The Fat Quarter Shop has been hosting a quilt along using the Barn Star Sampler book by Shelley Cavanna. The book was originally published by Martingale books who unfortunately went out of business. The author partnered with a new publisher to have the book reprinted. It’s making its way back into shops, and the author is also making a PDF version available on her website. **Update** The book is now available in print! Grab your copy today!
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I had two fat quarter bundles by Sweetwater that coordinated pretty well together. The first one was Spring Chicken and the second was Renew. Spring Chicken is an older collection but Fat Quarter Shop still has some yardage available. Renew still has precuts and yardage available.
In addition to the bundles, I knew I was going to need additional white on white background fabrics. I pulled some from my stash and purchased a few random half-yard or one yard cuts to add in.
The first three months of the quilt along have been large blocks that are 24″ x 24″. You make two of each block to be added to the final quilt.
The first block is called Diamond Star. Breaking this block down into nine separate 6.5″ square blocks makes it easier to see the pieces come together. It’s a combination of half square triangles, elongated flying-geese, sew and flip corners, and an economy block for the center.
The second block is called Christmas Star. Breaking this down into smaller sections shows that the block consists of mainly flying geese and corner squares.
The third block is the Carpenter Star. For this block there are several sew and flip corners, hourglass blocks, flying geese, as well as a square-in-a-square unit for the center.
Related Post: Barn Star Quilt Along Block 6
These large quilt blocks of the Barn Star Sampler quilt along are a lot of fun to make, but they do take time. My advice would be to make one at a time. While you can save a little time chain piecing the steps for both blocks at the same time, it can get confusing with so many pieces going at one time. Also I’m finding I need more background fabrics than I thought I would need. Fortunately these two collections have several low volume white backgrounds that will be enough for the smaller blocks.
Next month is the Tulip Star sized at 16″ square.
Are you participating in any sew alongs right now?
Happy sewing my friends!
