~ Stars and Stripes Forever ~

Over the years I've had many requests for quilt patterns of quilts I've designed and made.  So this year it's time to finally fill some of those requests.  The first of the requested  patterns was Bluebirds and Blossoms, you can find it here.  Stars and Stripes Forever is next and now available in my Etsy shop.

Stars and Stripes Forever is a throw sized quilt pattern that is the perfect size for Quilts of Valor.  The 69 x 79 finished quilt would also be a great little quilt to take along on a summer picnic or backyard barbecue.   And how jealous would the neighbors be to see this tossed over your comfy rocking chair or porch swing?

 I designed this quilt after seeing a beautiful quilt that was much more advanced.  You can read more about the inspiration quilt here.

My quilt is scrappy, made from fat quarters and fat 8ths.  But this could easily be made from 100% scraps from your scrap bins.  Most of the fabrics in Stars and Stripes Forever are from Wal-mart, Joann's and our local discount quilt shop that has gone out of business.  You can read more about my fabric choices here.

Since I like to break the quilting rules I chose to  use two different methods of applique in my quilt.  The stars are raw edge fused applique using Heat N Bond Lite and Superior MicroQuilter 100wt Thread.

The wave in the border is a more traditional applique that does not have raw edges.  It was stitched in place using Superior Thread Mono-poly Clear thread.  This thread is amazing!  Once the quilt is washed you can't tell the wave has been machine stitched in place.

The Stars and Stripes Forever pattern can be found in the Podunk Pretties Store on Etsy as both a Mailed paper copy and an instant PDF digital download.

If you're a patriotic quilt lover like me you might also like Patriotic Picnic that is also available in the Shop. This big scrap buster quilt finishes at 95 x 95!

#starsandstripesforeverquilt #patrioticquilt #patrioticquiltpattern #podunkpretties #redwhiteandbluequilt

Pin It

~ Stars and Stripes Forever ~

 Hi Friends!  Thanks for dropping by Podunk!  This week we've been blessed with  picture perfect weather.  The sunny days with low humidity are amazing for outdoor quilt pictures.  So you're scratching your head thinking, low humidity?  How does that effect picture taking?

Well, high humidity really doesn't effect the quilt or the camera, it effects ME and my willingness to stay out in heat to get the perfect shot.  Wallace Farms has so many awesome little nooks great for staging quilt photos.  I have my favorite spots but have decided to expand this properties full potential.  The owner, Debbie Wallace, gives me the freedom to roam about and take all the pictures I want.

While trying to set up the perfect quilt photo it's easy to forget I'm here to get good detailed photos of the quilt and not the background.  However the lighting was perfect yesterday for quilting details.  There was no need to up close and personal with the quilt.  My simple, quick and easy free motion quilting shined bright in every picture.

There's a little ruler work on the stars to make them pop out to the quilt.  I used the same backing on this quilt as in my last patriotic quilt.  It's from the fabric line Hope Chest by Penny Rose Fabrics.   When I saw this fabric at Ben Franklin Crafts in New Albany Indiana for $2.99 a yard...I bought the entire 12 yard bolt!   That's better prices than Walmart fabric.  Which reminds me, most of the fabrics in this quilt are from Walmart.  There's a few designer prints.  The binding and the star in the bottom left of this picture is Lakehouse Drygoods.  

The truth be told I wish we could all afford to work with nothing but designer fabrics but that's just simply not the case.  When you love what you do, you will find a way to do what you love.  Will these fabrics last as long as designer fabrics?   Only time will tell, so lets just enjoy our creations now and hope for the best!  

What I can tell you is, as I stitched down the raw edge applique stars, they all behaved the same.  Meaning....none of them frayed on the edges, the fusible wasn't more visible, the whites didn't shadow the background fabrics any worse than the designer fabrics.  The wavy blue border is designer fabric that is bias cut and not fusible applique, it too behaved well with the cheaper fabrics as I glued and stitched it into place. You can see how the wavy blue was attached here.

But the one thing I loved was seeing this on the cheaper fabrics.  

Stars and Stripes will be a published pattern sometime next week.  I'm gonna say Friday but it could be sooner.  Keep your eyes open!  There will be a special offer when it's published!

See you soon!

~ Lea Anne ~

Pin It