Saturday, April 16, 2022

Pop Star Cutting Directions

Today we are cutting up our fabrics, and wow, have I seen some beautiful combinations! Remember to tag me on Instagram @mmmquilts and use the hashtag #popstarquiltalong and #popstarquilt The #popstarquilt hashtag has several different Pop Star quilts within it, quite the surprise when I went on it. I decided not to rename mine since it was always Pop Star (actually Popstar), from when I first designed it four years ago.

I must say I am thrilled with how much people like my design. When I first made the quilt, back in May 2018, several people asked if there would be a pattern, and I thought, really? Other people would like to make this? That in itself was a thrill. Well, here we are four years later, and it has come to life, so to speak, and people like it! So thank you. Here is the link to purchase the pattern, though you do not need it if you are participating as the instructions will be posted weekly right here.

If you have missed the fabric requirements or want to check out the prizes and sponsors, simply click the Pop Star QAL graphic on my sidebar and you'll be taken to the main page where you'll find a list with links to all the published posts thus far.

Here is the baby Pop Star. I will refer to its colours (cream, green and pink) in the cutting directions.

Background (cream)

Baby
Cut the following WOF (width of fabric) strips and cut further as indicated:
  • (1) 8 1/2" strip:  (4) 8 1/2" squares
  • (1) 5 1/4" strip:  (2) 5 1/4" squares, and *(1) 4 1/2" square
  • (1) 3" strip: (8) 3" squares and *(4) 2 7/8" squares
  • (2) 2 1/2" strips: from one of these: (3) 2 1/2" x 12 1/2" rectangles; from the second: (1) 2 1/2" x 12 1/2" rectangle and (8) 2 1/2" squares
  • (4) 2 1/2" strips: (4) 2 1/2" x 16 1/2" rectangles and (4) 2 1/2" x 14 1/2" rectangles
  • (4) 2 1/2" x WOF strips for the final border
Throw
  • (2) 12 1/2" strips:  from one of these: (3) 12 1/2" squares, and from the second: (1) 12 1/2" square, (2) 7 1/4" squares, *(1) 6 1/2" square*, and *(4) 3 7/8" squares*
  • (1) 4" strip: (8) 4" squares
  • (3) 3 1/2" strips: from two of these: (4) 3 1/2" x 18 1/2" rectangles; from the third: (8) 3 1/2" squares
  • (11) 3 1/2" x WOF strips for the two outer borders
*Note these background pieces are only needed if you opt to use the background fabric in place of a contrasting centre star fabric.

Large Star (green)

Baby
  • (1) 6 1/2" strip: (4) 6 1/2" squares and (6) 6 1/2 x 2 1/2" rectangles
  • (1) 5 1/4" strip: (4) 5 1/4" squares
  • (1) 3" strip: (8) 3" squares and (4) 2 7/8" squares
  • (2) 2 1/2" strips: (12) 2 1/2 x 4 1/2" rectangles and (2)  2 1/2 x 6 1/2" rectangles
Throw
  • (1) 9 1/2" strip: (4) 9 1/2" squares
  • (1) 7 1/4" strip: (4) 7 1/4" squares
  • (1) 6 1/2" strip: (12) 6 1/2 x 3 1/2" rectangles
  • (1) 4" strip: (8) 4" squares
  • (1) 3 7/8" strip:  (4) 3 7/8" squares
  • (2) 3 1/2" strips: (8) 3 1/2 x 9 1/2" rectangles

Floating Pop Stars (pink)

Baby
  • (1) 4 1/2" strip: (4) 4 1/2" squares
  • (2) 2 7/8" strips: (16) 2 7/8" squares
Throw
  • (1) 6 1/2" strip: (4) 6 1/2" squares
  • (2) 3 7/8" strips: (16) 3 7/8" squares

Contrasting Centre Star (optional)

Note that I did not do a contrasting centre star on the baby quilt, but I will be doing one (lavender) for the throw quilt I will be making along with you.

Baby
  • (1) 4 1/2" square and (4) 2 7/8" squares
Throw
  • (1) 6 1/2" square and (4) 3 7/8" squares
Binding
Baby: Cut (4) 2 1/4" or 2 1/2" strips.
Throw: Cut (7) 2 1/4" or 2 1/2" strips.

