Sun Star Tutorial (Wonderlust Blog Hop + Giveaway)

Welcome to the final stop on the Wonderlust Blog Hop! My tutorial today is for a 36" Gallery Quilt. Each time Paula Nadelstern debuts a new fabric collection, she and some of her quilting friends make beautiful small quilts to display her new fabrics. The quilts then travel with Paula for a year to help promote her fabric line. I have made 3 of these intricate little quilts before, always in Paula's blues and purples, so I chose to work with her warm colors this time. They are a beautiful bit of brightness and heat in what has been a very white winter here! You can see the full Wonderlust collection here.

Fabric Requirements and Cutting Directions

Note: I recommend pressing fabrics with spray starch before cutting to help reduce bias stretch.

A. 3/8 yard Good Vibrations Multi (1712-99): Cut (16) 1-1/2” squares and (4) 2-1/2” strips

B. 3/8 yard Electric Slide Multi (1713-99): Cut (9) 3-1/2” squares (fussy cut – see step 1)

C. ¼ yard Marbella Red (1714-10): Cut (20) 4” squares, cross cut (10) into half square triangles HST

D. 7/8 yard Marbella Black (1714-12): Cut (9) 4-1/4” squares,  crosscut into (36) quarter square triangles QST, (18) 4” squares, (24) 1-1/2” X 9-1/2” rectangles, and (4) 1-1/2” strips.

E. 3/8 yard Marbella Orange (1714-28): Cut (16) 4” squares, crosscut (8) into HST; and (5) 4-1/4” squares, crosscut into QST

F. ¼ yard Marbella Tangerine (1714-29): Cut (4) 4-1/4” squares. crosscut into (16) QST

42” X 42” batting – 1-1/4 YD Backing - (5) 2-1/4” strips for binding

1. Cut all fabrics as stated above. When cutting the (9) Electric Slide squares for the center of the blocks – cut (1) 5” strip, then subcut (4) 3-1/2” on point squares for the center of the corner blocks, and cut (1) 3-1/2” square with a similar motif for the center block. Cut (4) matching motifs for the remainder of the blocks.

2. Draw line on wrong side of the (10) red and (8) orange 4” squares. Place right sides together with black 4” square, sew ¼” away one each side of drawn line. Cut, then press with seam allowance towards the black fabric. Square to 3-1/2”, Make (20) Red-Black HST blocks and (16) Orange-Black HST blocks.

3. Layout black, orange and tangerine QSTs with red and orange HST as shown. Place QSTs right sides together and pin. Sew, then press with seam allowance toward orange/ tangerine fabric. Place right sides together with HSTs, pin and sew, then press with seam allowance towards red/orange HST. Square to 3-1/2”, make (20) Black-Orange-Red blocks and (16) Black-Tangerine-Orange blocks.

4. Layout the HST, QST and fussy cut squares as shown, sew into rows, then sew rows together. Make (4) of the red/orange corner blocks, (1) red/orange center block, and (4) of the orange/tangerine blocks for the top, left, right and bottom blocks.

5. Sew (3) Black and (4) 1-1/2” Good Vibrations squares together to make sashing rows. Sew the blocks together with sashing strips into rows, then sew all rows together.

6. Measure sides of quilt (ours is 31-1/2”) and subcut (2) black 1-1/2" strips to fit, sew to sides. Measure top and bottom (ours is 33-1/2”) and subcut (2) black 1-1/2" strips to fit, sew to top and bottom.

Repeat using the 2-1/2” strips of Good Vibrations for the outer border (our sides are 33-1/2” and top/ bottom are 37-1/2”). We like to put a slightly oversized outer border on these little quilts, then after quilting we can trim to exactly 36” before binding.

Now this beauty is off to the Sunshine State for quilting … how appropriate! I will share a picture when it comes back.

Have you missed any of the other stops on the blog hop? Be sure to check them out!

Monday: Sew in Love with Fabric (interview with Paula and a look at Wonderlust)

Tuesday: Sarah Goer Quilts

Wednesday: mmm! Quilts

Thursday: Little Bunny Quilts
Friday: Stitched Together Studios (you are here!)

And now ... the Giveaway (US addresses only)! For your chance to win a FQ Bundle with a selection of 8-10 Wonderlust fabrics, leave a comment below telling me ... what is the smallest quilt you've ever made? For a bonus entry, follow my blog and leave me a comment telling me that you have done so. Deadline for entry is  11:59 pm Tuesday February 6th, I will pick a winner on February 7th.