Scrappy Diamonds Kaleidoscope Beauty Star Medallion Quilt – Part 2
Hello Dear Friends and Readers and a warm welcome to todays post. I would especially like to thank the lovely ladies who have emailed me, patiently awaiting today’s post which is the next step in the Scrappy Diamonds Blocks. I hope you will like this keleidoscopic star quilt. Here is the link to part one of the Scrappy Diamonds Blocks Scrappy Diamonds Blocks
Honestly, there are many possibilities for how these blocks could be set and I have been experimenting with them, but today I will begin the journey of how I think they are going to come together beautifully into a very striking quilt. Do you remember as a child looking though a Kaleidoscope tube for the first time and turning the outside cell so that beautiful patterns would emerge from the reflections of the tiny pieces enclosed within the chamber……well that is how I feel about these blocks. All the little pieces repeating in a star pattern remind me of a beautiful kaleidoscope image, so hence the name.
All of the piecing of the Scrappy Diamonds Blocks was done with machine piecing. Please do not be put off when I tell you that the next part will be hand pieced in order to achieve this striking quilt. It will be easy. The pieces are quite large so it will come together quickly as the main part of the work was achieved when making the Scrappy Diamonds blocks.
So, for those of you who have been waiting, let’s get to it. For those of you who may have missed the first post, have no fear because your can easily catch up and now you will have the advantage of seeing where this quilt is going.
I am using a plain homespun in a bright aqua blue as the backdrop for which the blocks will stand out very well against.
You could use any plain colour which you think will make your blocks shine.
I started with several yards/ metres of the aqua blue background fabric.
I was able to cut 4 diamonds from each 6 1/2” strip.
Seam allowance 1/4”
Requirements for the Scrappy Diamonds Kaleidoscope Beauty Star Medallion Quilt
94 of the Scrappy Diamonds Blocks Scrappy Diamonds Blocks
60 of the background diamonds
Cutting the Background Diamonds
From the background fabric cut width of fabric strips cut at 6 ½” wide.
Use the 60 degree mark on your ruler to cut across the strips to form the diamonds. I cut 4 diamonds from each strip.
Each diamond should match the size of the Scrappy Diamonds blocks. That is, each side should measure 7 ½”
Cut 60 diamonds.
Piecing the Centre Star (Round 1)
Take 6 of the Scrappy Diamonds Blocks. Hand stitch them into a star shape. Begin with two of the Scrappy Diamonds right side together align the seams and points of the diamonds. Start each stitching line approximately 1/4” from the end of the diamond.
All further seams constructed in the same manner.
Use the six blocks to form the centre star.
2nd Round
Take 6 of the plain background diamonds. Using the same technique, place one side of the background diamond against one side of the star right sides together. Note that the plain background diamond will now lie horizontal to the centre star pieces and fill the gap between each one. Begin approximately 1/4” from the points. Stitch to the corners pivoting 1/4” from the corners.
Make Half Star Units (Sets of three)
Sew three sets of diamonds together, so that they resemble a half of the centre star. See image below.
Make 6 Half Star units.
3rd Round
Sew a Half Star Unit to one side of the centre of the Scrappy Diamonds Kaleidoscope Star Quilt centre.
Note: you will be sewing the Half Star unit to the side of the aqua blue diamonds right sides together.
Repeat with the other five Half Star Units.
4th Round
Take 12 of the background diamonds and sew the into the gaps around the star. All the background diamonds will lay horizontal to the outside of the star. Same as round 2.
Here is the link to part three of this medallion quilt
Scrappy Diamonds Kaleidoscope Beauty Star Medallion Quilt – Part 3
Enjoy your day and happy sewing!
Susie
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© Susan Stuklis 2023