As a quilter, I’ve always had a soft spot for scraps—the vibrant remnants from previous projects, each one carrying memories and colors that don’t always match but come together in surprising harmony.
Over the years, my scrap collection grew, filling baskets and drawers, each piece waiting for the right project. The Stars & Scraps Forever quilt became my way of embracing those mismatched pieces and transforming them into something cohesive, lively, and full of charm. This quilt design is about celebrating imperfection and making something beautiful from an array of different fabrics.
The magic of Stars & Scraps Forever lies in its playful, scrappy look that doesn’t require perfect color matching. Using varied lights, mediums, and darks, this quilt has a sparkling effect, a dynamic blend of colors and patterns that seem to dance together. Each star and log cabin block gives character to the piece, resulting in a cozy, bed-sized quilt with a sense of warmth and continuity—perfect for anyone who treasures memories in every scrap.
Embracing the Scrappy Look: Crafting Stars that Sparkle
The Stars & Scraps Forever quilt is a lively mix of Sawtooth Star and modified Log Cabin blocks. This blend adds a striking, almost patriotic feel with reds, blues, and light neutrals that create visual balance and depth.
The stars add points of focus, while the Log Cabin blocks tie the composition together. The variety of hues means that you don’t need to stress over perfectly matching fabrics—this quilt is about embracing a scrappy, eclectic style. In each Sawtooth Star block, Flying Geese units and contrasting colors bring a touch of traditional Americana with a modern twist.
The blocks alternate between red and blue stars, adding interest and making the finished quilt visually engaging. The modified Log Cabin blocks, with their mix of squares and rectangles, bring additional structure to the design, grounding the energetic stars.
Materials
To make the Stars & Scraps Forever quilt, you’ll need the following materials:
- Assorted Red Prints: 3 yards (for Sawtooth Star blocks)
- Assorted Light Prints (white, cream, tan): 5 3/8 yards (for Sawtooth Star and modified Log Cabin blocks)
- Assorted Blue Prints: 4 1/8 yards (for Sawtooth Star and modified Log Cabin blocks)
- Solid Red Fabric: 1 1/2 yards (for modified Log Cabin blocks)
- Red Tone-on-Tone Fabric: 7/8 yard (for binding)
- Backing Fabric: 8 3/4 yards
- Batting: 105″ square (for a queen-size or king-size quilt)
Cutting Guide
- Red Prints: Cut seventy-two 4 1/2″ squares and 288 2 1/2″ squares.
- Light Prints: Cut seventy-two 2 1/2″ x 6 1/2″ rectangles, 216 2 1/2″ x 4 1/2″ rectangles, and 504 2 1/2″ squares.
- Blue Prints: Cut seventy-two 2 1/2″ x 6 1/2″ rectangles, 216 2 1/2″ x 4 1/2″ rectangles, and 216 2 1/2″ squares.
- Solid Red Fabric: Cut 288 2 1/2″ squares.
- Red Tone-on-Tone Fabric: Cut ten 2 1/2″ x 42″ strips for binding.
Full Pattern: Click Here
Preparing to Quilt: Organizing Scraps and Planning Your Layout
Before diving into the sewing, take time to organize your scraps and pieces by color and size. This will help streamline your process, especially when working with a scrappy project like this. Since each block type requires different fabric combinations, sorting each fabric into “star,” “log cabin,” and “binding” piles will keep everything manageable.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Assemble the Sawtooth Star Blocks
- Create Flying Geese Units:
Mark a diagonal line on the wrong side of each 2 1/2″ square of both red and light print fabrics. Place one marked red square at the end of a 2 1/2″ x 4 1/2″ light rectangle, sew along the line, trim to a 1/4″ seam allowance, and press open to create a triangle. Repeat on the opposite side to complete one Flying Geese unit. Make 144 red Flying Geese units and 144 blue Flying Geese units. - Form Red Sawtooth Stars:
For each star block, use four light 2 1/2″ squares, four red Flying Geese units, and one 4 1/2″ red square. Arrange and sew these in rows, joining each row to complete one 8 1/2″ square red star block. Repeat to make 36 red star blocks. - Form Blue Sawtooth Stars:
Using four blue 2 1/2″ squares, four blue Flying Geese units, and one 4 1/2″ red square, follow the same assembly steps to create each blue star block. Repeat to make 36 blue star blocks.
Step 2: Assemble the Modified Log Cabin Blocks
- Create Four-Patch Units:
Sew one light 2 1/2″ square, two solid red 2 1/2″ squares, and one blue 2 1/2″ square into pairs, then join pairs to complete a 4 1/2″ Four-Patch unit. Make 72 total. - Complete Log Cabin Blocks:
Arrange each modified Log Cabin block with one light 2 1/2″ x 6 1/2″ rectangle, two solid red 2 1/2″ squares, one light 2 1/2″ x 4 1/2″ rectangle, one Four-Patch unit, and blue rectangles. Sew pieces in each row, then join rows to finish each block. Make 72 blocks total.
Step 3: Assemble the Quilt Top
- Arrange Blocks:
Lay out 12 rows of 12 blocks, alternating red and blue Sawtooth Star blocks with Log Cabin blocks in a checkerboard style. Rotate blocks to create a balanced pattern. - Sew Rows Together:
Sew blocks in each row, pressing seams in opposite directions for each row to nest the seams neatly. - Join Rows:
Sew rows together to form the quilt top. Press all seams in one direction.
Step 4: Finishing the Quilt
- Layer and Baste:
Layer the quilt top with batting and backing fabric. Baste to secure the layers. - Quilt:
Quilt as desired. A continuous curve in the Flying Geese units and a stipple pattern in open areas adds texture. A flower design in each Sawtooth Star’s center square creates a beautiful focus point. - Bind:
Use the red tone-on-tone strips to bind the edges, giving your quilt a polished finish.
Additional Tips
- Mix Fabrics Freely: Don’t hesitate to mix various shades of light, medium, and dark fabrics for more visual interest.
- Press Carefully: Pressing your seams in the correct direction will help your blocks align neatly, especially for a scrappy quilt where precision can elevate the design.
- Go Slow on Bulkier Seams: For seams with multiple layers, sew slowly and avoid pulling to keep your seams straight.
The Stars & Scraps Forever quilt beautifully captures the essence of quilting—a craft rooted in creativity, resourcefulness, and tradition. This quilt invites us to take bits and pieces that may seem mismatched, ordinary, or even forgotten, and bring them together in a way that creates warmth and beauty.
Stars & Scraps Forever is more than just a quilt; it’s a testament to the art of transforming remnants into a masterpiece, stitching together a celebration of colors, textures, and memories. Each patchwork block represents a memory, a small story woven into the fabric, creating an emotional, colorful tapestry as you bring the quilt to life.
When you finally wrap yourself or a loved one in the Stars & Scraps Forever quilt, you’re sharing a piece of art that holds meaning, warmth, and history—a quilt that embodies craftsmanship, love, and the joy of quilting.