It took the better part of a day but I finished Block 1 of Reach for the Stars, a queen-size sampler quilt designed by Terri Krysan of Lakeville, Minnesota:
The editors of Quilter’s Newsletter magazine, in which the directions are currently appearing as part of a seven-part series, have placed the project under the category “Challenging Workbook,” and they’re not kidding. The blocks are more complex than they appear. Just look at how many points and/or seams have to be matched in the block above. Two dozen, if I counted correctly!
Here is Block 1 in its proper orientation on point:
Oh dear. It’s disappearing on my design wall because of the white background. Here’s a look at it on black fabric:
Block 1 is one of 14 surrounding a center medallion. So far I’ve made the center medallion and two blocks:
The smaller blocks are 12″ (17″ on point), and the center medallion is 26″ (37″ on point).
Jennifer at Seams Crazy is also making Reach for the Stars, in an absolutely gorgeous neutral palette of cream and tan and black. She’s currently working on the center medallion, and it is going to be a knockout! I know of a couple of other quilters who are thinking about making this quilt. Wouldn’t it be fun to have our own little community of quilters who are Reaching for the Stars?
It is gorgeous Dawn. Love it!!
and, very impressive precision! It’s a lovely color/pattern selection.
This is already stunning! Using the black to set off those fabrics and blocks is PERFECT!
I know I say this every single time, but this may be my all time favorite quilt of yours . . . right after Midnight in the Garden that is! 😉
Love your fabrics! That fussy cut center of Block 1 is just gorgeous.
Oh, Dawn, that is going to be fabulous,
Peg
Your points are perfect Dawn! I am getting so excited seeing yours come together ahead of mine! LOL! I walk by my design wall more than I should just to look at my progress. I really love this quilt already. Can’t wait for my fabric order to arrive this week, so I can complete the center. And some time to do it. Do you already have the third magazine? I haven’t received mine in the mail yet … 🙁
The Feb./Mar. issue arrived in my mailbox yesterday, Jennifer, so yours must be on its way. I’ve started Block 2 but am going to put it on hold to work on some other things — and give you a chance to catch up, since I got a head start. 😉 My points are coming together nicely because I have been cutting my pieces oversize whenever possible and trimming them down (in other words, not necessarily following Quilter’s Newsletter’s cutting and piecing directions. . .)
Hi Dawn,
Your blocks are gorgeous!
I am working on this quilt too.
I have just finished the medallion in the center and am starting on Block 1.
I will send you a pic if you can tell me how to do it 🙂
Thanks,
Sherri
Dawn,
A friend of mine found your blog and the “Reach for the Stars” quilt. She knew I was working on this quilt also! I chose to search for the fabrics that were used in the original quilt and I found all but the main paisley and one other. I have substituted those with what I hope will work well. I really fell in love with the colorway that was used. I will continue to watch you and Jennifer at Seams Crazy as you post your projects. This is fun to find other quilters that fell in love with this quilt!
Jennifer, welcome to our small but growing Reach for the Stars club!
I work in a quilt shop and someone brought in some of these magazines to me. I found this pattern and fell in love, but I am unfortunately missing directions to parts 1 and 2. Do you know where I can find the rest of the pattern for this beautiful quilt??