You can't beat an old sewing machine that has a treadle on it. Wow! that topper is so cool. I love it. I would love to see the pattern you used, but I think from how the star is made, you sewed some strips together, cut the squares into triangles, and arranged them accordingly, then sewed them together again. Lovely. I love to kinds of things that bring history to life. That is why I got into quilting to begin with.