Carpenters Star pattern...using a 10" Layer Cake?
 

I have a layer cake that I am wanting to use. I was wondering if anyone has used a layer cake to make a Carpenters Star? If so, did you have to cut your 10" down to the size what the pattern says, or did you use the 10"? It seems like this parttern could use a layer cake, but I cant seem to figure out how to do that.

Any help would be greatly appreciated :)

Wendy

That sounds like a great idea. A carpenter star is on my list to make this year and I have several layer cakes. I hope someone has some suggestions.

If you want to use 10" squares, it will take more than 1 layer cake. A carpenter's star is 64 blocks. 48 are half triangles. There's a tutorial on the board for the carpenter's star that's awesome. It's a fun block no matter the size.

I have yardage to add to the layer cake. I have googled and googled again in different verbage to try and find where someone has used layer cakes for this pattern and i couldnt find anything lol....

The Carpenter star pattern relies on using only 3 colors to get the "illusion " of different geometric blocks. IMHO layer cake pkg have too many colors. Quilter catch has a free pattern for 24" block that I have made and added 3" borders to make 30" wallhanging. Also Keepsake quilting has bed size pattern for Carpenter star quilt . Also sever5al people on this board have info on how to make larger CS blocks. I really like thgis block and have made several as wallhangings. Also it is easy and quick block. There are mny other patterns to use layer cake pkg.

I was able to find one reference. I googled Carpenter's Wheel, not Star. I couldn't find a picture, but she did describe using 2 layer cakes.

http://www.quiltingboard.com/tutoria...t-t152544.html

Here's what I used. I made one 1 1/2' squares which finished 1 " and another 2" which finished to 1 1/2" squares. Matching the seams was the challenge. You can use this reference sheet and apply it to any size you like. Hope this helps.

I disagree. I've seen some beautiful Carpenter's Wheel quilts that were scrappy. However, they DID have one thing in common - a unified background, such as all black or all white.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7023/6...92ac72e5_z.jpg

http://www.quiltfrog.com/fourhour.html I used this pattern and it's very easy. I think you could use your charm pack with this and make it scrappy. Just use a solid background fabric.

The ones I've made were 3 colors but I do like the look of the scrappy one pictured. It would take a bit more planning but would be worth it.

I made a scrappy with lots of browns/tans/black and it turned out nice too I think...it actually came in a kit I bought at a cute little shop in Grand Rapids, MI.[ATTACH=CONFIG]422553[/ATTACH] Super easy to make, you'll love it!

You are right. I guess I have never seen one made scrappy. It is pretty. I personally like the 3 colors or at least similiar tones due to I can see the secondary blocks better.

Love the look of the scrappy one. The one in browns is also very pretty. I say go for it with the layer cake and let us see the results.

Wow this is a beauty!!!

Quiltfrog has several different patterns using 1/2 sq triangles. I have been working my way through them. So far I have done the Carpenter's Star, Around the Half Square, and the 2008 Christmas quilt. I did the Christmas quilt pattern in blue and brown with a white background for my BIL. It was stunning.

I haven't done it yet, so I probably shouldn't give advice! I am planning a Carpenter's star that will be a "controlled scrappy" with my fabrics all from the same color famikly, but varying in value. I figure if I keep the background unified, and alternate dark/medium-dark with light/ medium-light I'll get the 3-D effect.

So I say separate your layer cake fabrics into value groups, and go from there!

Alison

I am making a batik star quilt (not Carpenter's Star this time) using Hoffman's Batik Crackers (10" squares) It works out beautifully IF I make my HST diagonal seams .5 cm instead of 1/4". That's the width of my regular foot. This way, each square is in 8 HSTs, 4" finished size each. When I am done, I will have 4 extra squares after a twin quilt for DGD. I usually prefer NOT to use precuts, but I am glad I did for this quilt.

I agree with Alisonquilts about sorting the squares. I have 2 light and 2 dark segments in each of my stars.

