Often times, most of the hard work in quilting, is calculating quilt measurements, cutting out the fabric and sewing up the quilt top. Knowing this, my husband had the fabulous idea of doing a two-fer for the next quilt. We really liked this idea, and, you may have noticed, we ran with it. You have seen some “twin” quilts in previous posts, and are likely to see more.
I have a nephew graduating from college, and my husband had a friend getting married, both of whom are big Star Wars fans. The idea was for a Death Star quilt for each of them. I had lots of help with creating a master template (40 inches diameter), cutting out the template and cutting out the fabric.We kept track of the pieces by putting them up on the design wall. I was glad for the overall 8 foot width to hold both of these:
I had never done curved piecing or appliqué before, but as the internet has a wealth of information, I just did a little research and got sewing. I learned some things along the way, made some mistakes, and got some things right. I was afraid that the back of the Death Star would be a mess with very heavy quilting and lots of starts and stops, so I quilted it with just the front fabric and a 40 inch square of batting. I added the backing later and just stitched in the ditch to attach it. I needn’t have worried as the back turned out very well. So on the second one, I added the central batting, the backing (which I rolled up and out of the way) and quilted the Death Star first.
I later added in the surrounding batting (hand basting in place) and front fabric to the quilt, turning under the edges of the Death Star to “appliqué” it to the rest of the quilt. I used every pin in the house to pin down a 40 inch appliqué!! The backing is a Star Wars proprietary fabric to complete the look. I used a swirl pattern to echo the pattern of the surrounding front fabric.
All was edged in black binding. I used Kona Cotton Roll Ups to save a little time cutting fabric. Every little shortcut helps! I had found numerous examples on the internet, but drew heavily on this design by quirkygranolagirl. I saw this on both quiltsofafeather and Hannah Cody’s Pinterest Page. I hadn’t looked back to see that she had had credited this back to quirkygranolagirl. So I just forged ahead and did my calculations and made a template and sewed it together. (Are you seeing a pattern here with my other quilts?!) One of the things I love about quilting, is actually the math, and how to change and adjust to my desired specifications. So now that I am posting about it, I needed to researched further to cite the work correctly. I now see the generous offer to share the free pattern and instructions on quirkeygranolagirl’s site! Here are more views of the progress.
The quilting details were probably the most challenging aspect, but also the most fun. We looked at images from the above mentioned sites, as well as photos from the films, to develop our own idea of how the death star itself should look. I was trying to evoke a shadow effect, with the idea, that the death star itself is being lit from the upper right.
Of course, the salient feature of the death star is the laser array. It is what makes it immediately recognizable to people of a certain age, and proclivity! My husband drew the pattern for me to quilt, with heat sensitive markers, and a couple of round household items.
From here , it was reasonably easy to quilt the design. I used a combination of FMQ, and a walking foot. The two are slightly different, as I was experimenting with the light effects.
In many ways, these two are the most ambitious quilts I have yet undertaken. With stopping and starting, and a few projects in between, the two quilts took over a month to complete. The curves were the most difficult aspect to do, and I don’t think I’ll tackle a curve pattern like that again anytime soon. I feel good about them, though, and like the finished products.
The final word, will have to come from our recipients. The first quilt was gifted to friends on their wedding day, today. The wedding was great fun. My husband’s friend is a committed nerd culture cosplayer! All the guests were asked to come in costume. My husband and I went as the painter Frida Kahlo, and her lover Leon Trotsky. The bride and groom changed into Harry Potter regalia for the reception.
I was pleased with how my Frida Kahlo hair and makeup turned out.
The second quilt will go to our nephew as a gift for college graduation. I feel like I can safely post this, because there is no way a college boy is checking out his aunt’s quilting blog!
Awesome job. I love the look of the quilts. Your quilting is very inspiring, I may have to pickup some of my not finished pieces.
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Go to it, Betty!
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Amazing! I love it. Congrats. Your quilts inspire me and i like reading your posts, too. Thanks for your time. Hugs from Brazil.
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Muita Obrigada! these were a lot of fun to do!
