looking for block ideas
 

I'm trolling for ideas for a graduation quilt for my foster grandson: He is a refuge from El Salvador who came to USA as a late teen, managed to start and finish high school in two years and now has a full scholarship to Western Michigan State University. He plans on joining the Air Force to fly.
I already bought 3 yards each of Michigan state and the Air Force colors, so I have 12 yards of Gold, Brown, Golden Yellow and an Ultramarine Blue.
I bought yardage with idea of making a Deb Tucker Hunter's Star quilt and now i'm questioning whether that may take too long.
Anyone already made a twin size Hunter's Star using her template, if so how hard is it to work with the trapezoids ?

I usually stick with easier quilts. I think you picked out some fantastic fabrics to make him a quilt. Good Luck.

I believe you can paper piece a Hunter's Star. That may reduce the pressure a little, if you are comfortable with that approach.

Here is a fantastic Hunter's Star made with just 3 shapes, no inset seams or "Y" seams. I made this one very quickly. It is very worth the price. No need of templates or anything!

http://www.janetleighquilts.com/my-patterns.html

You can make a Hunter's Star with half square triangles.
Here's a tutorial: http://www.cascadequilts.com/2011/02/hunter-star-tutorial.html


Also, I checked Deb's tutorial here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UNiJu7ccjQ. The Trapezoids shouldn't be difficult to sew, but the technique is generally a bit more of a pain than half square triangles, plus involves more waste (which is my pet peeve ;-) ).

If you want the more straightforward way, use HST. If you want to think a little harder, Deb's technique isn't much harder to sew, but would be much easier with her tools.

The nice thing about doing HST is that you can change up the blocks a bit by doing different darks and lights in each HST. You can do this with the trapezoids too, but with the trapezoids, it makes more sense (to me at least) to change the fabric per star, rather than within stars.

Good luck.

I made a small table topper using Deb Tucker's template. It was very easy to use, seams matched up, and I don't remember a lot of waste.

I have her Hunter's Star but have not tested it. I have used several of her other rulers and would expect I high degree of accuracy with simple construction if it's anything like her other products. Have you tried making a test block or two from scrap fabric? You should watch her video on YouTube. She strip pieces the blocks.

Jenny Doan has recently published her version of Hunter's Star and it looks very doable, as hers usually are. I don't believe there is a special ruler or template involved. Your fabrics and the theme for this young man sound just perfect. Let us know what you decide.

I made a 10 inch 60 x 70 Hunter's Star with Deb's ruler. Very easy once you get going, the seams match perfectly and there was very little waste.

Just a note. You said you bought Michigan State fabric. I hope you bought Western Michigan fabric. They are different.

I was going to suggest this one also. You can make the blocs as big or small as you want.

I made a. Hunter star. Once you have done the first block to check method it goes together very quickly, it was the quilting that took me longer to do.

Wow, it is a really small world. I teach at WMU (Western Michigan University) and my office is just above the aviation department. We have a robust program for foster children. One of local quilt guilds makes quilts for each foster student because they often come to campus with very little of their own "stuff".

Yes, our school colors are brown and gold. I saw a stunning quilt made of WMU fabrics, brown, gold and black, in a log cabin pattern made by a quilter here on campus and donated to one of the health services offices. A log cabin block might be interesting with alternative sides of WMU and the Air Force blocks.

I am putting together a college quilt for my grandson using a pattern I had seen on this site. It is in Archives under pictures look for NFL quilt. It is 6" squares with 2" strips with cornerstones. I used a T-shirt block in the center. You could put your star in the center. The name of the pattern I used is Simply Cool Quilt pattern. I bought it thru Craftsy and it has 5 different sizes you can use. I also used 2 different college fabrics.

If you know anyone with a Go! The die is worth every penny. I cut out a queen size in an hour. And it will fit a Go! Baby

The trapezoids are not hart to work with with Deb Tuckers template. Actually the easiest I've ever done.

Deb Tucker's Hunter Star ruler is great! I used it last year for a wedding gift for my niece. The 1st block or 2 went a little slow because I kept double checking myself. After that it was very easy. I couldn't have gotten my points done so well with out it.

Yoou could make a sampler quilt. Google Quilter's Cache and there are all kinds of sampler patterns and sizes to make them. I would pick out the samplers to match this young man - I make one size 52x80=15 blocks = 3 across x 5 down---2-1/2" sashing and a 4-1/2" border. Very simple, very easy. Or you could make a larger quilt 106x92=35 blocks =5 across x 7 down ---2-1/2" sashing and 4-1/2" border. Every block is different, but it all blends together. Then while you make each one, you can write a little book - headlines from the newspaper, what the particular block meant to you and why you put it in the quilt,, what is going on with the family, all kinds of things, a little saying like "By all means, let's be open-minded, but not so open-minded that our brains fall out." Or "I am so confused I don't know if I found a rope or lost my horse". One of my favorites is "Whatever you are -- Be a good one!". I hope this will help you. I have made many a quilt and have done the sampler, the book and it will be treasured. Good luck to you.

Edie:thumbup:

Here's the Jenny Doan Hunters Star tutorial.

http://land.missouriquiltco.com/easy...es#qt_app_land

I don't have anything to say about the block but...You must be so proud of your step grandson. Give him a big hand.

I have never made a Hunter's Star but after watching the tutorial on YouTube, I would definitely buy Deb Hunter's template. She makes it look so easy and there are so many different ways to arrange the stars. Good luck with your quilt and congratulations to your foster grandson. I know you are very proud of him.

I have made and taught Deb's Hunter Star using the ruler. It is exact, easy and so beautiful. Go for it. Keepa card with your colors noted for placement and wait to see results....Fantastic. so I say Go For It!