Early Spring

Early Spring, March 2026

This pretty quilt reminds me of springtime. The light blue with colorful dots, a coordinating coral red hashed pattern, and crisp white are perfect for this block design.

Star and Cross is a vintage pattern from the 1930's and 40's, also published as Shining Hour and North Star. I love how the stars are split by the crosses. It looks complicated but is really simple to sew. I added a couple of borders to frame it up.

I pieced everything on Rockette, my Singer 500A. White thread was used for quilting through the center of each white cross and along either side, using a utility multi zig-zag and straight stitch on Janelle (Janome MC9450).  Early Spring finished at 50" square. 

These colors seemed like the perfect choice for today's Memorial Day blog. We finally got some of the rain we needed, over 4” this past week through yesterday. Still cloudy with a chance today so probably no picnic around here. It's been nice to sit on the screened porch though, listening to rain on the roof and watching that grass green up.

Accuquilt dies used:
55635 Star & Cross 10” BOB
55017 Strips 2½”
55032 Strips 3½”

Star Power

Star Power, February 2026

One patch quilts can be simple or detailed, depending on design and color choices. This one features muted blue floral, medium white dots on gray, and black/white weaver print fabric.

I wanted four inch 60° diamonds but didn't have that specific die, so I cut them with a strip die. I first did layout in EQ8, then put the diamonds on my design wall before sewing together in sections.

Star Power is 48” x 52” finished. I quilted with blue thread, using a free motion meander stitch for the star, then switched to straight stitch along the seam lines for the perimeter area.

=====

Last week was fabulous: We finally got some rain! I received three new dies from Blue Wren in Australia, found amazing fabric bargains (79 yards for $174) at a consignment sale, and visited with family I haven't seen in a while.

Accuquilt dies used:

55054 Strips 4½”
55017 Strips 2½” binding

SNOW? ICE? and Striped Christmas Stars

Striped Christmas Stars

Hey y'all, I'm waiting for this weekend's upcoming weather system: snow-ice-sleet-rain (Snowmageddon or Icepocalypse). Our forecasters can't decide between 24” of snow or 1/2” of ice but they do know it will be very cold for several days.

I figured a Christmas themed quilt for today's blog might bring on some simple snow. I am still catching up on projects that I cut out in 2024 before our move. This one I finished in early December 2025 and displayed on our bed during the holidays.

Red dots, teal print, and a coordinating plaid look nice with natural muslin. This pretty die from Blue Wren is called Eight Point Star of Stripes. Even though it looks complicated, it is very easy to sew. It was fun to design in EQ8. I added plaid sashing and a perky border of half-square triangles.

Quilting was done with cream thread using a utility zig-zag stitch in vertical lines every 2 inches. A bright teal blender for the backing and binding finish it off beautifully. Striped Christmas Stars is 48” square.

Whether we get record breaking snow or dangerous ice remains to be seen. Nashville's record snow was 17.2” in 1892, more recently 8” in 2016. The most I've ever seen is 10-12” in 1964. Cookeville's record is 15” (1966) and the county had 17” (1993).

The Tennessee weather forecasters and the internet have people in a panic, emptying grocery shelves of bread, milk, eggs, cheese, and lunch meat three days before the event. We have food and water and will be fine. At least I have hundreds of quilts to keep us warm if the power goes out. Plus, a Singer with a hand crank so I can sew by lamplight if necessary.

Dies used:

Blue Wren
    6466 Eight Point Star of Stripes 12” finished

Accuquilt
    55021 Value die 2” HST, square
    55017 Strips 2”

Ocean Stars

Ocean Stars

This week's quilt has lots of small pieces, which took a while to cut and stitch together. I believe it was worth the time, since I absolutely love the final results.

Prairie Star is a block often seen in antique quilts. I can't imagine how long it would have taken to hand piece and hand quilt a larger bed size version. I'm happy to have dies and cutters and a sewing machine!

