July’s Island Batik Ambassador Challenge is Secondary Patterns. I knew I wanted to use the 10″ stack precuts of Paisley Dot in Earth Tones along with the orange and black matching yardage that I received in my first Ambassador fabric box earlier this year.
Seeing Stars
I decided that you can’t go wrong with a Hunter’s Star design and redrafted a pattern I taught several years ago on a quilting cruise, which I call Hidden Stars, this is just one of the layouts that I teach as part of my Double Occupancy workshop. My original design used the Rapid Fire Hunters Star – Large ruler by Studio 180 Design to make a 10″ finished block.
Part of the Double Occupancy workshop by Karen Overton, The Quilt Rambler
This quilt was made back in 2015 using a 10″ stack and a 2.5″ strip precut fabrics also from Island Batik plus background yardage. It finished at 60″ x 60″. I didn’t have that much fabric this time but knew I could make it work if I downsized the pattern to use the Rapid Fire Hunters Star – Petite ruler making a 6″ finished block.
Here’s how I got creative and cut the trapezoids and half square triangles out of my 10″ squares.
A Star is Born
I love the Hunter Star construction method as taught by Deb Tucker of Studio 180 Design. I have made several layout variations with this humble block and can almost make them in my sleep, as it’s sorta an assembly line method of construction.
Once the trapezoids have their diamond “stars” on each side then trim again with the tool following the instructions included with the ruler. At this point, you can now add the oversized half square triangle then began your layout. It’s always best to layout the half blocks before assembling and trimming into complete blocks as sometimes there are “design changes”.
Once I verified my “hidden star” in the center I began sewing the half blocks together to form the blocks, then they needed to be trimmed. Part of the method of Deb Tucker techniques is to oversize the units then trim with her tool – this allows for the points to match instead of leaving it to chance or precision piecing.
Hidden Stars in The Wild
I had to make a little design change when it came to the border – a tad narrower than I had drafted in EQ8, but that’s the amount of fabric I had to work with and the finished quilt at 37″ x 37″ fell into the challenge guidelines of 36″ or above. Yep, all is well.
I enjoyed taking a few outdoor shots between the rain storms.
Scrappy or Planned – You Can’t Go Wrong With Hunter’s Star
There are so many variations that can be applied to the Hunter’s Star block, and even within my layout of Hidden Stars! I loved my original throw in Christmas scrappy prints and I am going to enjoy this version in the earth tones of Paisley Dot during the fall as a wallhanging or table topper. And by the way, I did not use all the 42 squares in my 10″ stack of Paisley Dot – I plan on piecing these together to make a scrappy backing and using some of that yummy batting from Hobbs in the recent ambassador box  – I can’t wait to get back in my studio to be reacquainted with my longarm – I’m stacking up quilt tops with our monthly challenges!
In the meantime, I am teaching at a local quilt shop and traveling to teach. Coming soon is a Hunter’s Star class locally and I do offer this as part of a workshop called Double Occupancy which makes the larger version shown above.
For fun, I drafted out another colorway using Island Batik’s Blue Moon, which I have purchased yardage for – hope to make this one soon. Blue Moon collection and Paisley Dot collection are in stores now, be sure and check with your local quilt shop and ask for them by name!
*disclaimer: The fabrics used to construct my Hidden Stars with Paisley Dot was provided to me by Island Batik as part of the Ambassador program. Other Island Batik fabrics or likenesses in this blog post are from my personal collection of Island Batik fabrics. The Aurifil thread used to piece this project was provided as part of the Ambassador program. Thank you Island Batik and Aurifil!
Be sure and check in with the other Island Batik Ambassadors throughout the month to see their interpretations of this month’s challenge. Link to the ambassadors here or visit the Island Batik facebook page.
This is Karen Overton, The Quilt Rambler, dreaming of the next Island Batik Challenge …
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I love the hidden stars. And Ocean Odyssey is so vibrant. I look forward to seeing what you create.
Thanks Sarah, I really enjoyed making that one. Ocean Odyssey has all the bright colors that make my heart sing. I’m working on that project now and can’t wait to share it. Looking forward to your creations as well as the other ambassadors – it’s sew much fun to see how others interpret the challenges!
That’s a great hunter’s star pattern. I think both colorways are great. It’s been raining everyday here in Louisiana for about 2 weeks now. My grass is out of control.
The grass has been a little out of control here too. At least we aren’t experiencing a drought! And thankfully all the rain isn’t coming at once or we’d be flooding. I do think I want to make the Blue Moon colorway as I bought a boatload of that fabric – you know how that goes, sometimes fabric just jumps out at you and says “buy me, love me, take me home!” Here’s to sunny days and green grass! And time to mow AND time to sew!
Beautiful! Thanks for sharing!!
And thank you Nancy for taking the time to read and comment!
Great use of the Hunter Star ruler, it’s so pretty Karen!!
Seems the Hunter Star and Lemoyne Star are my comfort blocks – fewer calories than comfort food Thanks for leaving a comment Vicki~
I love this hidden star pattern – and of course, those beautiful batiks!! Can’t wait to see how you quilt them up in your new studio!!
Thanks Brenda – I haven’t even thought about the quilting yet, but will probably use the beautiful Hobbs Wool batting from the most recent Island Batik Ambassador box. I am stacking up the quilts in waiting that’s for sure! Can’t wait for show and tell!
The Hidden Star design is so beautiful, I love the colors that you chose!
Thank you Anita, the colors sorta chose me. I love the challenge of working with the fabrics found in my Island Batik Ambassador box! Always so pretty!
I love the hunter star and love your versions. The orange and black is so much fun and will be perfect for fall!
Thank you, Kathleen. I could use a few more fall decorations – seems its such a short season that it gets overlooked sometimes.