So Exciting!!! Today is the day!!!! The Starstruck Quilt Along officially starts today!!! Today's post is everything you need to know to Quilt-A-Long. There will be a post every Wednesday starting September 18th, until October 23rd going over all the piecing, and then a Parade and Grand Prizes on November 13th. So lets go over how it's going to work!!
THE HOW TO
The Starstruck Quilt Along is my own quilt design and I hope you enjoy putting it together and maybe even learn some new techniques along the way. Because of the Medallion Layout of this design, we are only doing one size of blocks, but you can choose how many "layers" you want to add to your Starstruck Medallion Quilt. We will start in the center with the Wall Hanging piecing, and then add the Baby layer, followed by the Lap, and so on out to a King Size. You can choose to piece whatever size you like, however, you will only be able to link up for the weekly assignments up to the size you are making. But every size will will be eligible for the Grand Prize linky!! And there will be a new assignment each week, so hopefully everyone will be able to keep up even with the crazy lives that we all lead. (But if life does get crazy, and you fall behind, no worries!!! The tutorials will always be on my blog so you can come catch up whenever it works for you!!!) The schedule will be as follows
September 4th - Intro, Fabric Requirements, and Prizes Announcement (That's Today!!!)
September 18th - Cutting
September 25th - Wall Hanging Piecing
October 2nd - Baby Piecing
October 9th - Lap Piecing
October 16th - Picnic Piecing
October 23rd - Queen/King Piecing
November 13th - Star Struck Parade and Grand Prize Winners
So count on checking back each Wednesday to see what the next assignment will be. You will want to try to keep up as there will be prizes along the way!! Be sure to take a picture of your finished assignments so that you can link it up for the weekly prizes :) Oh, and if you are new to quilting, no worries, this will be super beginner friendly! I will go through each step in great detail in the Wednesday posts.
CHOOSING A PROJECT SIZE
Okay, so we will all start in the same place, and how big your quilt gets is up to you :)
We start in the center with the Wall Hanging Size that finishes at 28" x 28"
Than adding another layer gives you the Baby Size that finishes at 44" x 44"
Adding another layer gives you the Lap Size that finishes at 60" x 60"
And adding another layer gives you the Picnic Size that finishes at 80" x 80"
Then adding one more layer gives you the Queen size that finishes at 96" x 96"
And finally, adding one more layer (border) gives you the King size that finishes at 104" x 104"
As I said before, you can choose any size you like and all sizes will be eligible to enter in the Grand Prize Linky!! But just remember, you will only be able to enter in the weekly prize linky's up the the size of quilt you are making. And that's all fair as those that are piecing more will have a few more opportunities to win a weekly prize. But everyone can win one of the big prizes!!!
And with that, we are ready to talk fabrics!!!!
THE FABRIC REQUIREMENTS
So for this quilt you will need "Print Fabric(s)" and a "Background Fabric". Print Fabrics (which can be solids) refer to the fabrics making up your Pieced Blocks. And the Background Fabric (which can also be a print) refers to the fabric making up the background of the quilt (ie. the white above). You will also need binding fabric and backing fabric so you are all ready to finish up your quilt. (Because we area all about finishes, no wip's here :) And I will be giving all of the fabric requirements in two layout options, Fat Quarter Friendly, or Two Color Quilt :)
So here is what you need:
Print Fabric Requirements
Using the chart below, find the size and layout option you are choosing to make, for the Print Fabric Requirements.
And on a size note, you can always have as many Fat Quarters as you like, as the more Fat Quarters, the more variety you will have in your quilt. If you have a Fat Quarter Bundle that you want to use that has more than 22 Fat Quarters, go for it!!! The more the merrier. But 18 is a close minimum and I wouldn't want to try and squeeze it out of less Fat Quarters :)
Background, Binding, and Backing Fabric Requirements
The Background, Binding, and Backing Fabric Requirements are the same whether you are doing the Fat Quarter Friendly layout, or the Two Color Quilt layout. Using the chart below, find the size and layout option you are choosing to make, for the Background, Binding, and Backing Fabric Requirements.
