Shining Star: Use Fat Quarters or Scraps

The Shining Star quilt pattern includes instructions for fat quarters and also scraps. This whimsical modern star block is so fun to make. Beginner friendly because of a step by step video tutorial included in the quilt pattern. suzyquilts.com

The Shining Star quilt pattern is now available! This is the second pattern in our 2022 quilt series—Companions. The first pattern this year, Adventureland, was a companion design to Sugar POP. Shining Star is a mashup of two favorite designs—Shine and Stars Hollow.

Fellow Quiltketeers, you do have to use both sides of your brain for this one! Each quilt block uses a mix of traditional quilt piecing and some funky improv sewing. Your left brain will love the precision of the flying geese and your right brain will jazz out to all of the fun possibilities in making an improv log cabin.

A Beginner-Friendly Quilt Pattern

This is a beginner-friendly quilt pattern; however, it is not listed as a beginner pattern. Confused? Let me explain. Quilt patterns listed as "Beginner" in the shop can be made by extremely new quilters and kids under adult supervision.

Shining Star is a little more advanced than a first-time quilt project. Because of the amount of cutting you do while making the improv log cabin block, it's also not the best pattern for children under the age of 12. It does, however, include a step-by-step video tutorial—making it a wonderful project for building skills!

Video Tutorial Included!

That's right, folks! From making and trimming the flying geese to sewing the improv log cabins to full block assembly—it's all in the video. Yay! So even though this quilt pattern is categorized as Moderate in skill level, it is still beginner-friendly because of the detail included in the tutorial video.

The Shining Star quilt pattern includes instructions for fat quarters and also scraps. This whimsical modern star block is so fun to make. Beginner friendly because of a step by step video tutorial included in the quilt pattern. suzyquilts.com

This Shining Star was quilted by Trace Creek Quilting using a straight line pantograph.

The Shining Star quilt pattern includes instructions for fat quarters and also scraps. This whimsical modern star block is so fun to make. Beginner friendly because of a step by step video tutorial included in the quilt pattern. suzyquilts.com

Shining Star Fabric Requirements

The Shining Star quilt pattern includes fabric requirements and instructions for both a multi-color and two-color version. In this post, we will focus on the multi-color version. The chart below lists the amount of fat quarters and background fabric needed. All of the light cream fabric seen in this example is considered background.

Shining Star Fabric Requirements
Shining Star Fabric Requirements

Even though the fabric requirements use fat quarters, you can substitute any of the log cabin strips or even the star pieces with scrap fabric. This can get as scrappy as you like!

One trick for using scraps is to group your scraps by color. So instead of one pink fat quarter, you can "make" a pink fat quarter by cutting from various pink scraps of fabric. This blog post may help too, How to Use Scraps in SQ Patterns.

How to Pick Fabric for the Shining Star Quilt

Here are a few different tips and some examples to help you pick fabric for your multi-color Shining Star quilt.

Tip #1: Mix it up.

Find fat quarters that you like and go well together as a group, then mix them up! It doesn't really matter which fabrics get paired together because once the blocks are sewn into a quilt, you see all of the colors at once.

This cover quilt is mostly a combination of Art Gallery PURE solids and Windham Artisan cottons. I love these Artisan cottons because the yarn-dyed weave gives them beautiful texture and extra softness.

Shining Star quilt pattern download. This quilt pattern includes a full tutorial video and uses fat quarters or scraps!

Cover Quilt Fabric

  • AGF PURE Miami Sunset and AGF PURE Raw Gold
  • AGF PURE Lemon Tart and Windham Artisan Cotton Orchid Pink
  • AGF PURE Ocean Waves and AGF PURE Emerald
  • AGF PURE Ocean Fog and AGF PURE Dark Citron
  • AGF PURE Apple Cider and Windham Artisan Cotton Dark Teal Medium Turquoise
  • AGF PURE Apricot Crepe and AGF PURE Empire Yellow
  • Cotton Supreme Carolina and Windham Artisan Cotton Grape Dark Pink
  • AGF PURE Jade Cream and Windham Artisan Cotton Dark Pink Light Pink
  • AGF PURE Wisteria and AGF PUREDried Carrot

Tip #2: Pair similar colors together in each block.

In the quilt below, made by Sarah Holst, she mostly used the same colors in her blocks but in different values of light and dark. This is a great way to keep fabric picking simple but still know you will make blocks you love.

The Shining Star quilt pattern includes instructions for fat quarters and also scraps. This whimsical modern star block is so fun to make. Beginner friendly because of a step by step video tutorial included in the quilt pattern. suzyquilts.com

Sugar Collection from Moda

  • Pottery
  • Cactus
  • Saddle
  • Turquoise
  • Florida
  • Flamingo
  • Rose
  • Berry
  • Denim
  • Teal
  • Black
  • Sunshine
  • Ruby
  • Broccolini
  • Bluebell
  • Navy
  • Citron
  • Peach Fizz
  • Background: Sugar in Neon Pink
The Shining Star quilt pattern includes instructions for fat quarters and also scraps. This whimsical modern star block is so fun to make. Beginner friendly because of a step by step video tutorial included in the quilt pattern. suzyquilts.com
The Shining Star quilt pattern includes instructions for fat quarters and also scraps. This whimsical modern star block is so fun to make. Beginner friendly because of a step by step video tutorial included in the quilt pattern. suzyquilts.com

Tip #3: Use fabrics from the same collection.

