31 January 2012

The Lone Starburst

One of my favorite Flickr quilting bee "genres" are the sampler quilt bees: the 3 x 6 Sampler Quilt Mini Bee and its cousin, the 4x5 modern Quilt Bee.

You make 5 (or 6, depending on the bee) blocks (of your own choice) in colors requested by your beehive-mates. You mail them out, and pretty soon packages arrive from your hive: blocks for you, in your colors, dreamed up by them. I love the creativity these bees inspire in all members, and I've been able to challenge myself and have a lot of fun!

This past quarter, I looked through my flickr favorites and decided to do something like this block by Johanna for 3x6, but scaled up a bit and made into a square.

I thought it would be perfect for paper-piecing, but I couldn't find a template anywhere that looked anything like it. I've also seen something similar called a Connecticut Star, but couldn't find one of those either.  So, I drafted my own with some graph paper and my quilting ruler, and photocopied away.

If you've done a fair amount if paper-piecing, I'm sure you can do the same!  However, after going through some intense photoshop trial-and-error, digital templates are here via via Google Doc.  It's called the Lone Starburst, since it has the basic shape of a traditional Lone Star quilt.  Print four at 100% for a 12.5-inch unfinished block.

Edit: Printing Tips! Google docs isn't the best for templates, so I'd recommend downloading/saving the template to your computer, then opening it with your usual PDF viewer (adobe, preview, etc) to print from there. Make sure that scaling is set to 100% or "none"' (so your comp doesn't try to "fit" it to a page), and measure the 1 inch scale line once printed to make sure it's exactly an inch, no more, no less!  Also, you can measure the edge of one of the templates to make sure it measures 6.5 inches, including the gray seam allowances. 



It's versatile! One of my favorite parts of sampler bees is that you can try out all different color arrangements.  I found that I liked the look of this block best when I choose a fabric with a lot of contrast for the skinny 1/4-inch star outline, which makes the most of the design.

By switching up the values, you can go monochromatic.

This scrappy one is just delicious.  In this case, I used white for the 1/4-inch outline, and mostly tried to alternate warm and cool colors.

Thanks to my friend Moni for inspiring me to do this on my own.  She drafted up a version that's a bit bigger (less background space), which is available via her blog.


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95 comments:

  1. Oh THANK YOU for sharing the template! I can't wait to make this!

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  2. I love this block, I'll have to give it a try!

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  3. thanks for being the 4x5 - you rock!!

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  4. fantastic! I just saw this on pinterest and had to tell you how lovely it is :)
    Jessie, xo

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  5. Wow this block is fantastic! I can't wait to try this. Thank you for the template.

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  6. Love the funky scrap star... thanks for sharing.

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  7. Gorgeous! Thanks for the template!

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  8. I´s beautiful your page!! The star is very pretty!!

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  9. Yummy! Especially the one with the white outline! Thanks for the pattern.

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  10. Thank you for your wonderful creativity and perseverence on creating this template! Love it!

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  11. Thank you so much - our local modern quilt guild has a challenge on use a block we've never done to make a little quilt for the hospital's neo-natal intensive care unit and I think I've found it!

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    1. oooh, how lovely, I'd love to see how it turns out!!

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    2. It turned out beautifully - thank you so much for the template! I only had time to do one for the quilt, but it looks great on its own. I'm sure I'd get faster at them if I made more but as a newbie it was slow-going :) http://hazelnutgirl.blogspot.co.nz/2012/03/nicu-quilt.html

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  12. This is gorgeous! I have just downloaded the template to have a go.

    I've also written a post on my blog for tomorrow morning, linking back to this post, of course.

    Thanks for sharing!

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    1. Wow! I'll be sure to check it out, can't wait to see how it goes.

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  13. I adore your bordered star block! Thanks for sharing.

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  14. I love this and really appreciate your sharing the template! I look forward to trying it.

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  15. wow! I have to try this out. It's so cool!

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  16. This is the neatest block I've seen in a long time! Thank you so much. Could you explain this: "and mostly tried to keep warm and cool colors from touching." I'm not sure what you mean as I'm pretty new to quilting and color selection. I do know warm vs. cool but I don't understand what you mean by this. Thank you again!

