is it hard to make a lone star quilt? my DD wants one and I have not tried this one. know where I can get the pattern? she wants one large star in the center of the quilt

I made the lone star out of the books Quilts! Quilts!! Quilts!!!

The authors used a strip piecing technique then the strip sets were cut at a 45 degree angle. I found it very easy. The only trouble I had was it volcanoed up in the center. I ripped and resewed just the center bit several times and still ended up with about an "a" cup in the center but it quilted out beautifully. I hand quilted it. Here is a picture.

that is beautiful

I love it! One day I will tackle this pattern. I love star blocks of all kinds. I think by biggest problem will be choosing the colors and placing them.

Beautiful quilt!

I just ordered this pattern, I know it will be my most challenging one yet

That is one gorgeous quilt!

WOW!!!

I am taking a class in July for this that uses Eleanor Burns' pattern book "Radiant Stars". It uses the strip piecing technique.

I made a large wall hanging years ago. I used strip piecing. It was one of the first quilts I did and it was easy, just time consuming. A friend saw it and bought it for his wife. It was hand quilted, too.

If you want a really simple way of making the Lone Star quilt, you might want to try using Quiltsmart interfacing.
No bias, no diamonds, no blocking.
It goes together very easily.

Only con is that you're limited to the sizes offered, and the additional cost.

Watch the video to see how easy it is. You can have all the large diamonds pieced in a day, and then spend time on a really interesting setting.

Here's the 58"
http://www.quiltsmart.com/khxc/index...58inchlonestar

the 38"
http://www.quiltsmart.com/khxc/index...38inchlonestar

And there's a miniature LS as well.

If you want to do it the traditional pieced way, the best book out there is by Jan Krentz, Lone Star and Beyond.
http://www.amazon.com/Lone-Quilts-Be...9613027&sr=8-1

And there's a trick to avoid the volcano.

When sewing the 2 large diamonds together (to make 1/4 of the LS), I mark a 1/4 from the edge that will go in the center, and I don't sew past that mark (similar to a Y seam). That avoids ALL the seams and thread in the center, and it doesn't feel like you've got a steel slab stashed in there.

Not to mention that your fabric should be starched to oblivion before cutting to avoid any unnecessary stretching.

Here's another similar method, but the end result is the same.
http://michiganloonyloomer.blogspot....ether-and.html

Awesome

Beautiful!!!

Eleanor Burns just came out with a book for the Lone Star.

Lovely! I haven't made one yet.

MTS always has good tips for us.

But, here's another one:
If, like me, you are not a fan of starch, (a story for another time), you might try (temporarily) fusing freezer paper to the back of your strip sets before cutting the segments of your star. Leave the paper on, use a smaller stitch length, re-press to re-fuse as needed, as you sew the strip segments together for the star points. Leave freezer paper on until you've set in your background pieces and this will help prevent the stretching that creates that volcano, or pregnancy, in the middle of the star.

If you are planning to machine quilt your quilt, you might even try the very sheerest/lightest weight, permanent, one-sided fusible instead, and not worry about removing the paper afterwards.

Jan in VA

I've made two using the Quiltsmart interfacing... and I'm definitely a beginner quilter. The center does not bulge... I added borders and two rows of additional stars (at top and bottom) to get the size I wanted. I love the Quiltsmart stuff. I've seen a new Quiltsmart for the New York Beauty... can't wait to try it.

(I don't own stock or anything... just a satisfied customer!)

Have fun... the quilt will be beautiful no matter what method you use...

I used quilt smart for my star...It was the 2nd quilt I made...that should tell you how easy it was...considering I am no way a Master at this...lol

Awsome quilt. I have the book also but haven't gotten the nerve to tackle this one!

There are patterns for stars made entirely of HSTs, meant to avoid the diamond/bias problems. I haven't used them

I actually taught myself to quilt so I could make Lone Stars since I love my grandmother's versions so much....but hers are about 5' square and since I'm nearly 6' tall, I don't use them. I've bought several books with them but I'm still chicken!

I did the QuiltSmart process when I attended my only quilt retreat and it turned out very well. It is a little time consuming but so is the regular Lone Star. We were able to finish the Star (58") and the attached pieces of the quilt in a weekend. Good Luck

Fons & Porter just had one on their show and Quiltsmart.com has a preprinted pattern. fusible i think and supposedly easy to do.

Nicely done! Thanks for sharing!
Have a Blessed day
Ellen

FelineFanatic .... I love those color choices .... and the quilting is just perfect! ..... thanks for sharing ...... beautiful!

Like Barb44, it was one of the first quilts that I did. I found the book at the library (sorry-can't remember the name). It was strip pieced and then cut on the diagonal. Very easy and not terribly time consuming. It's about 60" square I think. I used 'christmasy' colors and use it as a table topper for my large coffee table during the holidays. It's also all hand quilted.

beautiful.....the lone star is on my "to do list"!

I am making one now and so far it is going well...I have made 6 of the 8 points.

Fons and Porter had a segment on the Lone Star on PBS recently. They said to stop sewing 1/4" from the tips of the center of star. Then to turn it over and twirl the tips in a circle and press. If you sew all the way to the end of the tips in the center, it will bunch on you.

I just finished one and used the foundation from Quiltsmart. Super easy.

You did a great job. I always wanted one, but I am just a beginner and did not want to try it.

The key to the lonestar, in my humble and humiliated opinion, is to make sure you measure 100 times before cutting, and make sure very very very sure that if you're using the stripped piecing method that you cut the angles accurately. I didn't and ended up with a mess.

Search the boards for "lone star gone wrong" and you can follow my headache.

Of interest (at least to me) is that I set this aside AGAIN for weeks/months, and am just now working on some applique roses on it RIGHT NOW. Getting sick of looking at it sitting around over the quilt frame.

Poor little girl is going to be 21 before she ever gets this (she just turned 8).

-- Jillaine

Beautiful!

There is an easy pattern for Lone Star for using jelly rolls--the book it is in escapes me. I had very little problems with it--just press and trim accurately. I have been quilting several years before I finally made the lone star.

elanor burns has a good tute and a book that has how to do it by strip piecing. real easy to do. i made my GD one when she was little but i hand pieced each diamond and hand quilted it. ill try and show a pic one of these days. good luck

I have one started with Quilt Smart. It works well for me. I tried the strip pieced one a while ago and just could not do it. (I had not been quilting very long at that time.) For me the Quilt Smart works best.

Where did you say the problem was because I sure can't see anything wrong. It is absolutely beautiful! Great job. The hand quilting is awesome.

Just love it and it is Beautiful. I have both book and pattern. But been to afraid to try it.

I got that book, 'Radiant Stars' and I've made 2 quilts, gave them both away, they were queen size. I want to make another one and am gathering fabric for it. Red to orange to yellow on a dark blue or black background.

I have made several. The biggest tip I can give is to use the same ruler to cut all strips. Really makes a difference. Also helps if you cut a small swatch of fabric and tape in order when cutting the strips. Made both mistakes on my last quilt and now have two stars! Make half of the star and sew in blocks and triangles to complete 1 half,then make the other half and sew together. Much easier. Can be a challenge but love this quilt.