Treadleonian Triple Star Quilt
For those who may have missed this one in the Challenge Show, here is the TO Triple Star Quilt, done in gradiated blues:
This is a beautiful quilt that really impresses folks, but is not too hard, and would make an excellent class project. The number of squares, by color value, can be specified so that they could be made in advance and brought to the class... or not, as preferred.
Here is the TO Star in a scrappy version, courtesy of Shirley and EQ5:
I started doing a layout like this with TOGA blocks I have on hand. I had forgotten that some of the blocks are two colored, rather than just a color and background. Shirely ran this on EQ5 as an example, and I am very impressed. I especially like the jewel tones EQ provided for the scraps, but then, I'm a sucker for bright colors.
Shirley also had EQ do a fabric requirements calculation, and here is the result of that:
Dick;
Using the color scheme you used for your blue quilt (the one
shown at the TO
website) and with 4" blocks:
ALL per EQ5. (I'm like you; more is better!)
Background Fabric - 2 yards
Dark-Dark - 3/8 yard (dark used in center star)
Bright Medium - 1/8 yard (used surrounding the center square in the center
star)
Dark Medium - 1/2 yard
Medium - 1/2 yard
Light Medium - 3/4 yard
Light - 3/4 yard
EQ saves pix for export as .bmps. My apologies for the .bmp format, but
your scrappy version, as nearly as EQ will allow, is attached.
Finally, if the 2" block size is used, EQ says yardage is:
Background - 3/4 yard
Dark-Dark 1/8
Bright Medium - 1/8
Dark Medium - 1/4
Medium - 1/4
Light Medium - 1/4
Light - 1/4
These are EQ's opinions. I've not calculated the yardage myself, and that
is something I ALWAYS do before I cut, as EQ does some fairly odd things
with yardage.
All given yardages do NOT include border fabric.
Hope this helps!
Shirley
Monte Rio
Note: Looks like a bunch of fat quarters in jewel tones would do it for the scrappy one.
And finally, just because this is something I had a hard time keeping track of, here is a list of the blocks required by type (based on my gradiated blue version). While it is better to have all the blocks made and lay them out, then sew the rows straight across and then join them, I found it easier to organize and identify them by thinking of the quilt as a set of gradually enlarging squares, so I am explaining the block count in that way.
The first, or smallest square, is the center. It consists of 16 blocks. In my quilt, the colors were a very dark blue, not used elsewhere, a very bright blue for contrast, and the background color, which was a pure white. The background color could also be used in place of the very bright blue. This center section, which makes the first star, requires 16 blocks. Here is what you will need:
Plain Background squares: 4 blocks
Very Dark/Bright Blue: 4 blocks
Very Dark/Background: 8 blocks
The middle section, or the second star, requires 48 blocks. I used two more shades of blue, which I refer to as Dark and Medium, to differentiate them from the Very Dark Blues of the center and the lighter blues which will make up the third star. Here is what you will need:
Plain Background squares: 12 blocks
Dark/Medium: 12 blocks
Dark/Background: 12Blocks
Medium/Background: 12 Blocks
The outer section, or the third star, requires 80 blocks. Here is used two more shades of blue, both lighter than those used in the second star. I will refer to them as Medium Light and Pale. Here is what you will need:
Plain Background squares: 12 blocks
Medium Light/Pale: 12 Blocks
Medium Light/Background: 28 blocks
Pale/Background: 28 blocks
Your total block count is 144 blocks, of which 28 are plain background squares, and the rest are half-triangle blocks. As noted, the instructions for making half-triangle blocks are on the TO web site in the Quilt Shop, under the Treadle On Block Exchange heading.
Let me say here that keeping track of the gradiated colors for the pattern as I made it is a very tricky, slippery thing to handle mentally. Atleast it was for me. That's one of the things that I think will make the class very beneficial.
Obviously, any set of color values could be used, not just variatiions of blue. Colors selected for contrast, rather than gradiation, could also be very effective. Finally, a pure scrap approach, as shown in the EQ picture above, is also possible, and would certainly be easier to arrange. For that approach you would simply need blocks as follows:
Plain Background: 28 blocks
Color/Color: 28
Color/Background: 88
Note: In this version, I would be tempted to substitute Color/Background for the four Color/Color blocks at the very center of the quilt, but that would be a matter of personal choice. It might be worth making a few extra blocks so that you could lay it out and study it both ways, then make your choice.
As to the class at the TOGA, I think it could be very helpful to the class participants, to consider, for class purposes, making a much smaller project to the same pattern, such as a baby quilt or wall hanging. Basing the project on 2" blocks would make it much more manageable, and Shirley has provided fabric requirements for that above. Another real good idea if you want a more relaxed class experience would be to make your blocks at home and bring them with you, including a good supply of extras and/or bringing your extra fabric with you, as well. However, if you are a real newbie to quilting and just bring fabric, I will teach how to make the half-triangles, layout tricks, bordering, and even machine quilting as participants needs dictate. The main thing is going to be to learn, to have fun, and to produce something you'll be proud of.
Dick
TO Autumn 2004 TOBE Project is the TO Triple Star in scrap form. Since I had an adequate supply of the HST blocks on hand, I assembled a top so that folks could see what it looked like... and here it is...
OK! The top is assembled, and here are two shots of it. It is 72 1/2" square, just as it is supposed to be at this point. It will be bordered with cobalt blue, then another border consisting of TOBE 3 stripe blocks, then a final border/binding of cobalt blue. The corners will be large dark blue/light blue hst's.
Treadle On Tripple Star Quilt in scrap effect, done with TOBE blocks for the background/color squares and self-provided two color and solid background blocks.
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Same quilt on a queen bed. This is a platform bed, and not as high as a standard. The droop here from the edge of the quilt to the floor is exactly a foot on the sides.
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Dick
You can go back to the instructions for making TOBE blocks to get to the instructions for making the HST blocks for this quilt.