A few weeks ago, the creative folks at the Fat Quarter shop asked if I’d like to sew a project for their Classic & Vintage series, where they take a traditional block (like those found in old catalogs and vintage quilts) and give it a fresh spin in a new pattern. Well, of course I said yes and signed up to make their Postage Stamp Star block!
The pattern written by Fat Quarter Shop calls for this to be a two-color block using just two prints. (Their original is in red and white.) I decided to make my block using three prints, one black and two greens. I simply doodled a few sketches with my colored pencils and then made notes on my Fat Quarter Shop block pattern indicating which green print would go where in the diagrams. It’s always fun to break the rules just a bit.
Using a beautiful green Aurifil 50 wt thread (2886-Light Avocado), I added simple straight-line quilting on the diagonal to finish off my block. The quilting highlights the star in a subtle fashion and seems in keeping with the simplicity of the block.
- Queen Anne\’s Lace Sprig (Pepper & Flax by Coriander Quilts)
- Charcoal Gingham for binding(Farmer’s Daughter by Lella Boutique)
- Mistletoe Gingham (Christmas Figs by Fig Tree & Company)
- Blackboard Floriculture (Olive’s Flower Market by Lella Boutique)
After I finished piecing and quilting my block, I began to cut binding strips from the charcoal gingham. However, I soon had a change of heart. Because that gingham print is oversized, straight strips folded into binding caused me to lose the “check effect.” Unfortunately, I didn’t have enough fabric to cut the gingham on the bias, which would have solved my problem. So instead, I ducked back into my fabric closet and pulled out the black mini criss-cross print from Fig Tree’s Farmhouse II collection. In the end, this was a much better choice for binding. Sew and learn!
I love this mini quilt and the colors are lovelyThank you Taunja for the inspiration!!
Taunja, Another one I have to make. Your color choices and fabrics are wonderful!Thanks.
I absolutely love your fabrics, colors and design. Very nice.
Thanks Rosemary! This was a fun one . . . easy piecing leaves you with more time to play with fabric selection!
Thanks so much Sherrie! It's a fun and easy pattern!
Hey thanks Sue! Always another block (or quilt) we have to make, right? 🙂
I like this block, so I will save it. Question —-Which magazine was it that used two of your projects in it? I can not remember if it was a farm one or country one, but I keep looking for it on the magazine stands. Thanks for your answer. Sandy