Designed by: Michele Foster
Pattern code: A4A-109
Finished size: 92" x 108"
Skill level: Advanced Beginner
Technique: Piecing and Paper Piecing
Format: PDF file [195 pages]
Delightful Stars is an extra large, queen-sized quilt. This dazzling quilt top really shines with a high contrast colour palette. The unique top, set in a puzzle-like layout is certain to challenge the accuracy of your piecing! Five borders surround the centre top, bringing emphasis to all of your beautiful points. This project is sure to bring you from an advanced beginner to a confident intermediate quilter!
This comprehensive Booklet contains:
- 25 unique star blocks, seven of which are paper pieced.
- 28 comprehensive lessons including: full colour drawings, construction diagrams, photos and numerous tips.
- Recommended products and tips for improving quilting accuracy.
- Tutorials for creating half-square, quarter-square, split quarter-square triangles, flying geese and skinny flying geese units.
- Finishing up instructions including creating the quilt back, choosing batting, basting, quilting and binding.
- Links to various tutorials, resources and videos for further information.
- Appendix A: Creating Triangle and Flying Geese Units – Includes step-by-step instructions of two methods for creating the triangle and flying geese units used in the star blocks.
- Appendix B: Paper Piecing Tutorial – Includes step-by-step instructions on how to paper piece along with six sample blocks aimed at the beginner to learn the technique.
- Appendix C: Colour Charts – Contains blank colour charts to assist in planning the quilt.
Delightful Stars is an advanced beginner quilt, leaning towards the intermediate quilter. Skills needed include the ability to accurately sew a 1/4" seam allowance and accurate cutting so that the puzzle-like design will fit together correctly. You should be very comfortable making triangle units.
This quilt was originally taught on-line in weekly tutorials by Michele Foster at the Quilting Gallery.
Fabric Requirements
Many of the star blocks have several different colours/fabrics used in them. I recommend a range of light, medium and dark fabrics for best results. The estimated fabric requirements are presented below and assume that the two coloured borders will be pieced with scraps from the fat quarters used in the quilt top.
- 6.5 yards contrast for background.
- 34-40 fat quarters (8.5 to 10 yards) – you need a wide variety of different fabrics to complete the star blocks.
- Approximately 8 yards backing depending on how you choose to piece the back.
- One yard binding.
If you are using a white (or very light) background, you will need to have more dark fabrics so that they can be used on the outer edges of the star blocks for contrast. The same idea applies if you are using black (or very dark) as the background, you will need a wide variety of light (or medium) fabrics that will contrast against the black. Generally speaking, I don’t recommend a print for the background unless it is tone-on-tone and provides great contrast with your chosen fabrics.
Recommended Tools & Products
The following tools are recommended for completing this quilt. Further discussion is provided in the Booklet. Please note that these are not required, but only recommended.
- Easy Star & Geese Ruler – Purchase: Craftsy | Amazon
- Specialty paper for paper piecing – Purchase: Carol Doak’s (C&T) | Martingale’s | Generic paper US only, read reviews first.
- Add a Quarter Ruler
- Mary Ellen’s Best Press or Magic Sizing
If you have the Easy Angle & Companion Angle rulers, they will work perfectly in place of the Easy Star & Geese Ruler indicated above.
Additional Photos
Quilting close up.
The back of my quilt includes friendship stars sent from quilters around the world.
Quilting detail on the back.
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This quilt design, tutorial and photos are copyright Michele Foster of Aiming for Accuracy Pattern Co. Please respect copyright and do not copy the tutorial or republish it, for free or for sale, in print or online. You may use this tutorial for your own personal use to create products for free or for sale. However, please credit Michele Foster of Aiming for Accuracy Pattern Co. for the design. No mass production is allowed.