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  17. i just downloaded the template... if only my printer had ink!!! ;)

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  18. Thank you so much for such a beautiful block, I can't wait to try it.

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  19. Thank you for sharing this template! We'll be using it for a do.Good Stitches quilt this month :)

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  20. Thanks so much for sharing this file. This block is stunning!

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  21. Beautiful block. But how could I reduce the size to maybe an 8 or 6" block????

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    1. Hmm, that might be tricky, but possible! You could either
      1) print the templates as-is, then use a photocopier to reduce them to 75% (for an 8-inch block) or 50% (6-inch block)or
      2) adjust your printer settings (in the printing dialogue after you select "print") to print them at 75% or 50%.

      The only thing to remember, in both of the cases above, would be to re-draw the seam allowances on the outside of each template to be 1/4 inch, because those would be reduced as well.

      Let me know if you try it, I'd love to see how a smaller version would turn out!

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  22. What a great block, thank you for sharing the tmeplate! Just got turned on to freezer paper piecing last year so look forward to trying this block with it.

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  23. Thanks so much for posting this! I've been wanting to try paper piecing and I love this block. I just watched a youtube video on paper piecing, so here I go!

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  24. Oh! Thanks for sharing the link for these. I'd seen them a while ago and forgot to bookmark the tute page. They may just be the accent pieces I need for a project emerging out of the mists of ideahood right now. . .

    Every one of yours is gorgeous, by the way. :)

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  25. That is beautiful! Thanks for sharing the template!!

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  26. Thanks for the inspiration!! http://pinkzipper.blogspot.com.au/2012/03/almost-star.html

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  27. I just found your blog through "Nostalgic Cafe". I love the Lone Starburst block and can't wait to give it a go. Thanks for sharing your template with us.

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  28. This is a beautiful block. Thank you so much for sharing the template with us.

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  29. Hehe, I just discovered the original creator of the design
    (Jona&Lili) has blogged this on her own blog :)

    See http://jonaetlili.blogspot.de/

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  30. Thank you so much for this template. I LOVE this block!!! I have just blogged about my effort here if you are interested:
    http://craftandnappies.blogspot.co.nz/2012/04/wip-wednesday-lone-starburst.html

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  31. Oh my goodness! I love this! I just found you and I am so happy I did. May I ask a question? I have been trying for 45 minutes to print the template and it will not print? I must be doing something wrong as it will print other things! Any advice? Thanks!

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  32. Thanks so much for this template!! I found your scrappy block on Pinterest and tracked you down LOL! I don't really like paper piecing much - but I certainly will make an exception for this. Love the block! I am also a follower now.
    Marilyn

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  33. Wow! I have always loved the lone star pattern, but have never tried it. I don't know if I am precise enough?? Absolutely LOVE the blocks you have done!

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  34. This star is great! Sadly, I cannot get the template to print, either.

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    1. Hmm, try downloading the file to your computer, and print from there. I added a paragraph of some printing tips in the post, too. good luck!

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  35. Thanks for sharing this fabulous block, i absolutely love it!

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  36. I finished up my star. I love it but I need some advice. http://pinkzipper.blogspot.com.au/2012/04/lone-starburst-finished.html

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  37. Hey there. I've only just found this star (via feresh lemon quilts) and I LOVE it. Another to add to my ever expanding to-do list!

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  38. This is a must do on my list. I love the white background and the fresh colors...I must really be ready for spring!

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  39. I would love to get this template! Every time I click on the template link, it takes me to google drive. Can anyone help me? :) Thanks!

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    1. Hi there! The link is working, as far as I can tell. The templates are hosted on Google Docs (so the url starts with docs.google.com), and may just take a little while to load up. Thanks for your interest, and good luck!

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  40. I just LOVE this block but when I try to save on my mac it says that I need a password to save. Am I missing something?? This has never happened. HELP!! I want to make this!!

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    1. Oh no, I'm sorry you're having trouble. The document isn't password protected from my end, just a regular google doc, although somewhat larger in file size than average. Perhaps using a different browser (like firefox or chrome?) will help? Good luck!

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  41. Hi, this block is so pretty, thank you for sharing the pattern. I found your site via a flickr mosaic and had to follow you so I don't miss out on anything. If I can gather the courage this will be the '8 pointed star' block that I send out for my bee this month, I have it printed so thats a start right?!

