Red, Red Stars quilt
I usually feel pretty good when I finish any quilt, but this one... this one feels GLORIOUS! I'm so, so glad that I went "all in" with Anna Maria Horner fabrics for the stars and that magnetic Kona Rich Red for the background. I can't get over how much I love this combo. FYI, I did pre-wash the Kona, and I'm happy to report that there was not a bit of bleeding when I washed the finished quilt this weekend!
One of the best things about this project was making it with my friends. It was perfectly delightful to share some of my favorite fabrics with them, and since we sewed together in real life, to get to hear their ooohs and aaaaahs as they worked with the fabulousness that is Anna Maria Horner.
I quilted on my Juki Tl2010Q (HEART!), whose generous harp space makes this 6" wide continuous eight free motion quilting pattern possible. There's no way I could have done this on a small machine! I couldn't believe how fast this one quilted up. This is my second go with the continuous eight (my first time I did about 4" wide). I like it big like this, and I love that it's such a durable quilting pattern (all those crossing lines and good coverage). Expect to see more of this in my future. Funny, once I thought I was a mostly straight-line girl!
So here she is. Ta Da!
You all, I had So Much fun making this one that I could be convinced to start another one like right now if I didn't have my sewing list already cut out for me. But, I think maybe another Sawtooth Star quilt on a colored background in 2014. Yes, I think so.
For the backing I used Dowry in Flourish by Anna Maria Horner. It has red to compliment the Kona Rich Red, but blue and sage and toast colors too, which hint at the colorful stars.
Flourish is a nice print for a backing, because it's a meandering large scale that hides the joining seam pretty well. The joining seam in my backing is visible here in the flat section of the quilt back. Can you spot it?
And now we have to part, dear quilt. I am grateful though that you are destined for a home where you'll doubtless be used and not just stored in a cabinet. Be well. Make them smile. Keep them warm.
We send you with our love!
Fabric Notes: You can find Anna Maria Horner fabrics at most of my sponsor shops. See Fabrics page. Thanks to Freespirit for some recent Anna Maria Horner fabrics and to Robert Kaufman for supplying the Kona Rich Red. My gratitude to the Warm Company for supplying me with Warm & Natural batting. You make quilts like this - created to be given away - possible!