I used up scraps from my blue, aqua, and white remnant bins. I sewed on my Janome MC9450 in order to make use of the perfect ¼” foot and lock stitch feature. Those Y-seams and points turn out so crisp when you're accurate.

After adding sashing in a white and gray circle print, I quilted in rows with pale blue thread using a scallop stitch. Ocean Stars finished at 51” square. I'm going to hang this cool and soothing quilt on our bedroom wall for the summer.

Accuquilt dies used:
55540 Prairie Star 14” finished
55059 Squares 2” finished
55017 Strips 2½”

 

Americana

Red, white, and blue fabrics always look great together. I have quite a few quilts using those colors but I keep making more.

Remnants from other projects gave me enough material for the blocks, and I added tiny red gingham for sashing and borders. Backing is little red hearts on white. 

The North Carolina Star die has lots of small pieces, which are a little tricky to sew. It takes a perfect ¼” seam to get all those intersections to match up. Jack (the seam ripper) and I had a few tense moments until I worked it out.

Americana finished at 48” square. I quilted with white thread, using a circle ruler to create an allover design. I'll have this one displayed for Memorial Day.

Accuquilt dies used:
55605 North Carolina Star 12” finished
55017 Strips 2½”
55054 Strips 4½”

Dynamic Star

Dynamic Star
2024 Useful Remnants

Pink, green, and paisley fabric give this giant star a modern spring vibe. I started with two remnant pieces in the center, then chose coordinating colors from my stash for the other layers.

This is similar to a Morning Star or Texas Star block, but it's expanded to fit the whole quilt top instead of narrowing back to points. I used one of the shapes from Blue Wren's Dynamic Star die to cut all the triangles. The large size made everything go together quickly.

Layout on my design wall helped me keep the eight sections in the right order. I filled in the edges with a 2" strip to match up with the corners, then added setting triangles last. 

 

I decided on pink thread to quilt free motion curves inside each side of the diamonds. Finished size for Dynamic Star is 49½” square.

It was fun to design, cut, piece and quilt. I'd planned to donate it, but I may wait a bit so I can enjoy it myself. I'll definitely do this one again in other colors. 

Dies used:
Blue Wren 6954 Dynamic Star (smaller triangle)

 

Graceful Stars

Here's a sweet baby quilt that I made for a friend's first grandchild.

Soft pink prints, dots, stripes and gingham are paired with white and cream to make adorable mill & star blocks. 

I quilted a scallop stitch in light pink thread with a walking foot. Graceful Stars finished at 41” square. 

Sweet dreams, Lyla Grace!

Accuquilt dies used:
55601 Mill & Stars 8” finished
55017 Strips 2½”

Fabulous Triangle Stars

This quilt design! I just had to make this as soon as I saw it.

The original quilt pattern was created by Barbara H. Cline, who featured it in her book, Amazingly Simple Triangle Stars. Blue Wren Notions got her approval to make a die to cut the shapes. Information and links below.

I used a bold herringbone print in aqua/navy, with a tiny aqua/white floral plus crisp white. I pieced it on my little Featherweight, Annie. Exact die cuts made sewing easy and everything fit together perfectly.

I quilted on my Janome 9450 with aqua thread in diagonal rows of 4, using a straight stitch. Fabulous Stars is 49½” x 57” in size.

Barbara's book has many different versions with beautiful secondary designs. I started out simply, but I will definitely be sewing this again soon in other colorways. I love it when designers and manufacturers work together to share ideas and create partnerships.


Blue Wren dies used:
6909 Triangle Stars 7” finished triangle block
www.a1craftandquilting.com.au

Barbara H. Cline design
www.delightfulpiecing.com

 

Sweethearts Dance

Purple and white scraps plus a new die and a classic block equals a happy little quilt for Valentine's Day.

The Interwoven Star is pretty when alternated with a simple heart block. I framed them with 2” solid lavender sashing strips. Backing and binding is a lavender mini gingham. My little Singer Featherweight (Annie) always stitches perfectly.