And just a side note, I will be showing everything with a white background fabric, but you don't have to use white, feel free to choose any color you like for the background and also, it doesn't have to be a solid :) For the binding,
I like to use darker colors so they create a good stop for the eye. And when it comes to the backing, you can always used leftover bits of Fat Quarters to do a little pieced back, if you are feeling like you want to use every last scrap :)
THE STARSTRUCK QUILT ALONG KITS
The
Fat Quarter Shop has graciously offered to sponsor the Quilt-Along Kits and I am so grateful to them for that!!! The wonderful thing about the Starstruck Quilt Along is that the sky is the limit when it comes to choosing your fabrics!!! Just pick your favorite Fat Quarters or Yardage :)
And since I really want you to be able to pick your favorites . . . the Kits will encompass all Fat Quarter Bundles and all Yardage at Fat Quarter Shop!!!!! Just use the coupon code Happy2019 at checkout to save 10% off all regular priced Fat Quarter Bundles and Yardage Cuts!!!! (Not valid with other offers. Excludes sale items, pre-order and clubs. One use per customer. Offer expires September Aug 8th 2019, Midnight CST)
And remember to also pick up your required background fabric, binding fabric, and backing fabric. And of course, you don't have to get one of the "kits" below to participate in the QAL. You are welcome to go "shopping" through your personal stash and find just the right bundle, the discount and kit ideas are just to help you get started if needed :)
KIT IDEAS
Now I know trying to choose fabrics can be a little overwhelming, so I mocked up some ideas just to get your creative jusices flowing. Hopefully it will help you pick the bundle that is just right for you!!!
So let's start with the Original Sample. This is the bundle I will be using and it is
Harper's Garden by Sherri and Chelsi for Moda. And I was lucky enough to get an advanced bundle of this, as it is not quite in the shops yet. But it does arrive in September, so it hopefully will be arriving any day, so if you want to use the same fabrics as me, just keep an eye out over the next week :)
But even if Harper's Garden doesn't come in time, no worries. There are endless bundles to choose from. This
Fairy Edith bundle has a very similar color palate, just much softer. Isn't that just so sweet!!!
And don't think you have to just use one fabric line, you can use a mixture of prints from lots of designers. These
Moda Mix Fat Quarter Bundles give you a wonderful variety of designers and style. And it is always fun to mix things up!!!
And speaking of mixing things up, as I said before, even if you are using Fat Quarters, they don't have to be prints. There are so many
Solid Bundles to choose from that will all make a gorgeous quilt!!! This Starstruck Medallion is done up in
Corey Yoder's Solids and I just love the soft, rich goodness of this rainbow. Isn't it just so pretty!!!
And if you want to keep the crisp look of solids, but want a little more texture, you can always use a
Textured Basics Bundle!! How great do these two textured bundles of
Laundry Basket Favorites look!!! Just perfect for some fall flare ;)
And speaking of fall, if you want to go a print fall version, that would be gorgeous too!!! This is Stacy West's
Buttermilk Autumn Bundle and boy does it just make you want to rake some leaves and then eat some pumpkin pie ;) All the best of fall tied up in a stunning Starstruck Medallion!!
But you know, Christmas is right around the corner as well :) And how cute would Starstruck be in Christmas fabrics!!! This
Sweet Christmas by Urban Chicks and doesn't that just make you want to play in the snow and then curl up in front of a fire with some Hot Chocolate. So fun!!!
And that Christmas print got me thinking that this could look super cool in a winter wonderland feel as well. And Christopher Tate's
Something Borrowed Bundle does just the trick. It really gives you an idea of how you can do a play on the Two Color quilt, but still use lots of prints. Just perfect!!!
And while we are on the subject of two color quilts. . . .Don't think I have forgotten about you all :) Again, the possibilities are endless if you want to do a Two Color (two fabric) quilt!!!
Of course, a Solid Two Color Quilt is always a stunner!!! Just pick a
Favorite Solid and a favorite color and you are ready to go!!!
And just like before, if you want to add a little punch, you can always get a
Textured Basic. You all know that I absolutely love
Grunge Fabrics, and I have made several Two Color Quilts in grunge and love the added touch it gives to a two color quilt. And of course, my favorite color is purple so this is Grunge Winter White and Plum ;)
And you can always mix it up with a Print fabric. Yup, you don't have to use solids or basics in a two color quilt, you can just pick a
favorite print yardage, and it will turn into a favorite quilt. I would just recommend if you do a print, to keep the scale towards the small and it is much easier if you don't pick a direction print ;) This is the
Little Snippets Fresh Cut and it gives you an idea of a good scale and non-directional ;)
And this is just the beginning. There are endless options and you can mix and match them as you like. Just try to find the fabrics that speak to you and makes your heart smile!!!
