Since finishing my Carousel Quilt I have eagerly been looking for my next hand piecing project; something portable, simple, and preferably a block based design for which I can choose, cut, and mark fabrics in advance.
And I thought I had found it! Frankie Quilt is a star based design and pattern by Treehouse Textiles. Acrylic templates are also available for this pattern (a triangle and a hexagon - templates are sold separately) which allows for quick and accurate cutting and marking of fabric pieces.
I couldn't wait to get started on this quilt. The day the templates arrived in my mail box I hand pieced the first star block. At that point I had to re-assess my overly ambitious plans for this quilt. Hand sewing was going to take much longer than anticipated and realistically this wasn't the right time for me to commit to another slow sewing project.
However, what can be done by hand, can also be done by machine, and I quickly worked out an easy way to sew this quilt by machine ~ simple row sewing, no inset seams. Sewing the pieces together into rows does make it feel like you are working on a giant puzzle, with each row of stars interlocking with stars from the previous row as well as the next row. A design wall - or design floor - comes in very handy!
I have loved working on this quilt top, and regardless of how you go about piecing it together (by hand, by machine, or even English Paper Piecing) the quilt design is modern, fresh, and so striking. I especially enjoyed choosing the fabrics for each star block, so much so that I ended up with a few star blocks that didn't make it into the quilt. Mind you, it was a lot of work and I have had some late nights which are catching up with me now. Lots of coffee and an afternoon nap have seen me through this day.
Ready for basting and quilting!
Thank you for stopping by,
Rita
RELEVANT LINKS:
Frankie Quilt Pattern and Acrylic Templates from Treehouse Textiles
The finished Frankie Quilt ~ all the photos!
However, what can be done by hand, can also be done by machine, and I quickly worked out an easy way to sew this quilt by machine ~ simple row sewing, no inset seams. Sewing the pieces together into rows does make it feel like you are working on a giant puzzle, with each row of stars interlocking with stars from the previous row as well as the next row. A design wall - or design floor - comes in very handy!
QUILT STATS
Quilt top measures approx 64 inches x 72 inches.
46 Star Blocks.
Instead of adding borders to the top and bottom of the quilt as per
the pattern I have added an extra row of stars (additional 7 stars).
Background fabric is Robert Kaufman Kona Cotton in White.
I used acrylic templates to cut all fabric pieces.
I have loved working on this quilt top, and regardless of how you go about piecing it together (by hand, by machine, or even English Paper Piecing) the quilt design is modern, fresh, and so striking. I especially enjoyed choosing the fabrics for each star block, so much so that I ended up with a few star blocks that didn't make it into the quilt. Mind you, it was a lot of work and I have had some late nights which are catching up with me now. Lots of coffee and an afternoon nap have seen me through this day.
Ready for basting and quilting!
Thank you for stopping by,
Rita
RELEVANT LINKS:
Frankie Quilt Pattern and Acrylic Templates from Treehouse Textiles
The finished Frankie Quilt ~ all the photos!
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