I quilted in narrow channels using light purple thread and a straight stitch. I finished this one very quickly, starting on Friday afternoon and finishing up Sunday morning. Sweethearts Dance is 32” square, small and adorable.

Dies used:
Blue Wren 6364a Interwoven Star 8½”
Accuquilt
55018 Value die 2½” square & half-square triangles  
55017 Strips 2½” sashing & binding

Happy Valentine's Week!

 

Confetti Stars

This cute little quilt was my 4th of July weekend project. Red and blue scraps with a touch of white and cream have a patriotic vibe, and those dots sure look like confetti to me.

This is my version of the Friendship Star block, adding corners to create a secondary design. Instead of the standard nine-patch, I cut 4½” x 8½” rectangles, then added 3½” HST on one corner. Smaller 1½” HST go on the opposite corner.

Then, I sewed the rectangles to the center 3½” square. This created some excess, which I trimmed off to 11½” blocks. Not the conventional way, but I think this made for fewer seams. It also gave more space between the stars, so my points are perfect.

After adding a narrow border of red mini gingham, I quilted in rows, using cream thread in decorative stitching. Binding is a red and blue stripe. Finished size for Confetti Stars is 47” square.

Halfway through the year, and this is quilt #27 completed.

Accuquilt dies used:
55160 Rectangles 4½” x 8½”
55006 Squares 3½”
55004 HST 3½”
55818 Bow Tie (1½” HST)

55017 Strips 2½”

Glory

Here's a Memorial Day quilt in honor of those heroes who gave their lives for our freedom.

This off-center star is made up of parallelograms in red, blue, white and cream small print scraps. 

Starting with an eight pointed star, I fine tuned the layout on my design wall, using color value to emphasize the star shapes. 

Simple straight stitch quilting with a walking foot and white thread was done in four sections, following seam lines. Glory is 50” square.

Accuquilt dies used:
55809 Parallelogram (10” Qube)
55017 Strip 2½”

Golden Galaxy

Yesterday I finished a lovely autumn table mat for our dining room. Shades of gold batik along with brown and black prints show up nicely on a background of toasty taupe.

I used the Star Links die from Blue Wren, which looks complicated but is really very easy to sew. I previewed color placement in EQ8 before cutting.  

A simple quilting pattern emphasizes the block design. I used taupe thread in a straight stitch, making a 1½” grid. Golden Galaxy finished at 36” square.

Dies used:

Blue Wren 6967 Star Links 12” finished

Accuquilt 55017 Strip 2½”

 

October Vintage Stars

Oh my, how I love this Candy Star die from Blue Wren!

It is a new version of a previously unnamed vintage block, published sometime after 1933 from Old Chelsea Station (magazine/newspaper mail order). I saw an antique quilt photo online, found the block layout in BlockBase+, and suggested the idea to Norma at Blue Wren.  Before long this new die was available. 

I selected two older fabrics from one of my garage sale finds. These autumn colored cotton prints were only 36” wide, dating around the late 1960's. Remember harvest gold, avocado green, burnt orange, and brown? They were the fashionable colors to have back then.

October Vintage Stars

I added a coordinating persimmon solid, black prints, and natural muslin to complete the look from that era. I used twelve blocks, framed with two borders. I really enjoyed sewing this retro inspired quilt, October Vintage Stars, which is 48” x 60” finished size. I quilted using a free motion meandering stitch in cream thread.

The corner sections that form the secondary stars are made with a Y-seam. I did a few test runs since I was out of practice, but only used the seam ripper once.  Key tips: sew precise 1/4" seams, stop 1/4" from edge and lockstitch, flip and sew from corner to edge, press each section the same way.   

It was very satisfying to sew, but the best thing about this die is that Blue Wren includes alternative pieces to avoid a Y-seam altogether and create more design options.

