MARVELLOUS MEDALLION

BEHIND THE QUILT

STARRY NIGHT

“Stars seem to have a special appeal for quiltmakers, as even a brief study of traditional and historic quilts will show. I confess to being drawn to the design possibilities of the many variations of pieced stars and their differences in geometry and symmetry. In this quilt, I have featured the Ohio Star block, the construction of which is based on a nine-patch grid. The Star points are made from hourglass units, rather than flying geese units used in the Sawtooth Star block, which is based on a sixteen-patch grid. I like this block best when it is set on point, and a selection of red and cream blocks, originally intended for another project, became the starting place for this design.

I have used a collection of reproduction fabrics from my stash to honour the long tradition of medallion quilts, and I have kept the piecing scrappy; variation in the choice of fabrics and placement of lights and darks keeps the quilt interesting and fun to sew. Medallion or frame quilt designs can be adapted fairly easily to your own taste; here the central block of stars could be replaced by a piece of appliqué or a printed chintz panel, or the quilt could be made with modern or plain fabrics for a more graphic, contemporary look.”

You will need

■ A selection of fat or long quarters – Choose one (1) or two (2) dark or medium fabrics for each Ohio Star block plus a lighter background fabric. There is plenty of scope to vary the stars in colour, value and texture. The stars should stand out against the background fabric.

■ Dark/medium fabrics (Ohio Stars) – 1¾yds or eight (8) FQs

■ Background fabric(s) (Ohio Stars) – 3yds or twelve (12) FQs

■ Background fabric(s) (Four Patch) – 1½yds or five (5) FQs

■ Dark/medium fabrics (Four Patch) – ¾yd or three (3) FQs

■ Dark/medium fabrics (Pinwheel border) – ½yd

■ Background fabric (Pinwheels border) – ½yd

■ Medium fabric (Pinwheel border) – ½yd

■ Dark/accent fabric (Pinwheel border) – One (1) 3⅞in x WOF strip

■ Borders fabric (inner and outer narrow borders) – 1¼yds

■ Setting triangles Border – 1⅛yd*

■ Backing – 9yds of 42in wide fabric OR 2⅞yds of 108in wide fabric

■ Binding – ¾yd

■ Batting – 108in x 108in

Finished size

■ Quilt: 93in x 93in

■ Block size (Ohio Stars and Four Patch): 9in finished

■ Block size (Pinwheel units): 6in finished

Notes

■ *Note: the yardage for the setting triangles is based on a fully useable