Calico Stars

I fell completely head over heals the first time I saw Amy Smart's first fabric line, Gingham Girls by Penny Rose Fabrics, and knew immediately that I wanted to turn it into sawtooth stars. This is the ultimate summertime fabric, with a real patriotic feel. The sawtooth star is a classic staple that is used over and over again in traditional quilting, creating a homey feel. Without at doubt, this is the quilt I'll be sitting on while I enjoy parades and fireworks this summer!

I have had several people ask me if I used a pattern. I did not, but if you would like to make this quilt for yourself, here are some basic guidelines.

You will need:

• 15 Gingham Girls Fat Quarters
• 3 yards background fabric
• 1 1/2 yards border and binding
• 4 1/4 yards backing

Using my Sawtooth Star Tutorial, make 30 sawtooth star blocks.

From border and backing cut:

• EIGHT 4" x width of fabric for BORDERS
• SEVEN 2.5" x width of fabric for BINDING

Add side borders first, then add top and bottom borders. Quilt and bind as desired.

If you're looking forward to summer as much as I am, you must make a Calico Stars quilt for yourself!

Quilted by Utah Valley Quilting.

Sawtooth Star Tutorial - 12" Block

Sawtooth Star has always been one of my favorite blocks. I've said it before and I'll say it again, I just love traditional blocks! And it doesn't get more traditional than the often used Sawtooth Star. This is the block that I used to make my Calico Stars quilt, using Gingham Girl fabrics by Amy Smart for Penny Rose Fabrics.

For each 12" block, cut the following:

Calico Fabric

• ONE 6.5" x 6.5" square
• EIGHT 3.5" x 3.5" squares

TIP: You can get two blocks from one fat quarter of calico.

Background Fabric

• FOUR 6.5" x 3.5" strips
• FOUR 3.5" x 3.5" squares

Here's a little tip for cutting the background fabric. It takes one 3.5" x width of fabric piece for each star block. If you fold the strip in half twice, so that there are four layers, you can cut it as shown in the above picture to save steps in cutting.

Place a 3.5" square on top of 6.5" x 3.5" background fabric and sew as shown above. Repeat for a total of four pieces.

Trim, then fold corner back and press, as shown above.

Again, place a 3.5" square on top of 6.5" x 3.5" background fabric and sew as shown above. Repeat for a total of four pieces.

Trim, then fold corner back and press, as shown above.

Arrange block, as shown above, and sew together.

Unfinished block measures 12.5" square.