Six Point Star quilt project
 

Some of you may remember the first photo below, which I posted a few weeks ago. It is pieced unilateral triangles that my kids bought at an estate sale; I came here wondering what to do with them. Many of you had great suggestions, one of which was to take my time because the star block (the original owner had sewn one together, as seen) can be a difficult pattern. I looked at a lot of triangle star quilts online, and then, because the original owner had begun sewing the stars as blocks, I decided to do that, instead of sewing them in rows, as most of you advised. I bought solids in blue, yellow, pink, coral and red to go with the pieced triangles, a 60 degree triangle ruler (which I turned out not using, opting instead to use my familiar 6x24 with 60 degree markings) and began. Even with your warnings, I had no idea what I was getting myself into! I had never done anything like it before and no idea of how to proceed; I figured it out as I went along, with the help of images online, and some youtube videos on Y seams when I faltered.

The second photo is the result, and this will be the only time I ever post a photo of this quilt, anywhere. And I do it, not because I'm really proud of the result, but as a sort of triumph: my will over this project! A project that was not even mine to begin with, which I had no knowledge of or instructions for, and which I didn't even particularly like, though I did love the fabrics. And which is, frankly, pretty awful in places. I've made 3 or 4 attic window quilts with Y seams; they don't scare me. Using Y seams to join these diamonds to the stars and then the rows of stars and diamonds to each other was a whole other experience! I'm convinced I ripped more than I sewed, and still many of the points don't match well or at all. I wasn't sure how to finish the unequal sides, so copied the construction of a quilt I saw on line, adding triangles and diamonds instead of half stars (I ran out of the right color triangles). I then added the colored diamonds, which I will trim to create a straight edge. I will probably add a 3 or 4 inch border, one of the solids or maybe white. I hope it can be machine quilted, that it's not too "full" in places -- all those bias edges! I'm going to try, if only to have it done. Together, we -- it and I -- fought too hard a battle to leave it unfinished.

Am I sorry I spent so much time on it, ripping and re-sewing, even though the result is not stellar? Not at all! I learned a lot doing it, mostly from the mistakes I made -- isn't that always the way? And, like anything one spends that much time with, I've grown fond of it. It was a challenge and I was stubborn enough not to quit on it. That alone gives me a feeling of satisfaction.

And I post it as a thank you to the others who have struggled with a difficult project, who often wanted to throw it in the nearest trash can but didn't, and have written about it here. Thank you for sharing your own sticktoitiveness, which encouraged me!

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Your top looks fantastic. You should be very pleased with it.

Let me say it looks great and colours go well together...it is going to look amazing after quilting it...please show the finished quilt...

beautiful !!!!

So colorful and nice.

The top looks absolutely fantastic. You must show us after it's been quilted.

You stuck with it, good for you. It really does look nice. I did a star quilt, and I didn't know what I was doing, but I finished it too. I don't know if I will be doing another any time soon. I made a queen sized, that was enough for a while. I would like to see it when you quilt it too. You did a great job.

I meant, of course, equilateral triangles! I was very tired when I posted.

Well done on your "sticktoit" attitude. A lovely result.

Well I love it, I think you've done a great job.

It really is beautiful. Once your quilt is complete you will be proud to show it.

Great selection of solids and repros. Are you going to hand quilt it??

I think you did a fantastic job! I love it!!!

you made this look very old fashioned. I love it

This looks great. I would be so proud if I were you.

Wow. That turned out great. You deserve a BIG pat on the back for sticking with it

You have a done a great job putting the pieces together and once it is quilted it will be even better. It is so different looking and I really like it. Can't wait to see how it is quilted.

Great story & great quilt!!!!

It looks fantastic! I just finished a tulip quilt top that has picket fence blocks and there were times I wanted to take it outside and burn it! It will be off to the quilter's soon.

OOOOOH what a great job. I love it.

Your sticktoitiveness was rewarded with a lovely quilt top.

You have created a fabulous quilt. It is absolutely beautiful. Congratulations on getting it together. I'd love to see it after you finish the quilting. your right it is the mistakes that we learn new skills from. p.s. there are no perfect quilts.

Your quilt top turned out great, I guess you learned a great deal from this challenge.

Glad you stuck with it. I like your arrangement of the colors - in the stars and of the stars themselves. Good Job!!

I am so impressed! You started with colors that didn't pop for me and made something really beautiful! I really like the colors in the triangles on the edge/ border.

You did an awesome job, it's beautiful and will be even more so when quilted. I know how you feel about throwing things in the trash, many times I want to go in the backyard and send things down the river, then I can't change my mind and retrieve them, LOL.

Oh, please post one more photo after it is quilted! You have just been working too hard and seeing it too closely to appreciate the fine product that will result. You are mistaken - it is indeed stellar!! I love it. Thanks for this photo.

You should be very proud of your project. I love the color balance, the softer prints with the bolder solids. It just makes me smile.
Some of my best learning comes from not knowing what I am doing, but pushing ahead anyway!!! I always remind myself that it is not 'if' I will use my seam ripper, but 'when' it is going to be used!

Your top looks like it just walked out of the 30"s a very difficult pattern and so special.

Great job. You will have a treasure when it is finished.

Would love to, think handquilting would be most appropriate. But I'm not skilled -- or patient -- enough to do it.

Ah! Thank you all for your kind words! Seriously, I'm touched. Because at times I felt so inadequate, working on this, especially since I've been sewing for donkey's years and thought I should be better at it. I kept thinking of the woman (I assume) who pieced all those triangles..... and that, coupled with my children's thoughtfulness in buying them for me, made me want to do it. I also kept remembering -- and telling myself -- the "better done than perfect" rule and the galloping horse assessment!

Those who have seen it are also struck by the old fashioned look. They immediately say "that looks like my mother's quilts!" The repro (I assume) fabrics are quite beautiful; the photo does not do them justice. I had no idea how big it would be; I just kept making star blocks until I ran out of pieced triangles that went with the solids I bought. It will finish at about 80x84, I think.

Again, thanks so much! I so appreciate your comments.

great finish

Excellent!!!! You should be proud of the results. I love how if I squint, I can see a cube within a cube within a star within a hexi.

You have earned a crown and go to the front of the quilters class. A great project to learn as you go, LOVE the quilt.
Jan

I think it turned out fantastic!! Great job!

Very kool. BrendaK

I agree, it looks beautiful!

Your quilt is beautiful, and you just wait, the best is to come when you quilt it will be gorgeous! Then as a year goes by it will be priceless.