I am so pleased to present the Sun Star Table runner. This table runner began in a workshop I took with Paula Nadelstern, called Sun Star. It sat for 2 1/2 years – not the oldest UFO – but it was time to remedy that situation.
In order to make this block, I had to rely on my sketchy notes and on the book from the class. I did ok, but the there were some hiccups on the way. First, that gold/black piece was traced wrong. I had just enough fabric to retrace it (the pen you use is on the front and silver so the first iteration was unusable). Second, as I began to sew I realized my new pattern was not the same size as my old pattern. I remedied that by retracing and trimming 32 pieces. It sewed together pretty well – note to self – don’t let a workshop project sit so long!
Finally, it was done, but it was night time; more to do on Sunday. I began finishing the blocks. First, I added a strip around each to give me enough to size them exactly the same. Then, I fussy cut triangles of the original fabric to make some of the setting triangles. Because of the amount of fabric I had, they too got a black strip to make them work.
It was a beautiful day on the island, so my work was interrupted by a walk. The top was together and I found a suitable back for the piece. I loaded it on the frame and prepped it for Monday’s quilting and binding adventure.
In the meantime, I worked up what I thought might be a quilting pattern for it and auditioned it in Prostitcher Designer. That is one of the great joys of having the computerized system. I was able to place a second set of curls and flip them, so it was not all in the same direction. You may be able to see it when you zoom in on the picture. Furthermore, I was able to manipulate it so that the piece was centered on the design. I like that it didn’t take away from the stars, but added some motifs that were similar to the original fabric, Kismet by Paula Nadelstern (Benartex). I also used Electric Quilt 8* to audition binding fabrics. Works like a charm!
Fun fact: on the same page as her fabric is a guide to NYC garment district…when we can travel again.
I loved the way it quilted out. For the binding, I have perfected the Steam-a-Sea 2 method and love the accuracy of knowing I will 99% of the time be able to sew from the front and get all the binding sewn down! I now press Steam-A–Seam-2* tape to the quilt first, then press to the binding…I am much happier this way. I also figured out that pins and fingernails can help get the paper off much easier.
This project was both on my PhD in 2020 list as well as the month’s OMG (one monthly goal). I made it in nick of time for OMG! December will be busy on the blog – a number of the projects that were not ufos are done and 2 more ufos and I will have a PhD in 2020. But, just to keep things interesting, I am also participating in two blog hops which are in the first few days of December.
December 1
Bumbleberry Stitches Cathie’s Craftworks
Creatin’ in the Sticks Cynthia’s Creating Ark
Doreen – Just Let Me Quilt Guest Food for Thought
Home Sewn By Us Just Sew Quilter
Life in the Scrapatch Ms P Designs USA
Quilt Schmilt
December 2
Days Filled With Joy Just Because Quilts
Karen’s Korner MooseStashQuilting
Pieceful Thoughts of My Quilting Life Sew Many Yarns
Selina Quilts Words & Stitches
December 3
DayBrook Designs Dreamworthy Quilts
For The Love Of Geese Karrin’s Crazy World
Quiltscapes Samelia’s Mum
Songbird Designs Stitchin At Home
That Fabric Feeling Websterquilt
December 4
DesertSky Quilting Happy Cottage Quilter
Just Let Me Quilt Kathleen McMusing
Quilt Fabrication Pumpkin Patch Patterns & Quilting
Scrapdash Seams To Be Sew
The Darling Dogwood
Partners in Design 2020 Holiday Gifts to You
Wednesday, December 2 Becca from Pretty Piney
Thursday, December 3 Bobbi from Snowy Days Quilting
Friday, December 4 Laura from Slice of PI Quilts
Saturday, December 5 Abbie from Sparkily Blog
Sunday, December 6 Kathleen from Kathleen McMusing
Monday, December 7 Jennifer Inquiring Quilter
Tuesday, December 8 April JANDA Bend Quilts.
Sun Star Table Runner
16″ x 33″
Sun Star pattern by Paula Nadelstern
Featured fabric: Kismet by Paula Nadelstern
Quilting threads: Glide Medium Grey
Design: Curls Too (Handi Quilter Designs) altered in ProStitcher Designer
Coming Up on the Blog:
2020 Monthly Color Block – 12/1
Virtual Cookies Exchange & Christmas Blog Hop – 12/4
PID Holiday Gifts To You – 12/6
TGIFF – December 18
#TTot22 – 12/22
Wrap up 2020!
Linking Up:
One Monthly Goal
My Favorite Monthly Finish
Midweek Makers
Congratulations on your very lovely runner. Those colours are stunning! Good luck on your PHD – I’m not going to graduate this year….oh well, maybe next year 🙂 Take care.
Hi Kathleen! What a gorgeous finish!! I took one look at all that paper piecing and knew I never would have taken the class, although I adore the end result. Good for you for wrapping up this project even with the hiccups. {{Hugs}} Great job. And the quilting design is fab, too. I was thinking something similar for my ISister quilt top – we’ll see if I have the nerve when I get to it. HAHA! ~smile~ Roseanne
I’ve had projects like that, stashed away so long I had to joggle the memory to try to remember the steps. The runner is so cool; I love the designs that come from her patterns, although I’ve never made one. I’d love to see the fabric district of NYC, but not being a city gal, I’m not sure I’ll ever go!
Gorgeous! Thanks for linking up with Elm Street Quilts One Monthly Goal and congrats on your finish!
Gorgeous! I love the colors in the star and how they pop against the back background.
So lovely! Well worth the minor problems you ran into. It’s probably always best to finish a project from a workshop soon after taking it, but I find I rarely have time to do that! Oh well. Thanks for sharing this on Wednesday Wait Loss.