Friday, February 2, 2018

TBT-Carpenter Star(s)


February is officially here and do you know what time it is?  It's time for some Throwback Thursday fun with Sandra at mmm!quilts.  But just for today it's going to have to be February Flashback Friday...I'm a day late...but for a good excuse.  I was partying a little to hard because of the kickoff of the sign ups for the 2018 New Quilt Bloggers Blog Hop (read more about that here) yesterday.

This month I decided to flash back to a quilt pattern, not just a quilt.  Some people only make a pattern once, but that's not me.  I love repeating quilts that I love.  The Carpenter's Star happens to be one of those patterns.  It's a great pattern for a beginner, lot's of half square triangles and no Y-seams.


This scrappy version in tans and blues was the first one I made.  I made it for my sister in law.  She loved nautical themed things at the time and I hoped the tans, blues and white would have that kind of feel.  Not sure that it does, but hey, I hadn't been quilting a year.  It was quilted with a stipple pattern by a local quilt shop.


Fast forward to summer 2010.  My aunt was getting married and I thought an Americana themed quilt would be perfect for celebrating the occasion.  I loved the white and blue border/binding fabric.  It had a colonial feel to it.  This one was also quilted by a local quilt shop.


Now let's travel to August of 2012.  This was a miniature version of the Carpenter Star Quilt.  I am proud to say that I stippled this one myself.  Every year our family has a huge reunion.  When a family of 13-sh kids has families of 10 or more kids each...well things multiply exponentially.  I'm talking about my grandparents and great grandparents and further back.  Every year at the reunion, we have raffles to raise money for the next year.  I donated this quit.  I was excited to hear that my cousin (more like a brother) won the quilt.  I still see it at their house when I go to visit.


Then there is this one, made in early 2013.  I loved the blue and yellow fabrics.  I made it just for me.  It was also quilted by a local quilt shop and is quilted with and edge to edge flower design.

I can promise this will not be the last one I make.  David actually pieced one last year in civil war reproduction fabrics.  I can't wait to custom quilt it.



My grandmother's maiden name was Carpenter...I think that is why I love this block so much.  I feel a connection with it.


I have a dream of making one for each of my mother's siblings and my cousins.  That means a total of...I've already lost count.  Mom has eleven siblings, add in the cousins and I just ran out of fingers and toes.  Maybe one day.  So for today, I will just have to reminisce about these quilts and dream about the future ones.

If you have a quilt from your quilty past, please write a post, share it and link up with Sandra.  It's always fun to see where we all started before he found Quilt Blog Land.  Also, if you are a new quilt blogger, take a few minutes to read about the 2018 New Quilt Bloggers Blog Hop and sign up.  I promise you will thank me later.


Today I'm linking up with Throwback Thursday, Finished or Not Friday and Can I Get a Whoop! Whoop!

17 comments:

Sandra Walker said...

Wow when you remake a pattern, you REMAKE a pattern woman! This is one of my favourites, too. You're not surprised; neither am I, but then you know star blocks, period, are my faves. I don't know if I could pick a favourite...probably the blues and yellows one, but that purple one is gorgeous too--glad your cousin/bro won it; glad I got to meet him last year! :-) Another gem that came from the NQBBH right? Thanks for linking up!

Jan @Cocoa Quilts said...

I love this kind of quilt, one big block. So many varieties.

Tracie said...

I’ve always loved the Carpenters Star. My mom made a few of these, too. Loved seeing yours!

Stitchin At Home said...

That sure is a lot of Carpenter Stars! They are all beauties in their own right, but I think my fav is the purple one.

Marti said...

You really do like that pattern. It is one of my favorites too, yet I've never made one. My father-in-law was a carpenter and I always thought that would be a good pattern to make for my mother-in-law.

JanineMarie said...

How neat that you have a tradition with that pattern. I like that one huge block makes a whole quilt. It is interesting to see your progression from quilting by check to stippling to your awesome ruler work now. My mom was part of a large family, too, and some of my favorite childhood memories are of those big raucous reunions. Your auction for funding the reunion sounds fun.

Cheryl said...

I love seeing quilt patterns in different colors, I love all of the versions you created.

Sandy Panagos said...

I love how you made each one special with different borders, binding, etc What a great idea on the America quilt with the binding matching the inner border. I may need to borrow that technique!

LIttle Penguin Quilts said...

Those are just wonderful, Tish! An amazing collection! I've never made a Carpenter's Star, but now I want to.

Lisa J. said...

I love seeing all these versions of the carpenters star. It's so much fun to see how they are all different from one another. Do you know what the block size is?

piecefulwendy said...

I agree that seeing the Carpenter's Star is so many different color ways is really helpful and fun. Seeing your progression in quilting is fun too, and encouraging! I look forward to seeing what you do with Dave's quilt!

Janice Holton said...

I've always wondered what the name of this pattern was. Now I know! It's one of my favorites and although I haven't made one yet, I think I might one day! LOVED seeing all of your beautiful versions. Thanks for adding to my quilt name knowledge! :)

Vicki in MN said...

There is nothing wrong with remaking a pattern several times over-as you know I do it all the time with table runners. Besides the more we do it the better and faster we get!

helenjean@midgetgemquilts said...

like yourself, I come from a large family, not my own immediate family, but a ton of cousins and aunts and uncles. It was great growing up. We try very hard to keep in touch but our numbers are dwindling now. I love your carpenters star. It is a block I have only make in small scale, a big one is something I have often thought of.

Yvonne from Quilting Jetgirl said...

There are quilt blocks and patterns that just really resonate, and it is awesome to see the many quilts you have made with the Carpenter Stars!

Lynette said...

Very fun story. I enjoyed very much seeing the different renditions you've made with the Carpenter's Star pattern. It changes so much with each fabric set! And yes, by the way - I do think the first one successfully looked nautical. :)

Unknown said...

Name a star to your loved ones will be a great choice. Check that how to name a star.

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