…rocket star quiltalong…

It is a somewhat inconvenient truth, that no matter how many projects I have on the go at any one time (exhibit A – the three crochet blankets, two cross-stitches and three quilts currently adorning my craft room in various stages of completion ), I am always a sucker for the latest new and shiny thing. So when an email came landing in my inbox, inviting me to join in the Fat Quarter Shop’s latest quilt along, I couldn’t hit “accept” fast enough. I was, thankfully self aware enough to take up just the block option, because just the thought of managing to complete and entire quilt, in a month, well, let’s just say that’s not a concept I am familiar with!

How cute is this little block?? The Rocket Star block was a super fun, and quite easy block to whip up. The block pattern (available for free here) suggests the use of a diamond 30 degree ruler, which I don’t own, and so I thought I would just work around it with my own existing square rulers. In hindsight, I can see the benefit of the custom ruler, and if I was doing the full quilt I think I would splurge, just for the accuracy of those outer corners. I managed to make my approach work though, and with only one seam to unpick #winning

The main star fabric is a Mixologie print (with coordinating Bella Solids for the outside), and it arrived at a very different scale to what I was expecting. I thought that print was going to be at least half the size it ended up being. The larger size probably did make it a bit easier to match the pattern, with all the star points being fussy-cut to fit the centre block. I will confess though, it did take me quite some time to get used to it, and to like the finished block. As it’s just the one block, I can live with it. If I was making an entire quilt, I do think I would replace the print with something more scale-appropriate…and possibly read the listings a little bit better next time to check the actual size of the print!!

I had so much fun being part of this quiltalong! The full wrap up is up now over on the FQS Blog, and there is also a video tutorial if you are the video type.

The finished quilt is super pretty! The official finished version is made from Basic Grey’s Nova range, which I’m thinking I’m going to need a whole heap of in my stash! I’ve always been a sucker for Basic Grey (I even have some of their scrapbooking papers still in my stash, and I’ve been hoarding them so long I’m pretty sure they count as vintage now…), and teal & raspberry? Such a pretty combo. There is also a kit and backing set available for this particular pattern – this is the way I bought my fabric for my block of the month quilt back in 2012, and it was generous enough for me to upsize the original design from a single to a queen sized quilt, and also make a matching generous throw quilt (just shy of single size) from the leftovers.

A big thank you to FQS for having me as part of the quilt along! I will clarify I was given early access to the block pattern, but purchased the fabrics of my choosing, from my own funds.

Now, to actually turn this block into something!! I’m thinking of using it as a medallion of sorts, to make a throw quilt for Master 12, using the three solids from the block to extend it outwards. Because, you know, I don’t have enough quilts on the go at the minute or anything!