One of the things I love about the Instagram quilting community is viewing pictures of the same quilt pattern sewn up with different fabrics. There is something fantastic about the way fabric adds soul to a pattern.
Recently I had the urge to sew up my pattern \”Mini Story Stars\” in a scrappy style using “Calico Days” by Lori Holt for Riley Blake Designs. \”Mini Story Stars\” was originally designed to showcase a text print with a story, and so it lends itself well to showing off the cheerful text prints in \”Calico Days.\” I used the nutmeg weekdays print for the focal squares and the white weekday print with butter yellow text as my background fabric. I love the little calendars and bit of scripture that Lori included in her design. The cursive lettering also takes me back to days gone by. It seems I rarely see cursive handwriting anymore! I think I used nearly every print in the main collection, and even cut into one of the fat eighth panels to get the yellow/gold star centers. I love the country, farm fresh feel of this scrappy quilt. This quilt just deserves to be resting on a kitchen table, surrounded by happy people sipping hot coffee and eating homemade cake donuts, don\’t you think?
Thank you to Barb at Quilts on Broadway for the cheery quilting!
Recently I had the urge to sew up my pattern \”Mini Story Stars\” in a scrappy style using “Calico Days” by Lori Holt for Riley Blake Designs. \”Mini Story Stars\” was originally designed to showcase a text print with a story, and so it lends itself well to showing off the cheerful text prints in \”Calico Days.\” I used the nutmeg weekdays print for the focal squares and the white weekday print with butter yellow text as my background fabric. I love the little calendars and bit of scripture that Lori included in her design. The cursive lettering also takes me back to days gone by. It seems I rarely see cursive handwriting anymore! I think I used nearly every print in the main collection, and even cut into one of the fat eighth panels to get the yellow/gold star centers. I love the country, farm fresh feel of this scrappy quilt. This quilt just deserves to be resting on a kitchen table, surrounded by happy people sipping hot coffee and eating homemade cake donuts, don\’t you think?
Thank you to Barb at Quilts on Broadway for the cheery quilting!
I do want to share the journey of this pattern. When I created my “Mini Story Stars” pattern last summer, I was inspired by a piece of fabric: “Little Heroines – Little Red Riding Hood” by Lecien Japan. The fabric made me lonesome for the days when my daughter would line up all her dolls and stuffed animals and have a tea party or read to them. I designed the pattern to focus on the text print which includes outtakes from the classic storybook. I imagined my daughter reading parts to her dollies and then making up parts of the story to go along with Little Red as she moves along in each star. The soft, sweet look of this quilt lends itself to cuddling with a little doll and reading a story. Barb at Quilts on Broadway used a motif called \”Baby Curls\” for this sample ~ how fitting!
Shortly after that, I purchased two pieces from the “Vintage Market” line by Tasha Noel for Riley Blake Designs. The colors in this fabric are more vibrant and the characters are so lively . . . a zippy little gal riding a bike . . . another setting up her “vintage goods” shop. I was curious to see these fabrics done up in the same pattern. When paired with “Garden Text” by Holly Holderman for Lakehouse Dry Goods, I think this is a very bright and cheerful version of “Mini Story Stars.”
\”Mini Story Stars\” is a 27” x 27” quilt, making it the perfect size for a table topper, wall hanging or child\’s play quilt. The pattern provides cutting instructions for both styles, either the four-fabric quilt or the scrappy quilt. The star points are made up of easy half square triangles that are sewn slightly oversize so you will trim them down, square them up, and create perfect piecing!
This pattern is a digital download on my Etsy Shop.
I hope you will consider sewing your own version of “Mini Story Stars.” I would love to see what fabrics you choose to make this pattern come alive!
Thanks for reading! Here’s hoping you get carried away quilting often!
~Taunja
Oh my, the “Little Heroines – Little Red Riding Hood” is so darling! Well now you know I just NEED to get that pattern!! And please don't get me started on that deliciousness that is Lecien. I've only been quilting since April of last year (total newbie) and was quickly smitten with all things Lecien! *swoon* Your posts never disappoint!
Oh thanks! You are too kind. And you need to stop calling yourself a newbie! You are a full fledged, 100%, committed, addicted quilter making lovely blocks, quilts and hexies! Woo hoo!
What a beautiful pattern and what a wonderful idea to showcase these fabrics. I'm always drawn to text and picture fabrics, and then I don't know how to put them together so that they are 'seen' and enjoyed.
Thank you so much for your kind words! I am drawn to text and picture fabrics also . . . it's an emotional pull! And yes it is tricky to find just the right pattern that shows them off well.