I feel like I say this every time I release a new pattern... But it's because it's true: One of my favourite parts of creating quilt patterns is seeing what the pattern testers come up with. And Star Tapestry turned out to be such a fun one for fabric play!
Even though the construction of every block in this quilt is identical, the color placements and fabric choices completely change the mood of the design. Some testers leaned into soft florals and vintage-inspired fabrics, while others went bold, bright or even scrappy. Seeing all these different versions makes me want to sew another Star Tapestry quilt immediately. (And yes… I probably will!)
If you want to read more about the inspiration behind the pattern, you can also check out my blog post about Norwegian åkle weaving and the little wall hanging in Stavanger that inspired the design. I’ve also written a separate post about the whimsical Ruby Star Society Persimmon fabrics I used for the cover quilt.
And now — let’s look at the tester quilts!
Madeline Jensen (@crinkly.and.cozy)
Madeline made a lovely throw size version using florals in pink, green, orange and white. The darker green used for the star points really makes the stars stand out, and I love how soft and cheerful the overall look became.
Andrea Jarvis (@quiltifact)
Andrea often takes the scrappy approach, and this time was no exception. Her twin size version is full of rich blues, teals and florals, creating a quilt with incredible depth and movement. She writes:
“I made this quilt for my aunt, and I know she likes blues and tealy greens. I went through my stash and tried to select fabrics in these colours in different volumes, from very light through to very dark, so that I would achieve the contrast I needed for the pattern to appear.
My stash consists of contemporary fabric from designers like Kaffe Fassett, Anna Maria Horner and Ruby Star Society, and I love combining these with funky vintage cottons from the 1970s. Some of the vintage dressmaking cotton I used had lovely pink/purple florals, which gives the quilt its gorgeous warm tinges.”
Vanessa Moon (@silvermoonquilts)
Vanessa made a beautiful twin size version in cool blues, aquas and pinks, including a gorgeous batik fabric. The dark blue creates an almost transparent effect inside the stars, and the cool colour palette gives the quilt such a fresh feel.
Nina Fosse (@ninafosse)
Nina’s twin size quilt is pure happiness in fabric form! She used lime green combined with teal and turquoise, creating such a bold and playful version of Star Tapestry. This colour combo makes me want to go on vacation ASAP! (PS: See how the hydrangea and the lime-leaved hosta in front of the quilt matches the crosses perfectly?)
Kari Greenberg (@nordic.calico)
Kari went for a partly scrappy approach and created a bed size version in warm orange and dark red tones. She included a bit of cool colours as well, and that warm/cool contrast really makes the quilt come alive.
Alaina Deprez (@heliotropegreen)
Alaina’s baby quilt is graphic and bold! I love how the white shapes in the dark blue fabric pick up the white solid. She also included a process photo, which illustrates that this pattern can also be used for making a table runner.
Kathryn Vigness (@kvigness)
The version I sent out to testers had a mockup in teal blue tones, which can explain why several of the testers went in that direction. Kathryn made a calm and cohesive version using blenders and muted teal tones. She writes:
“I did not stray too far from the cover quilt look, using blenders to create a cohesive look. I backed it with a soft blanket to show off the quilting texture and pantograph, and it is seriously so good!”
A huge thank you to all the amazing testers who helped bring Star Tapestry to life! It is always such a joy to see how differently people interpret the same pattern.
The Star Tapestry pattern is now available in the shop as a PDF download pattern in four sizes: Baby, Throw, Twin and Large Bed. The pattern includes both regular and scrappy cutting instructions, printable cutting labels, diagrams, and a coloring page to help you plan your own version.
I hope the awesome pattern tester quilts inspires you just as much as they inspire me! <3