/2 light yellow sashing strips to green sashing strips. Press seams to yellow sashing. Stitch the scrappy sashing Stitch 3-1/2 dark teal strip to 6-1/2 multi-color dot strip. Press seams open. Subcut into 3-1/2 sections. Stitch three sections together at short ends. Add one 3-1/2 x 6-1/2 multi-color dot strip to end dark teal square. Repeat, creating four 3-1/2 scrappy sashing strips. Add scrappy sashing strip to outer yellow sashing of large center block, centering dark teal square. Stitch. Press seams to yellow sashing. Repeat on remaining corners.
Quilt and finish Layer the backing, batting, and quilt top. Baste the layers together. Machine quilt through all 3 layers. Sew the binding strips together to make 225 of continuous binding. Finish the edges of your quilt with double-fold binding. Read more on finishing the quilt in my book Fearless Quilting Finishes. To display your quilt, make a sleeve and sew it to the back of the quilt. Watch Sew Speedy Lone Star Quilts on Sewing With Nancy online.
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