When Keli at Drygoods asked me to teach a beginner quilting class called “Welcome to Quilting,” I knew exactly what I was making for a sample.
Inspiration for this quilt has been pulled from a variety of sources over the past year.
The seed was first planted last summer when my folks brought me home a folder of collected information on the barn quilts they had passed during their road trip west.
I thought these traditional quilt block designs were perfect with their simplistic design and that their large scale gave them a modern look. My favorites were the stars of course, but I have a whole series bookmarked.
For more inspiration I spent some time with my copy of 5,500 Quilt Block Designs to find the star I wanted to make. This book is chock full of traditional blocks just itching for some big block fun or an improvisational twist. The book is a great resource for understanding color values impact on block design and how secondary design comes into play when combining blocks.
Katie’s Super Star Quilt, in the May/June Quilty issue was the final inspiration. I was smitten with her color combo from first sight, so my original color way with the citron migrated to the back.
I quilted it in the same pattern I did for my Psychedelic Baby quilt. It’s time consuming, but clean and simple. I like unfussy quilting that runs off the edge. I’d made the binding before picking out the backing and had to switch gears when the dark grey wasn’t right. I’m always glad when I make the extra effort even when I just want to be done.
Then again, lesson learned. I like the quilt back, but if I had only taken a moment to step back and look at the quilt’s back on the design wall I would have added a vertical citron column to the top and bottom of the star block too. Practice truly is the best teacher.
This class has shaped up nicely. I love the sample and it really is perfect to drive home all the principles of quilting I want to cover in a beginner class. There’s even room built in for those that aren’t beginners, but just really want to set aside time to make a beautiful quilt.
I’ve got a load of classes on the schedule and a line up of finished quilts to show, just need some time to photograph them all.
I think there’s one spot in the zip pouch class Wednesday and a few in Split Decision Saturday if you’re looking for a new project. My friend Melinda stopped by with her Split Decision quilt top last night.
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::Zip Pouches::
$45/Wednesday, June 26th from 6-9pm at the Quilting Loft in Ballard.
Come learn the ins and outs of constructing a zip pouch. Once you know the ropes you’ll be a production machine. These are great for gifts and perfect for all levels of sewists.
::Split Decision Quilt Workshop::
$85/Saturday, June 29th from 10am-4pm at the Quilting Loft in Ballard.
Join author Katie Pedersen to play with the slice and insert technique from the book Quilting Modern. Combine simple sewing with a new skill and create your own linear design featuring snippets of your favorite fabrics. This is a great class for all levels of sewists that want to explore a new improvisational technique and play with design.
The perfect quilt for a beginning quilting class!
I love your color choices and especially the surprise on the back. Beautiful!
I just completed the Timberland Quilt Trail in Michigan:
http://thequiltersworldreport.wordpress.com/2013/06/12/barn-quilts-and-michigans-timberland-quilt-trail-2/
Your quilt is beautiful! I’m sure everyone taking your class will be inspired to continue.
Just love your barn quilt!! Simple quilty perfection!
I LOVE the quilts & the colors! I made my little baby one quilt it was fun, now I am trying to find the time to make another one! These look easy enough for beginners!
I love the colors!
Thank you for this post. Your quilt is beautiful and very inspiring.
Awesome quilt — the quilting is just perfect for it, too!
Absolutely beautiful. Love how you quilted it. Thanks for sharing
Loved how you shared your inspiration journey on this quilt, Katie. The back is actually my favorite part. The citron is awesome.
So it’s a fabric quilt, based on the idea of barn quilts, based on the idea of fabric quilts? Katie, I think you just went meta. 🙂
It’s lovely, by the way!
ha ha. thanks!
On Mon, Jun 24, 2013 at 7:47 PM, SEW KATIE DID
Love the boldness of the one block quilt and especially the back. How do you get the back and the front to line up so perfectly? is there a trick to it or is it a matter of time and patience, both of which I am not long on?
Absolutely love this quilt! What fun! Too bad I am not in Seattle. Any chance you would be willing to share fabric and thread colors? I would need to buy online and I always have trouble picking colors from my computer screen.
Love your supersized block! And the quilting brings texture while still having a very “clean” look. This can make a wonderful series…
; )
I love your sample quilt!! the colors are gorgeous!!! Now MY wheels are spinning:):)
Thanks Marilyn, hope you make one.
I love this quilt, front and back, and your shout out made my day–I felt like the purple was a little out there for me. [commenting a week or 2 later because I had forgotten my wordpress password. Classy]
Thanks! I love yours.
Katie, I love the barn quilt. Will there be a pattern available since you are teaching the class there in Seatle? Just wondering here in Minnesota.
Hi Julie,
The barn quilt was made with half square triangles and some squares in the corners that are the same size as the finished hst. Just look up a good hst tutorial or follow my value quilt one for directions. Good luck!
I really love this quilt and the idea behind it. I am inspired to try some of my own. Thank you.
Wow, your barn quilt is fantastic! I wish I had such a good eye for color! 🙂
Katie, I absolutely love your Welcome to Quilting Star Quilt. Do you sell a pattern for this quilt? I’m a beginner quilter and would love to make the exact quilt. How big is the quilt, and what size triangles are these? I can use all the help you can give me. Thanks so much! I am so glad to have found you on the internet.
Best stitches,
Nancy
Hi Nancy. I don’t have a pattern. Make half square triangles to the desired size and then good ole squares to fill in the corners. It might help you to draw it out. Two squares of fabric make two half square triangles. Good luck;)