Find a collection of fabrics that you like and mix and match those. Fabrics from the same collection always coordinate so you don't have to worry about clashing colors. If you aren't digging the matchy-matchy look, add a few collections together or some coordinating solids.

The quilt below was made and quilted by Sandy at Thai Charm. She used fat quarters from the collection Vessel, but Alexia Marcelle Abegg. The longarm quilting design is called Macaroni.

Shining Star quilt pattern download. This quilt pattern includes a full tutorial video and uses fat quarters or scraps!
The Shining Star quilt pattern includes instructions for fat quarters and also scraps. This whimsical modern star block is so fun to make. Beginner friendly because of a step by step video tutorial included in the quilt pattern. suzyquilts.com
The Shining Star quilt pattern includes instructions for fat quarters and also scraps. This whimsical modern star block is so fun to make. Beginner friendly because of a step by step video tutorial included in the quilt pattern. suzyquilts.com

Tip #4: Pair one print with one solid.

You may recognize one of these blocks from the tutorial video included in the pattern. I paired one floral print with one coordinating solid. I kept the color palette limited to mustard yellow, dark blue, and dark green.

Shining Star quilt pattern download. This quilt pattern includes a full tutorial video and uses fat quarters or scraps!

Rifle Baby Quilt Fabrics

  • Rifle Paper Co. Poppy Fields and Windham Artisan Cotton Yellow Copper
  • Rifle Paper Co. Strawberry Fields and AGF PURE Evergreen
  • Cotton + Steel Bluebird by Sarah Watts and Windham Artisan Cotton Blue Copper
  • Liberty of London Capel (G) and Windham Artisan Cotton Aqua Blue
  • Background AGF PURE Gentle Feather
The Shining Star quilt pattern includes instructions for fat quarters and also scraps. This whimsical modern star block is so fun to make. Beginner friendly because of a step by step video tutorial included in the quilt pattern. suzyquilts.com

Tip #5: Limit your colors.

In the quilt below, Catalina Suarez picked varying shades of two colors and created each block from a pairing of pink and yellow. She used fabrics from Lamb & Loom and for a limited time, this is a kit for sale.

The Shining Star quilt pattern includes instructions for fat quarters and also scraps. This whimsical modern star block is so fun to make. Beginner friendly because of a step by step video tutorial included in the quilt pattern. suzyquilts.com
The Shining Star quilt pattern includes instructions for fat quarters and also scraps. This whimsical modern star block is so fun to make. Beginner friendly because of a step by step video tutorial included in the quilt pattern. suzyquilts.com
The Shining Star quilt pattern includes instructions for fat quarters and also scraps. This whimsical modern star block is so fun to make. Beginner friendly because of a step by step video tutorial included in the quilt pattern. suzyquilts.com

Shining Star Quilts in the Wild

This happy scrappy Shining Star quilt was made by Erin Jo using fabric from Global Fibers.

The Shining Star quilt pattern includes instructions for fat quarters and also scraps. This whimsical modern star block is so fun to make. Beginner friendly because of a step by step video tutorial included in the quilt pattern. suzyquilts.com

The next two ombre Shining Star quilts were made by Julie and Rachel Marquez of Sewing Arts Center.

The Shining Star quilt pattern includes instructions for fat quarters and also scraps. This whimsical modern star block is so fun to make. Beginner friendly because of a step by step video tutorial included in the quilt pattern. suzyquilts.com
The Shining Star quilt pattern includes instructions for fat quarters and also scraps. This whimsical modern star block is so fun to make. Beginner friendly because of a step by step video tutorial included in the quilt pattern. suzyquilts.com

We will talk more about color, value, and utilizing prints in Week 1 of the Shining Star sew along that stars on July 8. Even if you can't make the timing work, you will always have access to our sew alongs from the Sew Along page.

What fabrics will you use in your Shining Star quilt? We'd love to hear your thoughts!

8 thoughts on “Shining Star: Use Fat Quarters or Scraps

  1. Cate says:

    LOVE the new website and love the new shining star pattern! I’ve been a huge Suzy Quilts fan since taking up quilting and sewing a couple years ago (I even credit SQ for helping me learn to sew and quilt- coming from zero previous experience, I’m now a confident quilter!). I enjoyed the site before, but this new “facelift” was a welcome surprise to wake up to this morning. Beautiful showcase of patterns, easy-er to navigate blog posts, etc., all presented in an aesthetically pleasing way. Can’t wait to see what comes next from Suzy Quilts! 🙂

  2. Suzanne says:

    I have a small collection of Kaffe Fassett prints and some of Ricky Tim’s hand dyed solids that would be stunning in this pattern. You’re killin’ me, Suzy! With yet another fabulous pattern to tempt me, how will I EVER shrink my UFO pile??? 😉 ♥️ 😃

  3. Cindy Boals says:

    I am loving this pattern I loved this blog entry… so helpful in deciding on colors. Your new website is so user friendly! Thank you… and those two children make me smile!

  4. Susan D. says:

    Oh my goodness – how to choose!? I thought I would make my grand-daughter a Postcards from Sweden quilt (that’s my heritage). But then I made a scrappy one and wanted a new design to work on. So I bought your Voyage pattern. I have all the fabric but was feeling iffy about the design (which I love, but not for her. I will make one though). THEN you absolutely made me happy and settled the whole question with your Shining Star pattern, which I just bought, I will be starting on this in a few days and am glad you posted it before I had done any cutting. I love all your blogs and link to many of them on our guild facebook page (Cornerstone Quilters Guild) – especially all the tips and product information. (Thanks for doing all that research!). Have a great Summer.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *