Have you picked up your Quiltmaker’s 100 Blocks volume 6 yet? It’s officially on sale now! I hope you enjoyed last week’s blog tour as much as we did. This week, Quiltmaker editors are sharing our designs. Today it’s my turn!
Designing foundation-pieced blocks for Quiltmaker’s 100 Blocks issues has been a fun challenge for me. In volumes 2–5, I designed a block for each of the 4 seasons. But what next? Time to pull out my computer and fire up the EQ7.
The first thing I did in EQ was set up a 6″ square to sketch a section of the block. There I sat with a blank slate and no idea which direction to take. Then in the back of my mind I heard, “What if?” Before I was an editor at Quiltmaker, I was an accountant. I frequently used “what if analysis” when plugging numbers into budgets. So, okay. . . “what if” I draw two diagonal lines through the center? “What if” I created spiky triangles on each side? “What if” I draw diagonal lines on opposite corners? Not all that impressive, is it?
6" section
“What if” I join 4 of those 6″ blocks together to make a 12″ block? That’s more interesting.
6" sections joined to make 12" block
Now, “what if” I color it? I’m a batik lover and when it comes to color, I lean toward rich jewel tones. Since I was playing “what if”, I decided to go for something completely different. As I played with the colors and values, a variation of a Friendship Star took hold. My final coloring used reds, golds and blues. I searched for the same fabric colors to sew the block, and selected the Legacy line from Timeless Treasures.
Spinstar by Eileen Fowler from Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks, vol. 6
I wasn’t the only one who played. Check out these arrangements of the 6″ sections made by QM block tester Coleen Tolzmann:
QM block tester Colette DeGroot used some funky stripes, dots and floral prints in her block. Wow! Wouldn’t that make a fun quilt?
Now, “what if” this 12″ block was repeated in a quilt? When I dropped the blocks into an EQ layout, additional stars emerged at the block intersections. The diagonal strip in the middle of the 6″ sections looked like sashes. Look at the light blue patches. Do you see them forming a circle around the secondary star? 
Nope, I couldn’t make just one block. I went for an entire quilt top. Notice my spiky triangle-square border. (Now if I can just get it quilted before the year is over!)
I searched the galaxy for a name that would fit this block. But my nickname for it, “Spinstar,” stuck. (Not to be confused with “spinster”–that was my Aunt Bertha.)
If you still haven’t picked up your copy of Quiltmaker’s 100 Blocks Volume 6, here’s another chance to win it. And I’ll include a 100 Blocks mug!
To win, your mission is to leave a comment here by midnight MST tonight (11/15/12) and include the name of a celestial star or constellation. (That would be a star in the sky, not a star in Hollywood.) One random winner will be chosen. Good luck!
Congratulations to Kathy! Her comment #89 was picked at random. A 100 Blocks volume 7 and mug are on the way!
Andromeda!
Orion
Polaris, keeping my fingers crossed
The Milky Way
Love your block. Have always liked Orion. Thanks for the chance to win.
Milky Way!
Thanks for the giveaway!
Sirius
Ursa Major!
Cassiopeia
Pyxis which means mariner’s compass.
Draco the dragon
Holy cow! That quilt is amazing! I’d tell you to name if after Ursa minor….but there is nothing minor about it!!!!!
The Big Dipper.
I love this block…and the quilt. It would work in so many different colour combinations. I’ve always loved the Pleiades, which means seven sisters…sounds like there’s another quilt block in there somewhere. Thanks for all the chances to win.
The only one I can easily find in the sky is Orion. I always look for him when star-gazing.
Pleiades or Seven Sisters! This star cluster is already a quilt block!
I guess I’d choose Orion. That light blue circle might be a belt.
Hamal
I’ll say Cancer Constellation since I was born in July.
Since I come from the “Land Down Under” I’d have to nominate the Southern Cross for my group of stars. Stunning design, this Spinstar!
The little dipper!
Ursa Major.
That is a beautiful block which can make an awesome quilt, my pick Hercules. Thanks for the giveaway.
Crux, or Southern Cross. I chose this one because live in the southern hemisphere.
I love your triangle boarder. Pieced boarders are so much more interesting than plain. I also love this block in the brights….Rock on!
Hmmm how about the seven sisters?
A constellation is Libra, which I put into a quilt once upon a time. Thanks for a chance.
When I was a child my sisters and brothers and I would always look for the big and small dipper when we were outside or riding in a car after dark. I still find myself looking for it as an adult and every time I find it I remember those long ago years growing up.
Cepheus forms a shape resembling the cap of a clown. I remember learning all about the constellations when I was a Girl Guide leader out on camping trips with the girls.
Your block and fabrics are wonderful. Fabulous quilt.
