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| Stars & Scraps Forever Quilt |
As I am sure anyone else with their fabric scraps stored in a bin like mine is, you're always searching for a project that converts all those scraps into something really beautiful. Take a look at the Stars & Scraps Forever quilt. Created by the gifted mother/daughter team of Jo Kramer and Kelli Hanken of Jo's Country Junction for All People Quilt, this pattern is a true scrap busting artistry.
This layout is great for a beautiful patriotic heirloom or if you're looking to empty out those drawers for a whole new world of colors.
The Pattern at a Glance
The beauty of the Stars & Scraps Forever pattern is that it is so simple, yet so beautiful. On a first look, this layout seems to be quite complex and complicated, but it only uses two basic blocks. These two simple block designs are repeated over the layout to form a glorious secondary design, which keeps the eye moving.
- Fitted size: a big 96 1/2" square, well suited to a queen sized bed or a bold and cosy throw to snuggle under.
- Skill Level: Useful for advanced beginners who wish to practice half square triangles or flying geese, and very stimulating for advanced quilters.
- Fabric Friendly: A true scrap-buster. For a colorful galaxy of stars, you'll need a diverse array of hues, tones, and shades to create that mesmerizing effect.
The Scrap-Busting Magic is a work of fiction.
It's the easy-going attitude towards fabric choice that is the icing on the cake with this wavy design. This pattern is far more about the unexpected harmony of mismatched prints, rather than stressing over perfectly coordinated fabric lines. While the designers have used shades of red, cream and blue to evoke a sense of patriotism, this is achieved by playing with textures, from reproduction prints to subtle batiks, florals and crisp geometrics.
Pulling from your stash, think very much in terms of value control. You need to create contrast for the star points to stand out on your background. Combine rich dark blue and brick red shades with an assortment of low volume cream scraps. This is done on purpose so that even when a block is very down on its luck it still has a sharp, geometric edge.
Final Thought
The Stars & Scraps Forever quilt is about why we love quilting: bringing together simple, little-used scraps of fabric to create a beautiful whole. Now if you're in need of a weekend project that will help clear out all your scraps and respects the old American quilting ways, print out this pattern and get to your cutting table before your scraps begin to dazzle.
