Luminous Layers QAL Cutting Instructions

For me, the best part of putting my designs out into the world is seeing others' renditions. So I am super-excited to see your fabric choices, which is why we have a linkup today at the end of this post. If you don't do social media, then please email me a photo and I will add you into the linkup. I will draw one name for a PDF copy of Luminous Layers, or if they've already bought it, a free PDF of their choice.

If you are still undecided (that's me in most projects) as to what colour palette you are going to use, then I have a few quilt photos for inspiration for you to check out.

For the slideshow part of my Quilt Tales for the Heart and Mind presentation last week, I added in the graphic below when I gave a little plug for this quilt along.

You've already seen Michelle's last week (bottom left) and the beginnings of Tracie's (bottom right, now finished). Tish (top left) not only checked my math, but also made the quilt, which you might have seen on my Instagram @mmmquilts. The EQ8 mockup is yet another one I played with, and my own quilt will be very similar to it in the end.

Notice that Tish used a print for her giant star points, whereas Tracie used a print for her giant star background. My original had gold/navy and gold/violet prints, known as chops in batik fabrics, for the four large stars. Michelle used all solids, as I will be for this second quilt. Okay, let's get to it! Check out the original flimsy for reference:

Cutting

Note that the yardage and cutting directions are based on 42" non-directional fabric. Unless otherwise noted, all strips are width of fabric (WOF).

Note 2: feel free to use your AccuQuilt dies for any of the HSTs. Alternatively, you can choose to make the star points for the medium and small stars with flying geese, but you will need to figure those out for yourself. For ease of directions, I have used the two-at-a-time HST method for all of the star points from giant to small. The only one where flying geese won't work is the very centre gold star since it is made in the 4-patch construction because of all the nested stars.

Note 3: the black giant top left corner is made with four squares, 8.5" (12.5") BUT, you could decide to omit those four squares and cut one 16.5" (24.5") huge square there. If you do that, cut that giant BG (black) square first and then cut just four, not eight, 8.5" (12.5") BG squares.

Note 4: I made my original pretty scrappy because I was working with a 10" stack that Island Batik sent. The pattern simplifies it to one fabric for each size of star but you do you and go scrappy if you want!

Background - black in the cover quilt

Small Throw

Cut one 9" strip. Cut into: (4) 9" squares.

Cut two 8.5" strips. Cut into: (8) 8.5" squares.

Cut two 3" strips. Cut into: (16) 3" squares (14 per strip); from the remainder of the second strip, cut (12) 2.5" squares. (these pieces are for the four medium stars.)

Large Throw

Cut two 13" strips. Cut into: (4) 13" squares (3 per strip); from the remainder of the second strip, cut (2) 12.5" squares.

Cut two 12.5" strips. Cut into: (6) 12.5" squares for a total of eight.

Cut two 4" strips. Cut into: (16) 4" squares (10 per strip). These pieces and those below are for the medium stars.

Cut one 3.5" strip. Cut into (12) 3.5" squares.

Fabric A - gold giant and small centre star in the cover quilt

Small Throw

Cut one 9" strip. Cut into: (4) 9" squares.

Cut one 8.5" strip.  Cut into: (4) 8.5" squares; from the remainder of the strip cut (4) 2" squares and (4) 1.5" squares which will go with the centre small gold star.

Large Throw

Cut two 13" strips. Strip 1: Cut (3) 13" squares.

Strip 2: Cut (1) 13" square for a total of four, and (1) 12.5" square; from the remainder of this strip cut (4) 2.5" squares and (4) 2" squares which will go with the centre small gold star.

Cut one 12.5" strip. Cut into: (3) 12.5" squares for a total of four.

To cut a 13" wide strip I use my 8.5" x 24" ruler butted up against my 15" square at the 4.5" line (8.5" + 4.5" = 13"). Be sure to slide the 15" square along the already cut raw edge, holding the 24" ruler steady, to be sure it is 4.5" all the way along that already cut edge and square with the fold.

Fabric B - green in the cover quilt

Small Throw

Cut (1) 9" strip. Cut into: (4) 9" squares for background of large complete star. From the remaining 9" x 6" rectangle, cut (4) 2" squares and (4) 1.5" squares for the centre small gold star.

Cut (1) 8.5" strip. Cut (4) 8.5" squares.

Large Throw

Cut (2) 13" strips. Strip1: Cut (3) 13" squares (for background of large complete star).

Strip 2: Cut (1) 13" square and (1) 12.5" square. From the remaining 16" x 13" rectangle, cut (4) 2.5" squares and (4) 2" squares for the centre small gold star.

Cut (1) 12.5" strip. Cut (3) 12.5" squares for a total of four.

Fabric C - violet large star points in the cover quilt

Small Throw

Cut (1) 9" strip. Cut into: (4) 9" squares. These go with Fabric B 9" squares for the large full star points.

Large Throw

Cut (2) 13" strips. Cut into: (4) 13" squares. These go with Fabric B 13" squares for the large full star points.

Fabric D - navy/purple/gold prints in the cover quilt

Small Throw

Cut (1) 3" strip. Cut into: (12) 3" squares (these go with 12 of the (16) 3" BG squares for the medium stars).

Cut (1) 2" strip. Cut into: (16) 2" squares (these go with Fabric E 2" squares to make the small star points background).

Cut (1) 1.5" strip. Cut into: (16) 1.5" squares (these are the background squares for the small light yellow stars).

Large Throw

Cut (2) 4" strips. Strip 1: (10) 4" squares.

Strip 2: (2) 4" squares for a total of 12 (these go with 12 of the (16) 4" BG squares for the medium stars). From the 4" x 34" remainder cut (16) 2" squares (these are the background squares for the small light yellow stars).

Cut (1) 2.5" strip. Cut into: (16) 2.5" squares (these go with Fabric E 2.5" squares to make the small star points background).

Fabric E - light yellow in the cover quilt

Small Throw

Cut (1) 3" strip if using yardage. Adjust for a fat quarter. Cut into: (4) 3" squares (these go with the 4 remaining 3" BG squares for the centre medium star). Cut (4) 2.5" squares from the remainder of the strip (these are the four small light yellow star centres).

Cut (1) 2" strip. Cut into: (16) 2" squares.

Large Throw

Cut (1) 4" strip. Cut into: (4) 4" squares (these go with the 4 remaining 4" BG squares for the centre medium star). Cut (4) 3.5" squares from the remainder of the strip (these are the four small light yellow star centres).

Cut (1) 2.5" strip. Cut into: (16) 2.5" squares.

I found it helpful to label each of my six fabrics. I made a slight change with my Fabric C because I did not like the look of the two pinks I'm using close together.

Here is my EQ8 mockup of my quilt. I think using the burgundy for the centre medium star pulls the eye in further toward the centre. I just cannot get over how rich these fabrics are! Moreover, they have a wonderful soft "cotton that feels like silk" hand. I'll be using the turquoise as the backing, mmm!

Rebel pattern tester Rose has her top all done and as usual it is a riot of glorious colour. She did some of the star points with flying geese, and some with her AccuQuilt dies.

Happy cutting! Please link up below with your cut fabrics. I can't wait to see all the variety!

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