Thursday, April 7, 2022

Baby Pop Star

I made the baby version of my Pop Star quilt so I could write and test my directions before having Yvonne of Quilting Jet Girl tech edit the pattern. This is one of two sizes you can make in the annual quilt along here on the blog.
Beautiful Benartex Designer Fabrics. 

Before Christmas, Benartex sent us designers a surprise gift, but due to the border being closed, and then when it was opened, it was a major rigamarole to cross with procuring a test, etc. that I didn't get the fabric until Dayna came for a visit in late January. It was wonderful to see her after two years of being apart, and wonderful as well to see the riches Benartex sent! I decided to use one of the lines to make the baby version of the quilt for my quilt along. I also used some of it to make the cover for my Featherweight in a PQ challenge.

The quilt goes together pretty quickly and easily.

I did a fast all-over floral meander using two flower motifs, a few leaves, and loops.
It is fast and fun to quilt, and gives great texture. I got half way through quilting, and I was twitching because I hadn't done any SITD and imho it just makes for a crisper quilt, so I stitched in the ditch around the large green star. Twitching stopped!

Lovely texture. I was given a yard of each fabric, so I was a little bit short for a backing, but one of the pieces they sent was this beautiful double-tulip border print so I pieced in a strip, and I love the effect.

I used the pink to bind it. It is either going to a baby in the family or into my Etsy shop, but I"m leaning toward the former. It finishes 40.5" square.

The throw is 54.5" and I'll be making the version you see in the graphic below. Fabric requirements will be published on Saturday! And, more importantly, for those who want to go ahead and sew, I'll be releasing the pattern on Saturday as well. You do not need the pattern to quilt along, however, as the QAL is once again free. I'll post instructions here on the blog each week.

More observant types will notice that the baby uses just three fabrics and the throw on the graphic, four. Instructions will be provided for both; you can make the baby or throw in three or four fabrics.


Quilt Stats:
Pattern: Pop Star by me
Size: 40.5" x 40.5"
Fabric: 'Evelyn's Etched Tulips' by Jackie Robinson for Benartex Designer Fabrics
Backing: as above
Batting: Warm and Natural
Quilted: on Avril: 41 825 stitches
Threads: pieced with Gütermann and Aurifil cotton; quilted with Aurifil cotton 50 wt variegated 3817 and 4657

QAL Sponsors

Each post this year, I plan to write a little about one of the sponsors for my QAL. All of them have sponsored me multiple times, and I am so grateful they say yes! each year.

Benartex Designer Fabrics has long been one of my favourite companies. From Nancy Halvorsen to Eleanor Burns, from Paula Nadelstern to Amanda Murphy and beyond, they have some absolutely wonderful fabrics and designers. They are offering two prizes this year: a bundle of 'Winter Jewels' to a US participant, and they are sending me a strippie (2.5" strips) pack of 'Evelyn's Etched Tulips' which I will ship to a participant anywhere on Earth.

My latest publication was in Make Modern, (affiliate link) and I used Fossil Fern, a line that has been around for oh probably two decades. I used a dusty rose in a quilt I made for my mum's 70th birthday, and that would have been 2006.


The turquoise paisley is a wide back and it is so soft! Fossil Fern is a wonderful basic, lots of soft movement.

The fabrics you see below are from 'Judy's Bloom' by Eleanor Burns, out in quilt shops now.
I'll be making a project with these beauties for an upcoming project hop for Benartex Designer Fabrics.

I'll be sewing with 'Winter Jewels' by Amanda Murphy, making the throw size during the quilt along. It's not out in stores until May/June but you can preview it by clicking the link. I used it in the QAL graphic too.

I'm so excited to see everyone's fabric pulls! So far I've seen three fantastic finished tops (my lips are sealed as to how that has come about) and a fabric pull which is to die for. One of the tops was in my Instagram stories, made by Rose, and posted here for your drooling viewing pleasure. To die for indeed.

See you Saturday!

16 comments:

  1. Another fun QAL! Love the tulip strip in the backing and of course as you already know love, love the quilting.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I'm excited to make this one, Sandra! Looking forward to seeing the fabric requirements so I can go shopping. :) Rose's version is delightful!

    ReplyDelete
  3. You are ramping up the excitement - I can't wait :-) Love the tulips across the back of the quilt and love the quilting. Love Rose's version.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Well, well...... it looks stunning & I do have some fabric out, but need to find out if I have enough. I am trying not to buy fabric anymore(unless really needed) as I probably have more than I'll ever need for this lifetime and a few more(giggle). I piece backs to make sure I'm not leaving too many big bits about & quite often really love the effect. Thanks for this Sandra, take care & hugs.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Looks like a great one to use for a QAL, I love how you pieced the back using the tulip border fabric.

    ReplyDelete
  6. So cute in baby size! Now, great quilting motifs! And that back is cute as the dickens!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Such soft pretty colors in this baby quilt, and I love the design. If I didn't have other deadline stuff I'm way behind on, I'd jump in on the QAL! Thanks for linking up to TGIFF!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I love the design and love seeing all the versions. I picked out a backing and feature fabric, need to bring them to the studio next week to pick the others...center and accent stars. BUT, after seeing Rose's there could be a change in plans.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hi Sandra, wow! I am exhausted just looking at all of the things that you do and make...and it's all wonderful! Best of luck with your QAL. Your baby quilt is so lovely. And congrats on your Make Modern Quilt. Take care and thanks for linking up to Free Motion Mavericks!

    ReplyDelete
  10. After discussing with Susan (Grannysmith) I think I will just have to join in... :) Now to work out size and fabric :) xx

    ReplyDelete
  11. I love this too Sandra..I'm getting back into quilting again ..so I think I will join you ...love Sue xx

    ReplyDelete
  12. Very nice! I bet you get a lot of people to register for the quilt along. It's also wonderful that you've hired a professional pattern editor. I too did that for a living, and have had the sad experience of using patterns that weren't professionally edit for understanding. There's no frustration greater than that of paying good money for a poorly written quilt pattern.

    ReplyDelete
  13. This is a cool pattern Sandra. Definitely works well with high contrast fabrics - you are so clever!!

    ReplyDelete