This project all got started while I was working on my
Playtime Quilt. I noticed a call out for makers to participate in a blog hop
featuring Pat Bravo’s new Heartland fabric line for Art Gallery Fabrics. I
loved working with Playground by Amy Sinibaldi and was eager to get my hands on
some more Art Gallery Fabrics – they just feel ahh-mazing! There is a silky
softness to them that I really love. And Pat’s latest collection of grays,
muted yellows, teals and minty greens is simply gorgeous. It had me dreaming of
winter morning walks in the country side around the holidays – total bliss.
Playtime Quilt. I noticed a call out for makers to participate in a blog hop
featuring Pat Bravo’s new Heartland fabric line for Art Gallery Fabrics. I
loved working with Playground by Amy Sinibaldi and was eager to get my hands on
some more Art Gallery Fabrics – they just feel ahh-mazing! There is a silky
softness to them that I really love. And Pat’s latest collection of grays,
muted yellows, teals and minty greens is simply gorgeous. It had me dreaming of
winter morning walks in the country side around the holidays – total bliss.
This post contains affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, if you click through and make a purchase, I may receive a commission.
So I was thrilled to be one of 20 makers selected to
participate! The only requirement for our designs was that they be Scandinavian
inspired. I absolutely adore Scandinavian style. In fact, I have an interior design Pinterest board filled with the understated yet graphic design aesthetic.
I can’t get enough. Putting together a quilt design based on this theme was no
hard feat!
participate! The only requirement for our designs was that they be Scandinavian
inspired. I absolutely adore Scandinavian style. In fact, I have an interior design Pinterest board filled with the understated yet graphic design aesthetic.
I can’t get enough. Putting together a quilt design based on this theme was no
hard feat!
I instantly knew I wanted to
feature a little of the ochre and my design centered around that element. And I
just HAD to use the wintry pine trees as my backing! It really does call to my
love of nature and the magical feeling winter brings (well at least until
January and then I’d be ready for spring time!!).
feature a little of the ochre and my design centered around that element. And I
just HAD to use the wintry pine trees as my backing! It really does call to my
love of nature and the magical feeling winter brings (well at least until
January and then I’d be ready for spring time!!).
I finally decided on the following colourway.
Unfortunately, there was a little snafu in the shipping and
my fabric parcel ended up in Costa Rica! In the end, I had to change up my
design and size of quilt as I only had a few days to pull everything together. I
went back to the inspiration board I had originally created and designed an
entirely new quilt. But I always say, things happen for a reason so I must have
been meant to create this modern take on the traditional Nordic Star, which I’ve
called Winter Star.
my fabric parcel ended up in Costa Rica! In the end, I had to change up my
design and size of quilt as I only had a few days to pull everything together. I
went back to the inspiration board I had originally created and designed an
entirely new quilt. But I always say, things happen for a reason so I must have
been meant to create this modern take on the traditional Nordic Star, which I’ve
called Winter Star.
When I was doing my research for this project, I had
stumbled upon this block that was traditionally captured in red and white and
on a much smaller scale. I really wanted the feel of this quilt to be soft and not too busy. So I went big and bold for the block design. And I do
mean big, each block is a little over 20”.
And while the design is graphic, the colourway keeps the overall feel
nice and relaxed.
stumbled upon this block that was traditionally captured in red and white and
on a much smaller scale. I really wanted the feel of this quilt to be soft and not too busy. So I went big and bold for the block design. And I do
mean big, each block is a little over 20”.
And while the design is graphic, the colourway keeps the overall feel
nice and relaxed.
When it came time to the quilting, I knew I was going to go
with gray thread. I ended up opting for a darker gray #5004 by Aurifil which
blends with the grays featured in the fabric line, while complementing the
minty green, teals and ochre in a subtle way. I went for diagonal quilted lines
in order to emphasise the star shape. I love how it all looks from the back as
well!
with gray thread. I ended up opting for a darker gray #5004 by Aurifil which
blends with the grays featured in the fabric line, while complementing the
minty green, teals and ochre in a subtle way. I went for diagonal quilted lines
in order to emphasise the star shape. I love how it all looks from the back as
well!
On a side note, I typically quilt with 40wt Aurifil thread,
but I went with 50wt as that was the only gray I had on hand. I was concerned
the 50wt wouldn’t give me the prominent stitches I love, but I really quite
like the effect!
but I went with 50wt as that was the only gray I had on hand. I was concerned
the 50wt wouldn’t give me the prominent stitches I love, but I really quite
like the effect!