I was so inspired that I finished in only 5 days: die delivered noon Monday, quilt completed Friday. I have already designed more in EQ8/BlockBase+, and each version has a totally different look.

Dies used:
Blue Wren 6958 Candy Star

Accuquilt
55054 Strip 4½”
55017 Strip 2½”

BlockBase ID: 2725

Charli's Lone Star

Charli's Lone Star

Baby quilts are just so sweet and happy. I make a few to have handy as gifts, but I prefer to design something personal to complement the nursery décor.

Miss Charli, the first granddaughter of my good friend, is due to arrive in June. Her room has a western theme, featuring cowhide and pink. I decided a Lone Star quilt would coordinate nicely.

Black and white mini gingham and a bandana print contrast with tiny pink roses on black and two pink fabrics. The layout was completed in EQ8 so I could preview color placement.  I added three borders to frame the star and a larger black gingham on the back.

Quilting was done using dark gray thread in straight stitch to emphasize the star design. I added serpentine stitching on the borders. Final size is 43½” square.

I presented Charli's Lone Star to her grandmother last week and the family is delighted. We're all waiting now to see how the little cowgirl looks wrapped up in this soft quilt.

Dies used:
Accuquilt
55453 LeMoyne Star (diamond shapes)
55001 Half Square Triangle 6½”
55054 Strip 4½”
55017 Strips 2½”

Blue Wren
6522 Half Square Triangle 8½”

Machines used:
Rockette (Singer 500A)
Janelle (Janome Horizon MC9450)

Flying Circus

 

Color. Stars. Action. 

This quilt has it all.  It started with two 5” charm packs of Tula Pink prints and solids that I bought last year. I've pulled them out several times but never found the right project.

This time, I hit on the perfect design and layout to showcase these bright dots and stripes. Depending on how you look at it, either the navy stars or the bright squares appear to float over the gray background. And sometimes I see the stars as latticework behind the squares. This one's open to interpretation.

Flying Circus is 45” x 52” size. I cut gray print rectangles and added small navy triangles to each corner to form the star sashing. I don't have a narrow signature die that size, so lots of trimming was involved but it was so worth the time. I always try to use what I have to make what's needed.

And it's cat approved.  During quilting I stepped away from the machine for a moment.  Callie likes to take my chair or the quilt I'm working on for her nap.  

Using gray thread, I quilted ¼” away from each side of the sashing. I didn't quilt inside the squares in order to feature those fabrics. Backing is a navy and gray tiny print with a solid border of navy added along one side for width.

Accuquilt dies used:
55059 2 ½” squares
55159 2 ½”x 4 ½” finished rectangle
55769 1 ⅛” finished half square triangle
55017 2 ½” strip (binding)
and if you don't have precut charm squares
55010 5” square

Sometimes

all you need

is a

SPLASH of COLOR

Fire and Water

Fire and Water

The Hunter Star quilt block is beautiful done in red and aqua. These bright simple prints direct your focus to the overall design instead of the fabric.

These pieces sew together precisely so it was easy to match the points. After sewing the blocks together, I added a 1” border in a white and red mini dot. The 3” outer border is the same aqua as the blocks. Backing is a geometric print of white, aqua, red and black.

Fire and Water is 44” x 56” in size. I quilted with white cotton thread, using the Elvira ruler to create a curvy design vertically and horizontally across the blocks. The outer borders are also stitched with Elvira, this time in two parallel serpentine lines.

I love how it turned out! One more quilt to add to my ever growing collection. This time fire and water mix very well indeed.

Dies used:

Accuquilt

55032 3 ½” strip

55166 Hunter Star

Blue Wren

6015 1 ½” strip

B A L A N C E

Like fire, be alive

Like water, feel peaceful

Aussie Stars

This gorgeous block has been on my to do list for a while. The Arkansas Traveler die is currently only available if you attend a class at an Accuquilt dealer. Unfortunately, there are no dealers or classes near me.

