Solstice: A Reverse Star Quilt

I am so excited that this quilt is finished.  It turned out exactly the way I pictured it in my mind.  It was inspired by this Rainbow Reverse Star quilt and made entirely from my stash.  The only thing I had to buy was thread.  It is part of my January goal for A Lovely Year of Finishes. 

I am naming it "Solstice," because of the name of the backing fabric.  Plus, Cheetah and I can agree on that name.  ;) 

I had a little over four yards of the Winter Solstice fabric, which wasn't enough for the entire backing.  So I added a strip of navy with gold specks to the top. 

I talked about the piecing of this quilt in my last post.  It went together very fast.  :D

I was really excited to get my Janome back this week so I could quilt this quilt.  I am so glad that my machine got serviced, because the disturbing squeak is no longer there.  ;)  However, it reminded me of getting your car serviced and all your preset stations on the radio have been changed.  I had to adjust the tension on my bobbin case to work with the threads I like, I had to adjust the top speeds on my machine, and had to adjust the foot pressure.  So it took me a little bit longer to actually get to quilting. 

The first part I quilted was the stars with a white thread. 

I used my Hera Marker to crease the white square in half vertically, horizontally, and diagonally.  Then I quilted the star like it was pieced with eight diamonds.  I love the effect on the front and the back. 

Then I quilted with a dark navy thread with a pointy spiral. 

I found it more difficult than the last time I quilted pointy spirals, because I had to quilt around the stars and not all over the entire top.  It changed the way I had to think about where to quilt next, but it worked.  It also made it harder to keep a consistent density of the spirals, but the pattern is very forgiving and I don't think anyone else would notice. 

I don't normally like darker thread for quilting on lighter fabrics, but I like how it turned out on this quilt.  It gives the quilt movement and darkens the "sky." 

I bound it in the same navy with gold specks that I used on the backing. 

While it is twin size...

It will live on my sofa in the family room as a large throw for now.  It will be a fun January and July seasonal quilt. 

Can you see my layer cake lemonade quilt peeking in the background?

It is so much fun having two quilts made from the same fabrics so close together.  (Plus the table runner on top of the computer desk.)  And if you ever come visit, you can park your truck, car, motorcycle, or wagon with these.  LOL.

I just love this quilt!  Wait, have I already said that?

Quilt Stats #85
Name:  Solstice
Pattern: inspired by this Rainbow Reverse Star
Fabric:  Blues from my stash
Amount used:  10.5 yards
Batting:  Hobbs 80/20
Size:  about 72 x 90 inches
What I learned:

• The Hera marker worked lots better marking quilting guides than HST guides. 
• I sometimes like darker thread on lighter fabrics. 
• I love using my stash (even if it is from the 90s).

XX,
Jasmine

P.S.  I will be linking up with Can I Get a Whoop Whoop? at Confessions of a Fabric Addict, and Finish it up Fridays at Crazy Mom Quilts.