String Carpenter's Star

If you have read my blog (or just looked at the pictures!) you know that I delight in string blocks. This is my latest string project.

String Carpenter's Star (82" x 82")

Carpenter's Star (sometimes called Carpenter's Wheel) is a traditional pattern, and layout charts are available in many places online (the one I used is HERE), but I substituted string blocks for the regular color or print blocks.

I drew it on EQ8, so I could get an idea of what I would need.

EQ8 Plan--I did change the four corners to string blocks rather than the plain ones shown.

I can never get an adequate look at the variety of strings in my blocks with the program, but it did help with my numbers and placement for the blocks.

The blocks finish at 4", the quilt is a combination of full string blocks, HSTs of strings and background, and plain background blocks. (I did use rectangles of background fabric as a kind of border around the center part instead of using a bunch of plain background blocks sewn together.)

String Carpenter's star (center detail)

It took me a bit of time to assemble. I started with the center and built it outwards; this way I could see the pattern coming together as I went--trying to do it row-by-row didn't fit in my brain!

String Carpenter's Star (backing and binding detail)

I found a piece of 108" backing in my stash. With all the seams in the top, I thought a one piece backing would be easier to quilt. Quilting is not my strong suit, so it is stitched in the ditch between blocks; I also stitched just inside the edges of the zigzagging string blocks.

I am happy with the result. I've always wanted to try this pattern; I think it makes a beautiful quilt. In substituting the string blocks, I made it a little different from the norm. This substitution can work in many projects.

 

In this one, I used the Arkansas Crossroads pattern.

String Crossroads

 

This one is Stringy Lanes which uses the Sunny Lanes pattern.

Stringy Lanes

Here is a Bear Paw with string blocks.

Bear Paw

The possibilities are limitless. If you enjoy string blocks, be on the lookout for non-traditional ways that you can use them.

Happy Quilting! 😸

String Crossroads

I designed a quilt.

I always feel presumptuous when I think or say that, since this quilt is made of very traditional elements. However, I looked around online for quite a while, and I didn't see another just like it, so there it is--I designed a quilt.

This quilt takes elements of the traditional Arkansas Crossroads and combines it with my love of string blocks.

As you can see, I replaced the sixteen patch blocks with string blocks arranged in an X to mimic the shape in the crossroads blocks.


Here are some closer pictures (and you can see that I couldn't refrain from sticking in some fun fabrics!).

Chickens!

A jungle face and a hint of the Cardinals MLB fabric

A red onion (doesn't everyone need a quilt with an onion on it?)

Elephants (at least parts of them)

Another jungle face

I backed it with a beige and brown print, and I quilted it with an all-over meander. A bright red binding finished it off. The size is 82" x 98" (and it was a wrestling match to quilt one that large on my DSM [Domestic Sewing Machine]), but it was worth it to be able to say I did it all--from design to piecing to quilting to binding myself!

I'm hoping to write a pattern for this, but I've never done that before! We'll see how it turns out. I'll offer it for free here on the blog when/if I get it together.

Yes, I designed a quilt!


I'm linking with Jo's Country Junction UFO Challenge and Fiber Tuesday 65 at The Quilting Room with Mel.