Eight is Great! Project Quilting 8.1

Above is my project for the first week of the

Persimon Dream's Project Quilting Season 8!

This first challenge was named "Eight is Great".

I was stumped for two days on what to do.

Eight? Eight what?

Well, as I thought, I realized that there are 8 steps to every quilting project!! Who knew, right?

1. The Need/Desire

My need AND desire was to partake in this challenge.

I enjoy a good challenge and love getting involved in a blog challenge!

2. Inspiration

Since I was literally dumbfounded for an idea,

I spent some time

searching through my books and magazines and pinterest.

With the theme Eight is Great, I was inspired to create a post  and project to describe the 8 steps of creating a quilt. 

3. Creating/Choosing a Pattern

I found several blocks and projects that

included an 8 pointed star.

Could I make an 8 pointed star?

I had a diamond template.

But it wasn't the right angle to make 8 in a circular pattern.

My math genius husband came to my rescue.

He made me a template that worked! Yeah!

4. Pulling Fabrics

Now that I had my idea and template,

I needed to find the perfect fabrics!

Selvages!!! Selvages to the rescue!

5. The Making Process

I began with a thin white fabric scrap and

started sewing my selvages onto it in rows.

Sewing these together gave me so many other ideas...

I loved the look!

 

I used my template to cut out 8 diamonds,

tracing the shape on the back.

I began sewing them together and the

magic started to appear!

I made a purple patchwork background

to show off the light colored star.

**These fabrics were all used in my classrooms as bulletin board backgrounds. I was happy to give them a purpose!

I quilted with a simple cross-hatch.

The star was treated with Lara's Crafted Applique technique, then stitched to the patchwork background

using a zig-zag stitch.

6. The Finish

Now that the major part of the work was done,

it was time to add the binding.

I also added pockets and bands to the back for hanging.

To the very center, I added 3 sweet buttons

shaped like spools of thread!

7. Sharing

What fun is it to make something and not share it?

If it's not going to be gifted to someone,

it must be shared on social media, right?

This pretty star is being shared here on my blog,

Project Quilting 8.1 and Instagram.

8. Enjoyment/Admiration

It will forever hang on my sewing room wall to remind me of the joy every sewing and quilting project brings me.

My 8 Points of Quilting Star measures 19" x 19".

It was made in my Dubuque, Iowa home.

It contains patchwork, applique and 3 layers.

Stay tuned for voting starting on Sunday, January 8!!