Island Batik’s December Lone Star Challenge

/ quiltinggail

In July, I received an awesome Surprise package in my Island Batik,  box and this is what I got: 20 half yard cuts of fabric from the Baby Bloomers collection, a signature collection for Karen Overton. Also included was 2 yard of Dots-Pink Carnation and 2 yards of Cow Moon Clouds – purple.

The only Lone Star I’ve made was a Judy Niemeyer pattern and I didn’t really want to purchase one of her patterns. I knew that there must be other options!

So, what to do??? EQ8 to the rescue … I downloaded the Baby Bloomers fabric collection and started to play! I’m not sure when, but I must have followed a tutorial at one point, because I found a folder called “Lone Star Practice.” Bingo! I found exactly what I wanted to make. I substituted the original fabric with the Baby Bloomers fabric and came up with this:

When I searched the Internet for “How to make a Lone Star Quilt,” I came across a few tutorials by Donna at Jordan Fabrics. WONDERFUL!!! Here’s the tutorial I mostly followed: One Jelly Roll, Lone Star. However, in order to make the quilt I wanted to make, I needed to make some adjustments. Mainly with the purple going up each point of the star.

I needed to make a strip set of my fabrics, I used my 2 1/2” Accuquilt die and made perfect strips very quickly!

I laid out the strips and pinned them onto my design wall.

I sewed the strips together (picture above) and cut according to the directions. And forgot to take a picture of the cut pieces!

Then, I made sure to mark Every. Single. Intersection. to ensure almost perfect points … (hmmm, that didn’t always work according to plan!)

Yes, I used “Dude” from Silly Moon Rulers and a pencil to mark the intersections. Then I used the forked pins to hold the intersections in place. I’m usually not a pinner – but it was a MUST in this case!

My Prairie Spirit Alpaca/Wool pressing mat made for perfect points!

When I put the light pink from the collection up on the design wall with the star pieces I had assembled, my immediate thought was “what in the world were you thinking?” It did NOT look good. It looked washed out. I started digging through my stash! Many different fabrics were auditioned. I found this slightly darker and brighter pink tied up with one of my Island Batik precuts and BINGO, it was perfect for the quilt. It is called “Floral Carnation” and is from the Blenders collection (available at all times).

Hobbs Batting 80/20 was used as well as an assortment of Schmetz Needles for piecing and quilting.

I quilted it with Aurifil Thread,  #2515 (Light Orchid) on the top and Aurifil #2423 (Baby Pink) in the bobbin. When auditioning the threads, I felt that the Baby Pink was too light for the top but the Light Orchid was perfect. However, I didn’t know if I had enough Light Orchid to use for both the top and bobbin. I used Aurifil #4225 (Eggplant) to attach the binding.

Quilting Close-ups

The Finished Lone Star

Be sure to visit Maryellen at MaryMackMadeMine! She had the same fabric collection. I haven’t seen her quilt, but I just KNOW that it will be a totally different Lone Star!

Lone Star Blog Hop Schedule

Week 1:

December 5:

Maryellen McAuliffe

Gail Sheppard YOU ARE HERE!

December 6:

Megan Best

Brenda Alburl

December 7:

Preeti Harris

Emily Leachman

December 8:

Jennifer Thomas

December 9:

Visit Island Batik’s Blog for your opportunity to win!

Week 2:

December 12:

Reed Johnson

Suzy Webster

December 13:

Jennifer Fulton

Gail Renna

December 14:

Denise Looney

Claudia Porter

December 15:

Leah Malasky

Andi Stanfield

December 16:

Visit Island Batik’s Blog for your opportunity to win!

Week 3:

December 19:

Mania Hatziioannidi

Michelle Roberts

December 20:

Pamela Boatright

Connie Kauffman

Sandra Stanfield

December 21:

Jane Hauprich

Lisa Pickering

December 22:

Brianna Roberts

Elizabeth DeCroos

Anorina Morris

December 23:

Visit Island Batik’s Blog for your opportunity to win!

Hashtags for industry (only if you are actually using the products): #hobbsbatting #accuquilt #accuquiltgo #schmetzneedles #doyoueq #janome #bernina #juki #dritz #olfacreates #junetailor #brothersews #cloverusa #oliso #studio180design #omnigrid

Thank you!

Disclosure: The fabrics, batting, thread and needles were generously supplied by the following companies: Thank you, Island Batik,  Aurifil Thread,  Hobbs Batting,  Schmetz Needles,  Accuquilt & Prairie Spirit Alpacas!!

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting!    
Gail 

46 thoughts on “Island Batik’s December Lone Star Challenge”

  4. Pingback: December Left-overs | Quilting Gail

  5. Pingback: Recap of Week One of Lone Star Blog Hop and Giveaway!

  6. Gail your Lone Star is a real beauty. I love the purple down the middle. It makes the rest of your fabric collection pop. You are so right with pinning being a necessity with this pattern. I quickly learned that when I made a Lone Star a few years ago. Best advice ever. 😉

    Liked by 1 person

  14. Hi Gail! Your Lone Star is quite striking. I really love the dark purple line going out from the center to each point. Wow! It really pulls that center out and highlights it quite nicely. Beautiful job. {{Hugs}} ~smile~ Roseanne

    Liked by 1 person

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