Happy cutting! The star points are made using the No Waste flying geese method, and sewing a scant 1/4" seam. This is where the 5 1/4" (7 1/4") squares and 2 7/8" (3 7/8") squares come in.

My fabrics for the throw arrived this week and oh MY!! They are more beautiful than on the Benartex Designer Fabrics site.

I did not realize they had a little bit of metallic bling which is so hard to capture in a photo. They shimmer, and the colours are just beautiful. As you see on the selvage, the line is 'winter & holiday jewels' by Amanda Murphy. You can see the entire line here. It will be available in stores in May or June. One of the prizes is a bundle of these beauties to anyone quilting along in the US.

Each post I am highlighting one or two of my sponsors. Today I have two. First of all is Hobbs Batting. I have bought their batting for some time, even before I got very familiar with all of its varieties when I was an Island Batik ambassador. I no longer am affiliated, but I still promote them because I do use and love their batting.

I first heard of it years ago in a quilt shop in Sarasota, Alma Sue's Quilts. Amish and Mennonite ladies who winter down there (they don't drive their horses all that way, rest assured; they hire a coach and driver!) hand quilt customer quilts around a big quilt frame in the shop. It's like stepping back in time in some ways. The owner of the shop told me their preferred batting is Tuscany polyester, by Hobbs Batting. You must try some if you haven't. I am a cotton-loving girl, but wow, it really is a beautiful batting to quilt, to show off texture, and to sleep/snuggle beneath! For the throw they are sending me their equally wonderful imho cotton/wool blend. I've used it several times, and love it.

For their prize, they are sending me a package of Thermore. It is thin but mighty! I've bought a few packages since discovering it when I was an ambassador, and it works well with small projects, but also clothing and quilts. It has wonderful texture, very surprising due to its thinness. I will send the package to one participant anywhere in the world.

Make Modern is back again, as they have so kindly been for all six QALs. I myself am a very happy subscriber to their magazine, and I've been published twice within it, the most recent being issue #42.


I am also an affiliate for them. Their prize is a 6-month subscription to the magazine. Each issue has ten quilt or quilt-related patterns within it, and individual issues are just $12AU. A one-year subscription is just $50AU which lowers the per issue cost to only $8.30AU, less than a dollar per pattern!

I am so grateful as well as truly honoured that these businesses support quilt bloggers, and I hope you consider them when spending your money on your passion.

See you next Saturday for the first of three sewing steps! If you can't wait, and want to get started, know that you can pick up a copy of the PDF pattern from my Etsy shop, SandraJaneQuilts.



Happy Easter everyone!



10 comments:

  1. I've cut one of the two that I'll be doing & have emailed you with photos of my fabric selections. Thanks, take care and hugs.

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  2. Sounds like you have a lot interest in and enthusiasm for this Pop Star quilt along. That's great! It's a lovely design, and you'll surely see lots of beautiful versions of it, depending on everyone's color choices. I too have used Hobbs batting, though actually most often use another brand. Glad to know that Hobbs Tuscany is good for hand-quilting, and that good 'ole Thermore (I was using it back in the 1990s!) is still around. Have great fun with the QAL!

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  3. Excited to get started. Thanks for the instructions. It is wonderful to see more information about your sponsors. I've used Thermore for more than 20 years. I especially like it for baby quilts.

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  4. Oh, I'm very excited to see your version come together. You had me at metallic bling! :)

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  5. That fabric is gorgeous. I love anything with bling! LOL Love the pattern too!

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  6. I guess this means a commitment has to be made about which way my quilt is going to go. It's so hard to decide. Waffle, waffle...

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  7. Enjoy the QAL, everyone!! Wishing I could play along

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  8. Finally got my fabrics together and have started cutting them! Let the fun begin.

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  9. Love those fabrics. They are going to look great with that pattern.

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  10. Our fabrics for the big star are similar. Should be finalizing colors today and a quick wash before cutting! Hopefully it will be cut out by the weekend!

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