Aran And Fair Isle Stars

Aran Star Quilt Pattern

 

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While browsing knitting patterns and attempting to learn about the history of knitting, I came across Aran knitting.  I find the cable designs of Aran knitting to be incredibly intricate and beautiful.  This is my Aran star – possibly my most favourite star among knitting star quilt blocks.   The diamonds and the lines between them in this star are very much inspired by Aran knitting.

 

 

Aran Star Quilt Pattern

 

 

This was the initial block I made using the Grandma’s House Keys fabric for the background.  I love to pretend that the “petals” are portals to different worlds.  With a different key, a completely different world opens up through the same portal.

 

 

Aran Star Quilt Pattern

 

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Although the Aran star is not nearly as complex as traditional Aran knitting, it can have that layer of intricacy by adding extra colours to the basic design.

 

 

Fair Isle Star Quilt Pattern

 

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The Fair Isle Star seemed like the perfect companion for the Aran Star since they share similar diamond shapes and lines.

 

 

Fair Isle Star Quilt Pattern

 

 

This exact block is the reason for my having to make two of each!  I made the Aran Star with the Keys fabric at first, and then I moved on to making this one.  Once I finished the block, I realised that I had printed this one at 94%.  Since this was going be used on a mini quilt, I needed this to be an exact 10″ block.  By now I had completely run out of the keys fabric since I only had a fat quarter to begin with.   So I had to switch to a different background fabric and I made the Fair Isle Star with the blue background.  Since I couldn’t have just one star with a different background, I had to make another matching Aran star with the same blue background fabric as well.

 

To avoid future printing mistakes, I have started putting a 1″ square on every page of my new patterns.  I am updating all of my old patterns to include that 1″ square as well.  Hopefully no more printing mistakes for me.

 

I think I will make pillows with the keys blocks.  They will go very well with the Fairy Door Pillow that I made earlier this year.

 

 

Fair Isle Star Quilt Pattern

 

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I could play with the colours on these two stars forever!  I love how the look changes with the added colours on the straight lines.  They look like Star-bursts.

 

 

Star Quilt Patterns

 

Mini quilt layout with my knitting stars quilt patterns – Vale, Fair Isle, Aran and Argyle

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In retrospect I am actually happy the mistake happened.   Rather than having all four blocks with a green background, the blue blocks add more interest to the mini.  I will be using Kona Bone for sashing.  I really want to hand quilt this mini which will have to wait until I finish making the Halloween quilt.  You will see these stars appear again on that quilt too.   I am also nearly finished with the layout of the star quilt with solid colours as well.  More on that later!

 

Happy Sewing,
-Soma

 

 

 

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Argyle And Vale Stars

Argyle Star Quilt Pattern

 

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I took a much-needed break from all kinds of technology last week and used that opportunity to take a break from writing a post as well.   We had no wi-fi or electricity, so we hung out, read books, drank lots of tea, played games and at night we looked at the stars outside while keeping ourselves warm with a log fire.  I can’t say I didn’t enjoy the simple life.  That ties in with what I am going show you today, my vintage-themed quilt blocks.

 

When I picked up four fat quarters of Grandma’s House last year,  the only thing I was sure of was that I wanted to make vintage-style blocks without using the usual vintage quilt patterns.  Then, very recently, while browsing through knitting patterns, the perfect idea came to me.  I made four quilt patterns inspired by the knitting designs and history.  This is the Argyle Star, I don’t think introductions are needed for this design.  I love the little points at the end of the crossed lines.

 

 

Argyle Star Quilt Pattern

 

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Of course I couldn’t help but play with the colours a little bit.

 

 

Vale Star Quilt Pattern

 

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This is the Vale Star, inspired by the Yorkshire Dales knitting tradition.  I wanted to keep this block very simple to represent a simple life.  Simple, but full of activity because this block also makes me think of roads leading in and out of the center square.

 

 

Vale Star Quilt Pattern

 

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Here’s my colour-play with the Vale Star.

 

These are so easy to make and there is hardly any aligning of sections.  I am almost done with the other two blocks and can’t wait to show them to you.  I am making a mini with these already-made blocks for my kitlets to snuggle on during cold nights.  I am planning on making a quilt with solids for the bipeds in this house.  These stars are also going to appear on my Halloween quilt.  Versatile, don’t you think?

 

Until next week,
-Soma

 

 

 

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