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  42. Thank you thank you thank you for sharing this!!!! I love stars and I am going to make one right now...this would make a very cute baby blanket....

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  43. For some reason, I couldn't get this to open correctly when I saved it to PDF file on my computer. I saved it and it would open ok, then the pic would go away and I would have this little black box on the document on the screen, and nothing else....so I printed a copy then scanned it and saved it to my computer instead...I'll try this and see what happens...

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  44. Thank you for sharing this fab block.

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  45. You make this look and sound so easy... I am going to have to make time to try it...thank you so much for sharing

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  46. This is a great block, thanks so much for the paper template... I'm working on my own lonestar burst throw-- http://3hourspast.com/2012/08/06/the-cure-for-stupid-fingers/

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  47. lovely, wish I knew how to read it..

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  48. Hermosa, que fácil y que linda queda!! Gracias.

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  49. I found a photo of your beautiful star block after wandering along on Pinterest for longer than I care to admit... ;-) You know, I have never been interested in piecing stars before, and I just realized it's because I've only seen them in dreary Civil War era reproduction quilts full of ugly brown and maroon fabric. Your stars feel fresh and fun -- you've inspired me to try some of my own!

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  50. OH how lovely. I love stars. I am trying so hard NOT to start anything new, but this one is pushing every button I have. Good thing I do not have time to spend in my sewing room right now.

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  51. I love the block. Your fabric choices really make them stand out on the white. Can't wait to try it. Love making different types of stars. I think I will try a scrappy one and go from there. Thanks!

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  52. I just posted a comment, or at least thought I did...let's try this again.

    LOVE the stars! Thanks for the template. I'm a cardmaker and I'm going to try to decrease the size to do paper piecing to put on cards. Thanks for sharing.

    One question - what font did you use for this posting? LOVE it, gotta have it!

    Ruthie

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    1. Thanks, I'm so glad you like it! The font on this blog post is just blogger's default... I think. On the template, it's Century Gothic, one of my favorites! happy stitching!

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    2. Thanks, Anna, for your response. Can't wait to try it out.

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  53. Thank you so much for this wonderful template! I'm using it for a quilt block swap and I hope the other ladies love it as much as I do. I've saved it as one I want to make for myself - I think it would be lovely repeated in several colorways with white background for an entire quilt or as a single block for a pillow. So many projects and so little time...

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  54. Beautiful star - many thanks for sharing the pattern.

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  55. Totally LOVE the scrappy one, but then I love the red one too. What am I saying? They are all fabulous. Thanks so much for the template.

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  56. Hi,
    I am a new quilter, at age 58! Stars and log cabins are my favorites! This block is beautiful. I was curious about the "Quilting Bee" info and checked into it. After doing that,my question is, do you know if there is another "bee' available to those of us who do shop at Joanns and don't turn out perfect blocks?
    Respectfully, Sharon

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    1. Hi Sharon,
      How wonderful that you're looking for a bee! I think you should pose your question to the flickr quilting bee community--I started out participating in bees there as a beginning quilter. If you can think it up, you can create any kind of bee you like! Here's another great resource for bee information: http://www.stitchedincolor.com/2012/04/how-to-start-quilting-bee.html
      Thanks for stopping by!

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    2. Thanks, Anna,
      I may just wait awhile to join a bee. Besides that, I am very techno challenged and don't really "get" all the facebook and flicker stuff. probably wouldn't know how:).
      I am bookmarking several of your lovely quilts to try soon.
      I really appreciate your blog.
      Sharon

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  57. Do you have a direct link to this pdf? I've tried to print it on my computer, but, it comes out blank. Hubby also tried on his office computer, but, it still came out blank. Weird. I'd really like to try this pattern. I'd be happy to mail a SASE to you, and have you send me a copy snail mail. I could then take the copy to the printers and print off as many as I would need, saving the original copy. Thanks.

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  58. Hi Anna! Just wanted to let you know that I am having a wonderful time with your Lone Starburst block! I decided to use it for my Rainbow Scrap Challenge this year and have already made the pink and purple blocks. You can see my blocks here if you would like: http://aquiltandaprayer.blogspot.com/search/label/Lone%20Starburst

    Thanks for sharing such a fun block!!!