Polaris! (the pole star)
RIGEL – the brightest star in Orion! Would love to win a copy and a mug! If not I shall have to purchase the magazine as I am trying to collect all the issues!!
Pegasus
I have always love the big dipper. Thanks for the chance on your wonderful giveaway. I would love a magazine and a mug.
Sirius aka Dog Star
Love the block and all the variations you made, it looks spectacular!!!!!, I’m still daydreaming with your prizies
, and now about the constellation, I’ll say Orion (the name of my doggie, lol)
I grew up in the country and star gazing was a favorite pasttime. Always looked for the Big Dipper first.
Orion was always my favorite – until my son’s summer camp made their own planetarium and their own constellations with corresponding stories. Now I like the “Golden Cow”
Orion
Orion
That is a very pretty and interesting quilt. There are so many ways to turn the block. Thank you for sharing.
Chamaeleon – What the block could be called since it looks so different with different fabrics.
Thank you for a chance to win!! I too like Orion.
Gemini…
Oh how pretty! How about the morning star?
Big Dipper. I really like your block
Capricorn…love the mug!
I always remember Cassiopeia because it is so fun to say. lol
My favorite is Pleiades but when I was working I would always look for Orions belt as I drove home in the winter. I could see it out the drivers window and it was comforting to know that it was there during my 50 mile nightly drive.
A stunning block and quilt. The center of a 4 block group looks like a star- reminds me of Crux- the Southern Cross. All the possibilities shown are delightful.
Camelopardalis
I am fond of the Aquarius constalation.
I love the different look with this block..beautiful…libra!
I just love the spinstar as you could make so many different blocks with the pattern.
Thanks for all of your tips and patterns.
Gloria
Triangulum seems appropriate!
The Big Dipper
Polaris. LOVE your block!
Swan ( Cygnus) Constellation
I love this block. The posibilities are and the colors are endless. Thank you
How about pulsar?
Orion. Beautiful block. Thanks for the chance to win.
Great block! I love paper piecing, so this really speaks to me. Thanks for all of the layout suggestions. As far as the constellations go, I’m not very good at astronomy, but I always liked the name of the constellation Cassiopeia.
Orion
Orion for its brightness!! What a beautiful quilt. So many possibilities with this block.
Thank you for the chance to win, and good luck to all.
Galaxia. Beautiful quilt
The Universe!!!
What a beautiful quilt! Great job! Beautiful color combinations!
Thank you for another chance to win the mag and mug!
Aquila
Pegasus, Orion, Big Dipper, Little Dipper
Your block is neat love your colors and setting, oh my the testers sure thru out some cool options for setting it different.
Orion, which at my latitude is a circumpolar constellation!
Orion, sometimes subtitled The Hunter, is the one I am choosing. I really like The Hunter the best. Really enjoyed your tutorial on SpinStar. That sure was interesting as well as educational. Thank you for giving all your followers anothe opportunity to win that magazine and, of course, the infamous mug.
Sandi T.
sandit1@sbcglobal.net
The Big Dipper is my favorite. Keeping my fingers crossed.
Carol L
Corona Borealis (The Northern Crown). LOVE the motion on your block!
Aurora Borealis. This block really has a sense of movement to it. It changes with section piecing choices.
Vega — the brightest star in the constellation Lyra.
What a great block. Ursa Major is shining brightly.
The Big Dipper. Love the creative possibilities with the Spinstar block!
Love the Seven Sisters, even if I can never find them.
The Big and Little Dipper – the first constellations that I learned about as a child. This is a wonderful block, especially in the quilt you made. I’m a spinster like your Aunt Bertha. It’s fine to name the block Spin-sters.
How about The Big Dipper, thanks for the giveaway.
Cassiopeia is a favourite. And the Southern Cross.
Orion (well, his belt at the very least)
I can recognize big and little dipper. Your block is beautiful and nice colours.
I’ll say Leo, which is a constellation and also my zodiac symbol and my nephew’s name.
Orion is my favorite, learned to pick it of the sky in scouts.that is amazing what all you can do from one basic pattern. Totally cool!!!!!
Es un hermoso bloque. Mi estrella favorita
El sol
I love Sirius, the dog star because I love dogs!
Wow! Spinstar is one of those that doesn’t look like anything in a single unit, but stunning when put together! I love all the design options and colors, and pointing out all the secondary patterns! just amazing!
I have always loved Pegasus and the Horse Head Nebula. And Orion.
Thanks!
Karlavagnen (sorry, don´t know the english word)
Gun, Sweden
What a beautiful quilt and colours.
How about calling it……
The God’s Eye.
http://urbanlegends.about.com/od/naturalwonders/ss/Eye-Of-God.htm
Your design trully reflects it.
All the best.