Thankfully, I found the Traveler's Star 12” die (same design) by Blue Wren from A1 Craft and Quilting in Australia. I also ordered a 1” finished strip die, and both came with free mats. Including international shipping to the USA, the total cost was only $106. Not bad for 2 dies and 2 mats. The dies work perfectly on my Go cutter.

Aussie Stars

Aussie Stars is 43” square, made up of nine blocks in teal and bright green with black bandana print and cream prints. I've had the teal and green leaf print for a while; it gives a modern look as sashing and borders.

It takes precise stitching, pressing, and alignment to get a perfectly flat block. I'll admit to using the seam ripper on the first two, but my practice blocks went in the quilt after I got them right. The rest were a breeze.

The back is an extra block that I framed off center with leftover wide strips of teal, green, and black. I quilted with a dark cream thread in long serpentine patterns with a walking foot.

I'll be making more of this classic design, and I'll definitely order more Blue Wren dies.  Good customer service from Norma by email.  My order took a little over 3 weeks to arrive, but it sat in customs here for days.  

Blue Wren dies used:

Traveler's Star 6361

1 ½” strip 6015

Leap day is this Saturday

Purple Blaze

Purple Blaze

The Blazing Star quilt block looks complicated but it's pretty easy to sew, although it took a while to put together 25 blocks. 

I designed it in Electric Quilt 8 so that I could experiment with purple shades for the star pieces and audition different fabrics for the borders and sashing.

I used Accuquilt's 55051 Blazing Star die, which made cutting a lot quicker. You just have to pay attention to which sections are placed right side or wrong side up for the cuts.

After sewing all the blocks, I added sashing and cornerstones before sewing the rows together. The backing is a wide dusty lilac paisley print. It took some time to sandwich and pin this too. I quilted rows 2” apart with a walking foot in a serpentine stitch using light lavender thread. I cut the binding with the AQ 2 ½” strip die.

Purple Blaze is 87” x 92” and I just love the end result. Of course, that's pretty predictable since any shade of purple is a favorite. This beauty ended up on the bed in our spare room. 

Start to finish, I worked on it for just over two weeks, with a couple of days off to cut other projects and clear off my tables before quilting.

Side note: I hope you liked last week's Singer Model 20 restoration. I've been so bad...on Friday I bought another vintage Singer machine (1960's), so watch for future updates.

Stargazer

Stargazer

I've always loved lone star quilts but never got around to making one until now.    

Stargazer features shades of purple, orchid, and amethyst framed by a dusty aqua floral print. Using my Accuquilt LeMoyne Star (55453) die, I cut the entire die with each fabric to save time and material. The center diamonds were all I needed for this quilt, so I set aside the other pieces for a later project.

I used EQ8 to arrange the colors, calculate the fabric needed, and number of pieces to cut. Laying the quilt on my design board helped me keep the sections in order. 

It looks more complicated than it really is. I sewed rows of three to make eight large diamonds, making sure to press so that the seams would nest. 

I added triangles cut to fit each side and sewed two of these together makes a quarter section square.  Four squares together, and it's done!

I quilted with light purple thread in a straight stitch, following the diamond sides. Binding in the darker purple frames it up nicely.  

This happy wall hanging is 28” square and fits perfectly between the windows in my sewing room. I'm delighted with the results and added a larger version to my ever-growing project list.

Surround yourself

with

beautiful things

Star Island - Done!

Star Island

I'm finally back to normal around the house so this quilt is finished. I think it was worth the wait. Nine-patch blocks in light seaside colors of lilac, aqua, tan, and sage are lovely with the white star points.

Star Island is 45” square. I quilted diagonally across the blocks in a straight stitch, using a light lavender thread. Then I added serpentine stitching horizontally and vertically in the same color.

Can't you just picture it lying across a wicker chair in a beach cottage?

Accuquilt dies used:

3 1/2" Square 55006

3 1/2" Triangle in square 55027