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Firstly, this sounds like an amazing wedding!! We’re big into cosplay and dressing up. Secondly, the quilts, my goodness!!! We just finished watching all the Star Wars movies with our son for the first time. We’re HUGE Star Wars nerds so I can appreciate the dedication that went into making those. Well done!!!
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Thanks so much, Katie! The groom was dressed in mandalorian armor (like Boba Fett), and the bride was dressed in an elven gown, complete with ears! For the reception, they changed into Gryffindor gowns! It felt like a con!
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Truly, nothing says love like a death star. Awesome! (And your Frida Kahlo makeup is fab, but I wonder if it could use just a smidge more unibrow?)
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Thanks! The wedding was such fun! Tons of Star Wars and Game of Thrones cosplay. I’m not sure if people recognized who my husband and I were supposed to be!
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I feel a sudden urge to keep my son away from this post- otherwise he will be begging me for a Death Star of his own and I have too much on my plate right now! Awesome quilts. I’ve used the 2-for-1 strategy before too, it is a timesaver!
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One day, we might try some other sci-fi or gamer quilts! Fortunately, my kids are grown, so there is no time pressure!
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WOw! You were brave, what with no experience of curved piecing or appliqué — good for you!!!
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Thank you. The line between brave and foolhardy can be rather thin!
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Thank you! Now there are so many you tube videos and such, at least I was able to see the techniques before trying them.
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These turned out so awesome! I bet they will be well loved in their new homes!
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I hope they will!
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First, the quilts are awesome – of course! Second beware of the youngsters – my nephews, (aged 16 & 15) read this aunt’s blog regularly….a HUGE surprise to me!
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Yipes! You are a very lucky aunt to have such interested nephews!
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Love these! The quilting is so detailed and looks amazing! Fantastic job!
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Many thanks! This was a fun project!
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Thank you! Those details were fun!
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Genius! Love the idea of making two quilts at once. (Also your Frida costume is spectacular.)
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Thanks so much! I can’t wait to hear if the couple liked it!
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This is the first time I’ve come across the ‘two for one’ idea, an interesting concept that seems to work! I’m glad to see that your husband is also involved in the process – mine is also a ‘major consultant’ (no, that just doesn’t go, it detracts from … this colour looks better because it …), and a ‘major supporter’ (Wow … that’s too good to give away …there’s a lot of work in that … I’d like to see you do …), etc. Both of you looked great at the wedding, it must have been lots of fun!
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Thank your for your kind words. I am currently making another set of quilts. One of my reasons for doing this is right now I’m making a lot of quilts, so am making nearly identical ones for a sister and brother. It is more economical of fabric and time to make two similar quilts, or just of the same fabric. I also can work the bugs out of a design that I may want to later replicate, so I cement my design skills. I’m doing a totem type quilt (similar to the one named Matrix in my blog), but this one has the design column in the center. Once I’ve given the quilts, I’ll put up pictures. WRT the costume wedding, I am usually not a dress up type person, but it was fun, the bride and groom are younger than we are, are really into cosplay, and it was right to indulge them on their day!
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Hello creaturecomfortquilts! I apologize for leaving this message here, but I didn’t see another way to contact you. So feel free to not accept this message. As I have enjoyed many of your posts, I was very excited to see that you just followed my blog anettenamdesign.wordpress.com. However, there is not much happening there, so I think you might have been looking for maythefourthbewithyoupartyblog.com – which is where I do all my posting. …and keep up the great work!!!
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Than you so much for letting me know! I hit follow, then couldn’t find you. I’ll check out your current site!
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OMG you are a dead ringer for Frida! Her work as well as another lover’s, Diego Rivera, is at the DIA until July, so we will definitely be heading across the river for that! Love the Death Star quilts you did, and reading about the process. How wonderful it is that you have a husband to help, as I do, with math and quilting motifs too. 😉
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Thank you for your kind words! I am the math geek, while my husband is the creative theater nerd in the family. He is also great with building things, too, which is great. He is the one who can figure out which color is off, or which part of the design should be adjusted. It is invaluable for me to have that kind of help.
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What awesome quilts! You did a good job replicating Frida, you looked just like her. Thanks for visiting
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Thanks! The quilts were challenging, but I learned a lot.
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Spectacular! Those are just amazing, and I’m sure they will be much beloved.
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