Summer Spin Star

Sandra, mmmquilts released her Lilac Love pattern today and I loved it sew much that I made two small quilts, aka wall hangings. While I was on my Yosemite vacation last month, I was made aware that this pattern was forthcoming and was asked if I would like to make a wall hanging. The first one made was Christmas Cactus Star and in typical rebel style, I modified the star pattern from using three fabrics to two and it wasn’t easy for an angle-challenge quilter which I am. I decided to make Summer Spin Star as a challenge to myself to see if I could follow Sandra’s pattern and I can say it definitely was a much simpler sew.

You wouldn’t think that the simpler Christmas Cactus Star made my head spin but the Summer Spin Star would since it looks complicated and seems like it’s spinning. If I wasn’t set on the name Spin Star, Snappy Star would have been my next choice because this star sew much faster and was much easier. I do like the two versions I made, one looking more traditional and two dimensional with the two fabrics for the star points and the other one more modern with more fabrics used and a three dimensional look.

I have to admit I spent some time choosing fabrics again but happy to use the colorful Zookeeper print in the Summer color way with the citronickle text print which is from Laura Heine’s Happy Chance fabric line along with various colors from Basic Grey’s Grunge collection.

I was planning on making Summer Spin Star a small wall hanging like Christmas Cactus Star but when I added the Citronickle border (bottom left), I thought it needed more. Thankfully, Sandra mentioned that the Lilac Love pattern would include a baby quilt size which I then added the additional borders which I think energized the quilt. Also, I had the additional fabric and couldn’t pass up the chance to use the Zookeeper print for the final border. Summer Spin Star is a nice segue from being a late Summer to an early Fall wall hanging, don’t you think?

Here’s a closeup of the machine quilting in Aurifil thread in natural and like Christmas Cactus Star, I did quadrant lines. The binding was the same fabric as the final border. Summer Spin Star measures 39-1/2” square, a nice size for a wall hanging, a floor quilt for a new grand baby or a lap quilt.

Here’s a pic of the two quilts together; I love them both. I already have an idea for another one for a larger wall hanging and know which Star I would be making. I’ve learned my lesson and a Snappy Star it will be. 

I have to mention a little Master Quilt Holder humour; while he was holding up Summer Spin Star, I was saying that lately he’s been showing more fingers and somehow his middle two fingers in both hands popped out. You have to take my word he did that since I was too busy laughing to take a photo.

Do check out Sandra’s post and the pattern which will be offered at a special price (not an affiliate link). Sandra designs such wonderful star pattern that are “mmmagical” and are easy to sew. It’s not too late to make one for the upcoming Holidays (big wink here).

Linking up with:My Quilt Infatuation/NTT

Pop Star QAL Parade: Celebrating a Famous Canadian’s Birthday

I love a parade, especially a QAL parade and this one is the Sixth Annual Celebrating a Famous Canadian’s Birthday hosted by Sandra, MMMquilts. My project list for 2022 was very short: completing Country Threads 2021/22 Dirty Dozen UFO Challenge and participating in this annual QAL. I always have or make time for Sandra’s QAL pattern; they sew up fast and fun plus I always find the right fabrics in my stash. This year’s pattern Pop Star is no exception.

I always like to include a collage of the current and previous QAL quilts. You probably wouldn’t know from looking at these wonderful quilts that I don’t QAL well either by changing the construction a wee little bit or not following instructions and maybe sewed the flimsie before the QAL started.

My flimsie was finished by the start of the QAL because Sandra, under the pretense of asking me, the QAL Rebel, to pattern test and knowing I don’t like the slow pace which a QAL can sometimes be, sent me the pattern during the last week of March. Like her previous patterns, Pop Star sews up fast and the flimsie could be made in a day.

Lucky for me, I found the perfect fabrics in my stash: the multi-color print is Jennifer Sampou’s Color Rhythm from a few years ago, the gray/white print is Natalie Barnes’ Hand Maker fabric line, the purple is Basic Grey’s Grunge and the teal is Zen Chic’s Spotted. Usually I have a hard time choosing just four fabrics which can take hours but I’m glad to have found yardage of the Color Rhythm print which was perfect in setting the tones for Pop Star.

I can’t say enough how fast the sections sewed and came together. I thought I heard Snap, Crackle, Pop Star.

Quadrant straight-line quilting, 1” apart with a steel gray #50 Aurifil thread nicely accentuated the quilt pattern and fabrics.

Again good quilt karma was with me with the backing found in my stash of Riley Blake’s Girl Power which was so perfect for Pop Star. I usually don’t show a full photo of my backing but couldn’t resist this time. I hope you can see the quilting. It’s nice that you only needed WOF for the backing, no piecing if you have at least 1-1/4 yard piece. The binding is the multi-color Jennifer Sampou Color Rhythm print which I hand sewn and usually don’t do. Would you believe there is wall space available in the darling Granddaughter’s bedroom at the GP House to hang Pop Star? It will go well with all of the other colorful quilts in her room.

I wish I was able to take a pic of Pop Star when the purple irises were at its peak of loveliness but the weather and quilt finishes very rarely are in sync with each other. Now that another year of participating in Celebrating a Famous Canadian’s Birthday QAL is underway, I have to thank Sandra for another great pattern and fun QAL. I can’t wait for next year’s QAL; maybe I’ll QAL well with others (wink). Be sure to visit her blog to see the other participants’ Pop Star quilts.

Along with this QAL, June is a big month for celebrating birthdays; Demando is turning the big Four-O grand doggie Daisy will be 11 and I, myself will be celebrating the golden anniversary of being an adult and of course there’s Father’s Day. We’ll be leaving later in the morning for a vacation in the mountains and I decided my road project will be knitting so I started three different shawls in three lovely colors because knowing me I get bored knitting the same color after awhile. I’m also bringing some hexies to sew together just in case I miss sewing and fabric.

Linking up with:MMMQuilts andMy  Quilt Infatuation/NTT