WANT A PERSONALIZED SKETCH???
And like I said at the beginning of this section, it can be overwhelming to choose ;) So if you are thinking about a particular bundle and want to see it drafted up in a sketch like the ones above please don't hesitate to email me at happyquiltingmelissa@gmail.com and I can send you a sketch no problem ;) I know how much it helps sometimes to get an idea of what it is going to look like before you start ;) And remember, if you want to see the sketch in a different color background, just let me know that, because as you can see below, it really changes up the look of the quilt.
COLORING PAGE
I know that once you have your fabrics chosen, sometimes in a quilt like this, you want to get an idea of fabric placement before you start cutting. So here is a coloring page of the Seeing Stars quilt. Just save the image, print it, and then color it to your hearts content ;)
THE PRIZES
I am so very excited about the Prizes for this Quilt-A-Long!! I don't know about you, but I know that I am highly more motivated to keep up and finish when there are prizes at stake ;) So how about this for a little motivation.
All those that finish their quilt top will be eligible for the
3 Grand Prizes. The Grand Prize's are sponsored by the
Fat Quarter Shop and huge Thank You goes out to Kimberly for their generosity in these prizes. Wan't to know what they are???
The three winners will each receive a
$75.00 Gift Certificates to Fat Quarter Shop!!!! Talk about some amazing fabric Goodness!!!!!! How about that for fabric motivation!!
But . . . Sometimes it is hard to keep motivated when the end is so far away. So for that . . . We have a little weekly motivation. Every week you will be able to link up
(You don't have to have a blog to link up, you can link to any social media image :) your completed assignment for a chance to win the weekly assignment prize. These weekly Prizes will be sponsored by several of my Sponsors and will be so fun!!!
So there is going to be a lot of wonderful fabric to be won!!! So keep up and sew on!!!
THE BUTTON, FLICKR, AND HASHTAG
Now down to the last of the nitty gritty. If you are Quilting Along and have a blog, It would be wonderful if you added the button to your blog :) It really helps to spread the word and the more that Quilt-Along the better!!! If you have already added the button, thank you!!!
And if you use Facebook or Instagram and are posting your progress on your social media, be sure and use the Hashtag
#starstruckquiltalong Then we can all easily find and see each others work on facebook and instagram as well ;)
If you use Flickr, I would love it if you joined the
Happy Quilting Quilt-A-Long Flickr group and posted your pictures there as well.
And once you have your fabric, you can Link Below to enter this weeks Weekly Prize Giveaway!!! Yup, you are entered to win a prize, just for collecting your fabric!! (See the end of the post for details) I can't wait to see what fabrics everyone will be using ;)
LET'S GET GOING!!
So that just about wraps it up!!! You have a two weeks to round up your fabric. That should give you a cushion for it to arrive in the mail if you decide to order fabric online. And then we will start with cutting, so if you want to get a little ahead, you can always press your fabircs so they are all set for cutting September 18th.
Now I know that was a lot for one post, so if you have any questions at all regarding the Starstruck Quilt Along please do not hesitate to email me at happyquiltingmelissa@gmail.com or comment below. I don't want anyone to not participate because they are confused by my rambling :) And again,
please feel free to make your quilt your own. What ever you envision, you make it yours, all finished quilt tops will be eligible for prizes :)
Now . . . Let's get Quilting-Along!!!
WEEKLY LINKY FOR PRIZE!!!
Got your fabrics??? Once you do, you are eligible for the Weekly Prize!!! This week's prize is being sponsored by
Bear Creek Quilting Company and a huge thanks goes to them for their support of the
Starstruck Quilt-Along.
This weeks prize is a
$20.00 Gift Certificate to Bear Creek Quilting Company!!! And that means one lucky participant who get's all their fabric in order will get a little bonus shopping spree ;)
So what do you have to do for a chance to win this Gift Certificate ? Simple . . . Just link up your fabrics at the end of this post :) You can link to a blog post, flickr picture, Instagram, Facebook . . . or whatever. Just make sure to link up by the end of the day on September 17th as I will be announcing a winner at the beginning of the post on September 18th :)
If you don't get your fabric by September 18th you can still link it up :) (just not in time for the prize :) The linky will remain open until the end of the Quilt-A-Long. So if your out of town, or just had busy few week or the mail was a little slow, its all good!!! Just link up when you can :)
Have a Happy Quilting Day!!
