Update 5 – Ohio Stars

It’s been two years since I last worked on the Ohio Star quilt, fashioned with silks and other fabrics from my late father’s ties. He was a World War II Marine and life-long proud Buckeye. The design uses stars of many dimensions to make one large star block reminiscent of the map of Ohio. I have 14 of the 49 stars completed and am aiming to have it done by Memorial Day. I have no other projects currently so will have no excuses.
Here are some of the completed blocks. To kick-start the project, I worked on all the simplest blocks. Now on to the rest!

Ohio Star Blocks Made from my Father’s Ties

2016 – Secret Stars

Secret Stars youth quilt

This youth-sized quilt was made for my great nephew Nicholas. Here are some details:

All the 2″ squares are shirting plaids or stripes – except three that have stars. Also, all rainbow colors are included, so there are some fun things to search for.

Update 4 – Ohio Stars

A temporary job has been taking most of my time for the last month or so, but that’s over so . . .

Four Ohio Stars

Using more of my father’s ties, here are some new Ohio Stars, including one that overlays another. All these fabrics are from dad’s ties except the beige with red and blue stars. I am now using interfacing only on silks. The navy with white stars is cotton, although it was a tie.

The Genesee Valley Quilt Fest is a few weeks away. I’ll be taking another break from these blocks to prepare my entries.

 

Update 3 – Ohio Stars

I abandoned the even feed foot for my machine’s 1/4 inch foot. The pieces are flatter now but still the points don’t all match. I think I’ll switch to hand piecing. The navy and yellow pieces are from Dad’s ties; white and red are other silks. Everything still interfaced.

Ohio Star block 6 x 6 on white background

Update 2 – Ohio Star

Taking apart my father’s ties underscored how different silk fabrics can be. Some with woven motifs are sturdy, others are as slippery as scarves. I am fortunate to know award-winning silk appliquer Chris Wickert, who suggested using fusible interfacing to stabilize the fabric and cut down on fraying on the straight of grain. (Silk doesn’t fray on the bias.)

Interfaced fabric – Ohio Star back

Since I also have some non-silks in the mix, I chose a solid red cotton, a solid blue silk from a pocket square, and a metallic woven stripe to experiment with. All adhered well to a light nonwoven Pellon fusible. I cut a quick template for the triangles and used my even feed foot to machine sew a 6″ x 6″ block. This represents the smallest Ohio Star in the planned quilt.

Interfaced fabric – Ohio Star front

The piecing isn’t very accurate; I need a better template. But what I’m more concerned about is that the silk isn’t flat along the on-grain edges. So I’ll draft a better template, try a different foot, and switch fabrics for the next attempt.

Update – Ohio Stars

Some of Dad’s ties

Here are some of the ties I hope to use for the Ohio Star quilt. They have been machine washed, deconstructed, and ironed. Nearly all are silk, with a few synthetics, and two cotton. Lots of predominately blue with a number of reds and white/neutrals.

One of Dad’s Ties

Even narrow ties have close to a fat quarter of fabric, although not all is usable.

Update 4 – In Jest 2015

Here are some updates on my current art quilt project, In Jest.

In Jest – Sashing Complete on Background

The area of dark, solid diamonds in the lower left will be covered by the inverted star of the harlequin face and cap. Work is progressing on it as well.

In Jest – Embroidery Begun on Face

Sandwiching the top with batting and backing is next. The finished size will be approximately 36 x 60.

Update 3 – In Jest – 2015

In Jest – Face Draft 5

I’ve decided on this version of the face. Here’s why I’m using a 72 degree rather than a 60 degree diamond.

Update – In Jest – 2015

The experiment with 72 degree diamonds continues. The name has been changed from “Harlequin” to “In Jest.”

In Jest January Update on Design Board

Still experimenting with the diamond for that empty space. The personality could be that of harlequin, jester, joker, maybe green man.  So far . . .

In Jest Face Idea 1

In Jest Face Idea 2

In Jest Face Idea 3

Still not right. More to come.

Harlequin – 2014

This is the beginning of an idea, on my design wall. Aiming to have something by May 2015.

Harlequin Beginning on Design Wall

Updates of this design will be under its new name “In Jest.”