Tangential Octagon Stars
I am in love!
Come see the first block I made using my Tangential star pattern, from Angled course:
I mean, wow! It came out so well! The colors are absolutely divine. I love Anna Maria Horner’s saturated, dramatic tones with the Kona Avocado background. Just delish, right?
The Tangential star block is made up of diamonds and several kinds of triangle pieces. It’s a generously-sized block that finishes 17” square, if made up with corner pieces as per the complete pattern. I have left off the corner pieces for now, so that the blocks are octagonal. It gives the star a more sparkly, twirly look, in my eyes.
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I am toying with the idea of arranging the octagonal blocks like so. This layout create square gaps on four sides of each star block. I could feature a fussy-cut larger scale print from Anna Maria’s Brave collection in those joining squares.
With this layout, the rows will have to be joined with y-seams, but I think that I am up to that. They are big blocks, so it would not be many y-seams after all.
I am happy that these large scale prints are working well with the Tangential block. Some of the block elements are nice for fussy cutting, and the oversized scale lets the bigger prints breathe.
Now, onwards - more blocks!
Green is a color of growth, health and nature. This summer, green especially speaks to me, hence this monochromatic Starbright Stars quilt. It feels therapeutic to immerse myself in GREEN. I’ve completed two rows and joined them together for a little pre-emptive patchwork joy. Hello, pretty pointy stars. More soon!
Triangles are the building blocks of so many special quilts. They can be simple or fancy, traditionally pieced or improv pieced, wonky or tidy, scrappy or refined. In every form, I love them! Here are my favorite 9 patchwork triangle quilts.
So, you have heard a bit about Angled class, but what is it actually? Glad you asked ;). This digital class is ideal for developing quilters who want to really master angled patchwork piecing skills. You will grow to understand the why’s behind what works and to be able to put those principles into practice in your own designs.
Woah, how did this happen so fast? Thank you Mr. Design Wall, Spotify and the energy of green sparkly stars. I’m pretty darn excited with how this is looking. But then, I think that Starbright Stars would rock in any monochromatic color scheme! I wonder, what color stars would you choose?
Voila, Tangential Stars quilt! This project is the intersection between two cravings: to sew with Anna Maria Horner’s Brave collection and to explore making a whole quilt of the Tangential Star block from my Angled class. I think they intersected quite splendidly!
Once upon a time, ten whole years ago, I created my first Starbright Stars scrappy star quilt - - - And you have been asking for the pattern ever since. Because here is what’s special about this: the stars are completely machine pieced! This patchwork is sewn without any y-seams or fiddly techniques. All you need is angled patchwork sewing skills and - bam - stars are born!
This week I am spinning a web of star blocks. Fancy, twirly, glowing stars on dark green, teal and blue backgrounds. Each block invites an individual color composition. But the real design challenge comes in putting multiple blocks together.
I am in love! Come see the first block I made using my Tangential star pattern, from Angled course: I mean, wow! I think that it came out so well! The colors are absolutely divine. I love Anna Maria Horner’s saturated, dramatic tones with the Kona Avocado background.
I love that this project has pushed me a little out of my normal, color-wise. I don’t think I would have had the restraint to make a (mainly) blue and white quilt, if it wasn’t for the Lavender quilt pattern.
We live just a few hours drive from the Blue Ridge Mountains. Our family has hiked and camped in those lovely mountains many a time. When spring comes, the cool green pines are upstaged by native blooming dogwoods.
This particular Angled course quilt is made up of equilateral triangles in a playful layout. It’s the first quilt in our online course because it’s actually pretty easy to sew. Let me show you my progress!
It started with my love for this Cloud 9 voile. I made it into a romper for Rora last spring. When she grew out of it, I had trouble letting it go. The color scheme is so dreamy! So, I pulled scraps in the same colors…
I started this quilt in December, when bright leaves were clinging bravely to the branches of our maple, sweet gum and pistache trees. Autumn faded so beautifully this year, as it does every year, but the knowledge that…
Angled Course is here, self-paced and full of rich content to explore in new year. On sale at $55 for one week only. Enroll now and start when the time is right!
I got so excited after our chat in November, because I realized I could deliver my upcoming Angled class in a self-paced format!!! If you had stopped by that next evening, you would have found me curled up with my journal…
Even though I have made a lot of progress, it’ll likely be slower going from here. But I’m pleased! There are stars on my table, and while I waited for the longarm to process just now, I snuck in a few more seams.
This September Angled Class is back! I love angles, with their movement and personality and endless fascinating combinations. With curiosity, time and much experimenting, I've come to know them well and to also understand how to include them in my quilt designs. I'm eager to share this with you! Registration is on sale now for one week only.