For the last four weeks, the designers from the Great Jelly Roll Bash have been sharing something extra special as part of the Celestial Twilight Summer Block Party. Week 3 is my block called the Sparkling Star Quilt Block. A modern and fun block that I am loving. It has been so much fun seeing everyone’s blocks come together, and the best part is that you can still join the Block Party! We’re keeping everything available so you can sew at your own pace and enjoy the experience whenever you’re ready.
What You’ll Receive
When you sign up for the Celestial Twilight Summer Block Party, you’ll receive 8 weeks of emails filled with inspiration, including:
- 6 exclusive quilt block patterns
- Multiple quilt layout ideas
- Bonus project tutorials
Because this is a collaborative event, signing up also means you’ll be added to each designer’s email list, so you won’t miss any of the creative ideas they share throughout the event.
Too Many Test Blocks? That’s Never a Problem!
While designing my Sparkling Star quilt block, I became just a little obsessed with getting every detail exactly right. Before I knew it, I had sewn nearly 10 test blocks!
Of course, those blocks were far too pretty to leave sitting in a pile, so I started turning them into other projects. Today I’m sharing two of my favorites.
The Fletcher Bag
If you’ve been following me for a while, you may remember my Sugar Skull Bag tutorial from Block Mania a couple of years ago. I loved that project so much that I decided it was time to dust off the idea and create another version using my Sparkling Star quilt block.
Since this block is a different size, I adjusted several of the bag dimensions and experimented with a few different materials while I was at it. That’s one of my favorite parts of sewing is exploring and finding different ways to do the same thing.
Here are the measurements for this 16″ bag.
- Block size 16 ½” unfinished
- Back panel 19 ½” x 16 ½”
- Lining 16 ½” x 35 ½”
- Strap measurements 3 ½” 70″
- Materials changed: added by Annie Soft and Stable
If you’ve been looking for a fun way to showcase a single quilt block, a bag is a fantastic option!
Turning the Sparkling Star Quilt Block into Clothing
Long before quilting became my obsession, I actually started sewing clothing. Dresses, skirts, shorts—you name it! Looking back, quilting felt like a very natural progression from garment sewing.
Before teaching on the quilting cruise in May, I made my very first pair of wrap pants. Then, right before my husband and I left for a quick trip to California, I found myself staying up way too late making a wrap skirt.
I purchased a pattern on Etsy…and then I mostly did my own thing.
The size I originally chose ended up being a little too small because I wanted much more overlap in the wrap. I also skipped the opening where the inside panel feeds through, thinking I’d add another tie later. Once I got home, I knew it needed a few changes.
Out came the seam ripper!
I added another Sparkling Star block to increase the width, rebuilt the waistband, removed pleating where the fabric overlapped, and gave both ties plenty of length so they could wrap comfortably and finish with a beautiful bow at the side.
I’m so much happier with the final fit, and I already have the perfect occasion to wear it. I’ll be sharing photos and that in a few weeks!
We’d Love to See Your Projects!
One of my favorite parts of hosting the Celestial Twilight Summer Block Party has been seeing everyone’s creativity. Whether you’re making one of the quilt layouts, designing your own, sewing a bag, or even turning your blocks into something completely unexpected, I’d love to see it.
Be sure to send me photos of your projects so I can add them to our Celestial Twilight Summer Block Party Gallery and inspire even more makers.
Happy sewing!
