Starjump Quilt Finish and Pattern Release!

There has not been a whole lot of sewing happening since I came home from Quiltcon - I have a huge list of things I'd like to make, but I haven't had the energy or motivation to get started just yet. But I have managed to finish off a few projects that I'd been working on before I went away - one of those being my StarJump quilt. I finished up the quilting and binding a few weeks ago, and we took it to the park for some photos last weekend. Even more exciting, the pattern for this quilt is now available. It's a fat quarter friendly quilt pattern, comes in three sizes, and you can buy the pattern in my new Payhip shop!! 

This quilt started as a pile of MicroMod fabric (a Cloud 9 fabric collection from a couple of years ago), in plum, teal, grey and black. I added in a bunch of other fabrics in these colours, and added some citron prints to give it a bit of pop. I designed several quilts last year using over-sized quilt blocks and I have to admit I'm a bit obsessed. Large blocks are great for using large scale prints and they come together quite quickly which is always a bonus.

The background on this quilt is a bunch of cream solids and low volume prints, and I love the subtle variation in the background that results from this. I quilted it very simply, using the points in the blocks as a guide for straight line FMQ. I love the subtle movement it gives the background areas. I used cream 50wt Aurifil for the quilting and 100% wool batting - I love the texture this combination of thread and batting gives :o)

I have had my team of pattern testers working on this pattern over the last couple of months as well, and I'm really excited to share their versions with you as well! This first (baby sized) version was made by Kirsten who blogs at Gemini Stitches. I absolutely love Kirsten's choice of background fabric, it really makes the print fabrics pop. 

This version was made by Susan (aka Patchwork n Play), as a gift for a friend's new baby. Susan's choice of colours is just perfect for a baby quilt that will be used and loved as the baby grows up :o)

Liz chose to use just four fabrics for her version of the baby size quilt, in a soft palette. Liz's version is a great example of how fabric placement can change the look of this pattern - by using the same colours for the chain elements in each block, Liz has created a completely different look.

Finally, my lovely friend Ella (aka Throw a Wench in the Works) and regular pattern tester made two versions of this pattern. First up a lap sized rainbow version, one of the happiest quilts I've ever seen!

Ella also made a second lap sized version. I love how Ella has played with the placement of the chain elements in this version and made the centre star different to the surrounding stars.

A huge thank you to all of my testers - I absolutely love seeing what people do with my patterns. I think these quilts show really well how versatile this pattern is, and how easy it is to 'make it your own'.  Please pop over to each of my tester's blogs and read more about their quilts - and for a pattern giveaway as well :o) 

xx Jess

Starjump Quilt Top

I thought this quilt was going to take me a bit longer to finish - but a couple of marathon sewing sessions over the last few nights and it is done!

I am SO in love with this quilt. It has been such an enjoyable journey putting it together and seeing all the secondary patterns emerge. Although it is a pretty restricted colour palette (teal, yellow/ochre, black/grey and purple/cerise) I've used a huge range of fabrics in here - a few prints from Jungle Ave, some Cotton and Steel basics, lots of Micro Mod prints (these were the inspiration for the whole quilt), some Denyse Schmidt (I don't think I've made a single quilt without at least one of her fabrics) and a few others. Despite the restricted palette, I think because I've used a range of hues within each colour family, it is quite a dynamic quilt.

I basted it tonight, and am using a long hoarded print for the back - it's been waiting for the perfect quilt, and I think I've found it ;o) This print is from Alexander Henry's Mecca for Modern collection and I had exactly the right sized piece for this quilt. It was obviously meant to be.

I'm hoping to get this quilted fairly quickly - I'd love to enter it into the Blogger's Quilt Festival (although that may be slightly ambitious!!) I am also writing this one up as a pattern at the moment, so hopefully I'll release it by the end of the year (once it's tested etc).

xx Jess