2023 & 2024 Quiltalongathon for the Sparkling Stars Quilt

[SewRuthieSews]

Welcome to the 2023 Quiltalongathon for the Sparkling Stars Quilt.

This started out as the 2021 BOM Mystery Quiltalongathon, created by Iminei.
Some of us were not able to do the Mystery Quiltalongathon at the time, but have decided to do it now.

The instructions for each block are in 2021 BOM Mystery Quiltalongathon

[SewRuthieSews]

I've merged this with the previous thread , hope thats not too confusing!

[SewRuthieSews]

For January my goal is to make at least 3 (maybe 5) blocks of The Ruby Star

[Flobear]

I'm aiming to get 3 done of each before I decide if I want the same layout as the 2021 quilt.

Decided to make 2 'Ruby' in tandem this afters as the weather is dire and there's nothing I can usefully do in the house. They're not completely assembled yet.

Btw, I do recall @Lowena expressing an interest in making the SSquilt when I announced that I was going to start it last May 

[Flobear]

I have now made 4 of each block and am experimenting with layout. It's a simple "follow my leader" design and I now need to decide which block is going to go along the centre diagonal. Sod's Law says it will be one of the colours where I have run out of fabric 

A question for people who have made big quilts eg @Bjay  @Lilian @Sandra @Catllar @Ploshkin @Lowena @Iminei ... I'm sure there are plenty of others too.
My SS quilt will be approx 72" square when done. I'm not sure how to back it without buying a load more fabric than I need.  With 44" width buying two lengths would be reasonably sensible but one I rather like is 60" wide and it seems wasteful to buy two lengths.

[Bjay]

Mine I was lucky enough to buy a glorious 60inch wide fabric.
I agree 2 lengths is wasteful but it can add to the stash. 

You can buy sheeting from some outlets have you looked there?

Sorry my quilt is not accessible at the moment for me to check

[Bjay]

Just a quick dive into Mr G and Empress Mills have 108ins wide. There must be others

[Acorn]

If you join the pieces diagonally you can use quite a bit less of a 60" wide fabric.  I'm having trouble describing how to do this, but there is a worksheet for it here.

[Lowena]

Being a tightar*e frugal person I usually use a king size sheet or duvet cover as backing.
In fact I don't think I've ever bought fabric specifically to back a quilt.
I figure you don't scrutinise the back of a quilt.....

[Iminei]

A question for people who have made big quilts eg @Bjay  @Lilian @Sandra @Catllar @Ploshkin @Lowena @Iminei ... I'm sure there are plenty of others too.
My SS quilt will be approx 72" square when done. I'm not sure how to back it without buying a load more fabric than I need.  With 44" width buying two lengths would be reasonably sensible but one I rather like is 60" wide and it seems wasteful to buy two lengths.


I find this to be a recurrent problem!

After buying loads of fabric, sewing your heart out, you suddenly realise you need to spend a Blooming fortune on backing fabric £££    

There are loads of extra wide fabrics now available ... flutter by John Louden comes in almost every colour imaginable ... and most decent Quilt shops will stock a range of extra wide ... but they do cost £££!!!

Alternatively you can piece the back, buy remnants from Quilt shops or Interior designers, use sheeting (wash first to get rid of sizing) or ask your best friends if they might have something suitable 

Good luck, whatever you choose to do ...

[Catllar]

I'm tight too,  I found an old plush bedcover and used that.

[Acorn]

Unless I want something specific, if I can get the right colour I buy an M&S flat Egyptian cotton sheet - a single is 70"x102" (£22.50), and a double is 90"x102" (£25.00) - and the leftover fabric is always useful.

You can often get them in the sales too.

[Iminei]

TK Maxx and Dunelm mill cotton flat sheets too. Depends if you want a pattern or can live with plain.

The Opus, one of my very first quilts was backed with a good quality double sheet from Dunelm ... but make sure you wash the dressing out of it first, it was hell to spray baste because of the sizing.

[Bjay]

I used a Dunelm brushed cotton flat sheet for the Aunt Janet quilt - cost £14.
Washed first and no problems with quilting with it.

[SewRuthieSews]

this afternoon I am going to have a go at the Ruby Star