Can't see why you couldn't use a layer cake...make your half square triangles with taing 2 pieces sewing all the way around and cutting diagonally both ways and there would be your HST, do that with the backgound squares you would cut at 10in and use one layer cake piece....

Thank yo everyone for the help. I think I found my solution. :)

I totally agree with Peckish, it looks beautiful with scrappy pieces BUT you must have 1 unifying colour for the background as per her suggestions - black, white etc.

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your quilt.

I love the scrappy Carpenter's Star!!! I have made one similar to the brown one that is more controlled scrappy, but I think my next one will be more scrappy like this one...maybe playing in my sewing room this weekend!

Funny how easy it is to get into a mind set. I would have said three colors is optimum, but absolutely love both the scrappy and the brown controlled scrappy. Is it true that you just have to keep in mind where the dark and where the light goes?

Carpenter's Star is one of my favorite patterns. I made mine using 3 different fabrics. It came out lovely. Usually I don't make a pattern twice, but Carpenter's Star is one that I will make again. Calico Carriage Quilt Designs has a great Carpenter's Star pattern. They have awesome designs. Check out their website. I have ordered several of her patterns.

I am working on this same pattern with a red and yellow star in the middle and blue and orange around it, with white background, just got it ready to put together, I have a small request. Would someone please write and tell me where to start putting it together????

The way I did it was I first decided on what I wanted as a finished size. Then it's 8 blocks by 8 blocks. I cut the squares out, did my half triangle blocks and then laid out the block pattern. I started in the left hand corner and sewed the first 2 blocks together and then the next 2 in the next row to the right. After sewing 2 pair, I sewed the 2 pairs together making sure the seams matched. I did that the rest of block. I then matched the 4 patches together.
Some people do it by strips sewing one line of 8 at a time and then sewing the strips together. I have a harder time with matching the seams that way. For me I can make corrections better if I'm matching fewer seams at a time.
That's how I did it, but perhaps there's a better way?

Wendy you might try the Missour Star Quilt tutorials. Jenny is always using layer cakes, charm paks, etc. to make different patterns, I can not recall if she has done a Carpenter's Star or not. I really like her easy tutorials.

Will this help?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tkm3nCferp4

I started in the upper left hand corner laying it out row by row according to layout instructions on a design wall. Then I sewed blocks in row across and then the rows together. It can be a little tricky getting all blocks in the correct order to get the secondary designes. This may be especially tru if doing a scrappy. Show us the finished quilt! Good luck and have fun!.

I agree with you Peggi. Yours is beautiful. I love scrappy also.

I did a scrappy version. Divided fabric into "medium" & Dark" and used a single light fabric as the background. Did the 24 inch block size and my HST were made using 5 inch squares. It came out great. So I would think every 10 inch square would be made into 4 blocks. You would have great control over the placement and a very nice result. Cannot send a pic because the top is at the long-armers

The scrappy one is really pretty, but I do have a harder time seeing the blocks than with the more limited colors. Both are great quilts. I would like to try that pattern sometime.

I have made a king size quilt that's a carpenters star just used larger sq's to get the size I think it was 10" sq's & used a cream color back ground on one & blue on another turned out real nice

My math says 10 inch squares would give you a 68 inch "block." Then you can add borders to make it whatever finished size you want. Sounds like a great idea to me. I need a wedding gift soon. I might be doing one this way.

The Carpenters Star by Debby Maddy requires 8 fat quarters for your focus fabrics and another 2 3/4 yds of a background fabric. This is for a 90" x 102" quilt. Additional yardage is needed for three borders and an outside border. With her pattern you cut 4 - 8 3/8" squares from each fat quarter for a total of 32 squares. From your background you would need to cut the same amount, but you also need some background squares to complete the top as well..If you use layer cake for your focus fabric, you would need 32 10" layer cakes subcut into 8 3/8" squares to make it work...Please check out her pattern..it is really easier than you think..she has a separate pattern or a book titled Simple Stars Beautiful Quilts...There are no "Y" seams..Good Luck and please post a photo for us to see..

Nice quilt - good colors choices selected for the quilt kit....