Kath
our posting fascinates me. I just love to see how color changes a pattern’s appearance and what a dfference rotating the blocks makes. P.S. As a baby my first puppy was Sirius – named for the “Dog Star”.
I love your block made in the Legacy line from Timeless Treasure the colors are gorgeous. My favorite constellation is Ursa Major as it contains the Big Dipper which I loved to search for in the night sky when I was a kid.
cygnus
Hello. I like looking for the big and little dipper in the evening sky. I also like Orion. Cute block, I love the pattern when put together as a quilt. I am a batik lover too. I think it would look wonderful in purples and blues. I may have to make it for my daughter.
Pegasus and andromeda
ursa minor (i think) – isn’t that a small bear? not sure, but the name stuck in my head. love the block and would really like to win a copy of the magazine!
I’ve always loved the Dog Star, Sirius.
The North Star as it shines and shows the way, which is what this quilt does. Nice job.
40 Eridani A! A real star, but it fiction it’s supposedly the home system of the planet Vulcan.
/nerd
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stars_and_planetary_systems_in_fiction#40_Eridani
***** THE MILKY WAY *****
What a neat block! Sirius B the Dog Star
First thought is the constellation Leo.
I always like Pegasas cause I like horses… great quilt!
Orion – sat out last night with my girls watching for shooting stars… and talking about stars and planets. [And thanks for a chance to win the mag and mug!]
I always liked the Little Dipper. On a clear night, I can still pick it out! I like the versatility of your block. Nice job!
Cassiopeia, is that the right spelling? Isnt this the constellation of the lady? I think she must be quilting! I need this magazine anyway!
Sirius – my favorite star.
Gina
Orion-the hunter!
Cygnus the Swan is one of my favorites! Probably because I can actually find it!
“Little Dipper”
Your choice of fabrics and placement nearly match the foyer and living room decor and furnishings of the home of sister and brother-in-law in their rural home Iowa home built in 1866.
The Big Dipper, that’s the only one I can spot easily! I love the spinstar and the quilt looks great! Thanks for the giveaway and the chance to win the magazine and the cup too! I have gone to 3 shops looking for the magazine and haven’t found it yet. I’m going to one more place today before I order it online…
Cassiopeia it is for me. Love your SpinStar!
Thanks for a chance.
Cassieopia, as I just read in a Dean Koontz’s Odd Thomas book.love these giveaways!
Great Block I would have to say Virgo!!!
Orion is the one i always remember, i loved the movie “Men in Black”. love the block and quilt, thanks shobbs@scarlette.com
Your “spinster” comment is hilarious!
Love the design and the color combination!
The only star group I can think of is the Big or Little Dipper!!
Orion came to mind first when I read your post. I love the block and the secondary patterns that it created.
I like the Little Dipper.
I like the Big Dipper; one I can find and looks like its name!
The big dipper. The block looks amazing in your quilt. Thanks for a chance to win. janita
Orion–just saw it in the sky last night, not easy here because so many lights.
Little dipper
Ursa Major is my choice. Thanks for the giveaway!
Orion comes to mind, thanks to Eleanor Burns.
It would be awesome to win!
Orion! awolk at rogers dot com
Casseopia has been my favorite since college astronomy class. Just the name, I guess.
I love star-gazing, but I live near a city and there is a lot of light pollution that hides the dimmer stars. One constellation that I can count on seeing is Orion. He is rising in the east this time of year, a sure sign that winter is on the way.
If I win, for sure I’ll have stars in my eyes!!!!!!, I love to see Venus in the sky, I’ll keep my fingers and toes crossed, yayyyyyyyy
I have to say Polaris or the North Star, since I come from a long line of sailors and it is what guided them home. Love the star block and lots of fun variations.
Debbie
Your block looks like crystal, Eileen. Love it. There’s a constellation called Libra, my sign, and it means balance, of which there’s a lot of in your block!
Love this! How easy to design it!
Orion!
Orion is my favorite. What a gorgeous quilt, and I need that book/magazine.
I like the Big Dipper. Thanks for the chance to win. I love your block and your Spinstar quilt.
What an interesting block, I enjoyed reading about your design process. My favorite star is our nearest one, the sun! After several gray and dreary days I was so happy to see it peeking out from behind the clouds this afternoon!
I have to go with Polaris, the North Star, because it is the first star my Dad taught me to seek out in the night sky.
Leo
The Milky Way is a cluster of stars. That’s one beautiful quilt.
I’m happy to see the Tester’s versions on here. Thanks for designing it. I’m not a fan of the foundation piecing either, but I liked making this one. I shared mine on the last day of the Blog tour.
The Little Dipper! Would love a chance to win this …I’m always looking for new ideas to explore!
I just came from Quiltmaker. I sure would love a magazine!! Thank you for the giveaway.