I finished off the quilt with a lovely yellow binding in the Droppar Burst fabric. I was in my happy place adding this final touch and snacking on some
peanut M&Ms (my current binding snacking go-to)! Doesn’t it just complete
the look perfectly?!
peanut M&Ms (my current binding snacking go-to)! Doesn’t it just complete
the look perfectly?!
I love that the end result is a unisex baby quilt that can
fit in with lots of different interior décors. This quilt is beyond soft to the
touch, plus the colourway is so soothing, it is sure to help lull a little one into
a deep sleep!
fit in with lots of different interior décors. This quilt is beyond soft to the
touch, plus the colourway is so soothing, it is sure to help lull a little one into
a deep sleep!
This project was a great lesson that sometimes life throws
you curve balls and instead of freaking out and trying to force an original
plan, you have to be flexible and open to just rolling with it. I designed this quilt Friday morning, did my test block on Friday afternoon and then pieced and quilted most of the quilt over the weekend. Monday was all about finishing up the quilting and spending some time hand binding. Woot woot – I made it! Thankfully the weather cooperated on Tuesday so I could get some pictures snapped and the blog post prepped. I think this is a record for me!!
In the end,
I absolutely adore my modern quilted rendition of the Nordic Star. And this
also marks the first baby quilt I’ve ever made. Basting this little beauty was
actually fun as I didn’t have any of the usual aches and pains associated with
basting the larger quilts I typically work on! Yay for that!
I absolutely adore my modern quilted rendition of the Nordic Star. And this
also marks the first baby quilt I’ve ever made. Basting this little beauty was
actually fun as I didn’t have any of the usual aches and pains associated with
basting the larger quilts I typically work on! Yay for that!
I highly encourage you to hop over and check out the Heartland Look Book Art Gallery Fabrics has put together featuring the Heartland line – such
inspiration! You certainly won’t be disappointed adding this fabric line to
your stash!!
inspiration! You certainly won’t be disappointed adding this fabric line to
your stash!!
A heartfelt thank you to Pat for including me on The Heartland Blog Tour! And be sure to check-out the other participants, there are
some amazing designs that have already been shared and more to come through
Friday October 21, including:
Week of October 10 to 14
Alicia Steele – @sewwhatalicia
Paola Baker – @loveoffabrics
Marija Vujcic – @marijasfabricreations
Lisa Chavez – @lisaannslife
Lisa Serino – @nolibaby
Aimee Leptick – @littlebirddesigns
Jessica Elliston – @sewmilliemae
Veronica AM – @vividfelicity
Katie Skoog – @thesimplelifecompany
Karen Foster – @capitolaquilter
Week of October 17 to 21
Haley Anderson – @happinessinthemaking
Kim Prows – @robotmomsews
Sarah Overton – @mycrowdednest
Dorthe Niemann – @lalala-patchwork
Shannon Fraser – @shannonfraserdesigns (Hi! You’re here!)
Ali Borsen – @becauseofbennaclothing
Mariana Diaz – @sewmariana
Elise Baek – @eliseandemelie
Alexis Wright – @mysweetsunshinestudio
Elina Temmes – @elinatemmes
Ange Hamiton – @alittlepatchwork
Thank you for stopping by and I can’t wait to hear your
thoughts on this modern Winter Star baby quilt.
thoughts on this modern Winter Star baby quilt.
Get the pattern here to make your very own Winter Star quilt!
Happy quilting!
xo
Shannon
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Love your idea!-love the straight line quilting!
I’m so thrilled you love the design of my Winter Star quilt! Straight line quilting is challenging! But I do love the look it gives 🙂
This turned out beautifully! I'm not sure I could have made all those changes in such a small time frame, so giving you a big round of applause, because you rose to the occasion and then some.
That is so sweet of you, Tish! There were moments of stress for sure! But I kept telling myself “I’m doing the best that I can” – that helped! And sometimes having to work under a tight deadline limits the humming and hawing I tend to do while designing a new quilt 😉
Gooooorgoeus photos!! Love how you did some quick thinking and reassessed the situation to make it all work!! Love your baby quilt!!
Thank you so much, Elise!! Sometimes it works out when you have to think on your feet!!
So pretty. Pattern writing is harder than it looks. I'm considering writing up the design that I made with the Heartland fabrics too.
It really is!! But I love being able to share my designs and tackle the quilty math for those who don't like that bit!! You should totally share yours, your design is gorgeous xoxo
Such a gorgeous design Shannon and how amazing that it was all done from design to binding in just a few days. Great job!! And… I would love to test your pattern if you still need volunteers. 🙂