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  59. Thanks so much for the digi template! This block has created quite a craze.....so, I must join in!

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  60. Saw this pattern done via a blog "Remember your Karma" and has a link to your site. Thanks for having this paper piecing available for download, I would LOVE to do this paper pieced star...because I LOVE TO DO paper piecing :)

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  61. I just love this block but have never paper pieced anything in my life. If you have time to dumb it down for a beginner, would you mind telling me the sizes of fabric I should cut for each section? I know you typically cut oversized squares and rectangles and then trim the excess after you've stitched them onto the foundation fabric and paper, but specific measurements of the pieces for each section would be super helpful! Thanks so much for sharing this block and the template you created! It is so beautiful!

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    1. Thanks for the kind words. To start, here are a couple of great paper-piecing tutorials that are pretty reflective of how I like to paper-piece! I know the first one covers how to approximate fabric sizes for each piece.

      http://threadstofabric.blogspot.com/2009/09/how-to-paper-piece-tutorial.html

      http://www.blockcentral.com/a-fpp1.shtml


      For the Lone Starburst, I think the sizes I used were as follows, and urge you to double check with the technique in that first tutorial:
      1: 4x2.5 inches (cut 8)
      2: 1x3 inches (cut 8)
      3: 1x3.5 inches (cut 8)
      4: 1.25x4 inches (cut 8)
      5: 1.25x4.75 inches (cut 8)
      6: 4x3 inches (cut 8)
      7: triangle made from halving a 5x5 square (you only need to cut 4 squares per block that way)

      If you're just starting, I'd also recommend being a little more generous with your initial cuts, and practicing with a simple pattern with scrap fabric, just to get the hang of it.

      Good luck, and happy stitching!

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    2. Anna, Is there someway you could send me the directions or the templates for the different sizes to have for the future of making smaller stars for the different size quilts.

      I would appreciate this very much.

      Thanks!
      vern.kidd@gmail.com

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    3. You can change the size of the block by changing the scale when you print, which most PDF viewing software allows you to do. The only thing you have to remember is to adjust the gray seam allowances so that they are always a full 1/4 inch (easy to do with your quilting ruler).

      For instance, if you wanted a 6" finished block, you could print at 50%, 8" would be 75%, etc, since 100% gives you a 12" finished block. I suppose if it fit on the paper you were using to print, you could go bigger, too!

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  62. Thought I would share what I made with you! http://www.carryingsunshine.com/2/post/2013/03/swapin.html

    Thank you so much for creating and sharing this tutorial. Love it!

    Ann

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  63. Thanks for the template! I had never paper pieced, but loved this Lone Starburst when I saw it on Pinterest. I just had to try it. I imagine that it probably wasn't the wisest pattern to choose for a "first time" paper piece attempt, but with some trial and error. I think I succeeded. You can see pics of it on my blog. I linked to you and gave you credit for the PDF.
    http://iloveyoubushelandapeck.blogspot.com/2013/03/paper-piecing-first.html
    Thank you again!

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  64. Thank you so much!!! I just pinned this beautiful block from Craftsy!

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  65. This is a lovely pattern and you did a great tutorial. I'm going to try this as a log cabin style and see how it goes.

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  66. A very lovely pattern. I've seen it on Craftsy where I have my pattern library but since sometimes I've not succeded in download any pattern.. They telle me I must tell you this problem.
    I have Acrobat reader of course.
    Thank you for your answer

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    1. I can try to help, but would need some more information about the exact problem. Can you find the file once you have downloaded it? Unfortunately, your email address is no-reply, so if you would like to continue this convo on email, which I'd welcome, please send me a message at sixwhitehorsesstudio [at] gmail [dot] com

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    2. Also, all my best tips (as well as ideas from other downloaders!) are in the comments thread for the pattern on crafty: http://www.craftsy.com/pattern/quilting/other/lone-starburst-paper-piecing-templates/51692/comments

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  67. Are you aware if anyone has digitized the Lone Starburst pattern into an In The Hoop project?

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  68. I wonder if there is a way to reduce the block size by half?

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  69. Is this template still available for download? I would love to make a scrappy version

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    Replies
    1. yes, just click the link on the post that says "via Google Doc"

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