Wonky Star

"Wonky Star" - in progress

Today's workshop at the Stitchin' Post in Sisters, Oregon was a lot of fun. We spent the day with Gwen Marston, who taught us about liberated medallion quilts. I know Gwen draws inspiration from antique quilts, so I decided to make a Wonky Star based on two very old New England quilts.

Center Star, c. 1815-1825, New England, Museum of American Folk Art

The eight-pointed star set on a square is one of the oldest pieced designs you'll find in American quilts, and this Center Star from New England, made sometime in the 1815-1825 period, is a quilt that sticks in my mind. It was fun to try a new spin on it. One of the quilts in my collection, a Rhode Island quilt c. 1800, also includes these eight-pointed stars set on squares.

Star Medallion, c. 1800, Rhode Island

The other inspiration quilt, which I brought with me, served as the idea for the color palette. The quilt is a wool economy block, c. 1810, from New England.

It's a wonderful quilt, one of my very favorites, and I love the mustard, rust, and deep browns that go toward black. The binding is red on three sides and green on the other side, so I may include those colors - or not. Probably won't get too much bigger, since I feel like it has to be hand quilted. Maybe finish the border I've started and one more larger border. I want it to be the size of one of Gwen's quilts, a good size for hanging.

The one thing I have to admit is I didn't get as much done as I thought I would. Talking the whole time, of course, and it's been a long time since I worked in a group environment, so I got distracted easily. Hopefully I'll buckle down and get more done tomorrow, Saturday, and Sunday with Sue Spargo and Gwen. We're making wool applique quilts, and if you read my earlier blog, I'm a man with a plan!.