In 2003 or there abouts, I began working in a quilt shop. I'd never really worked in retail before and I had never quilted. Actually, I was surprised and happy they offered me a job.

On my first day of work, I had the task of cutting fabric. I remember being worried about ruining everything even while the owner assured me it would be fine.

The fabric I was cutting was absolutely gorgeous. It was a reproduction 30's print. I loved looking at and touching the fabric. That's when my love of quilting began. In fact, my first quilt has those reproduction 30's I still love.

From time to time, the owner, noticing I was really getting into quilting and being a quilter herself, would give me older magazines for project inspiration. Australian Patchwork and Quilting was one such magazine.

On page 84 of volume 10 number 8 is a quilt I knew I had to make. It's called Snow Crystal and it's by Susan Lacuone. It's been a few years but I've finally gotten a chance to make it.

I've got all of my fabric strips cut and the paper foundations marked. I'm using flannel fabrics in white, blue, and dark blue. I cut my fabric with scissors instead of a rotary cutter but you should use one if you can.

My sewing machine and I have had our share of differences. I am hoping to put those aside when I make this. I may have to sew by hand again like in my can quilt, but that's another story!

This is the Lucky Stars quilt from Atkinson Designs; a very fun easy quilt for a beginner.

This is the first quilt I made with triangles. I do think they may be "cheater" triangles though because I didn't actually cut out triangles.

The instructions with this design were extremely easy to follow and very concise. There were detailed instructions on how to rotary cut and piecing in general. Another good aspect of the pattern instructions is that they had little things called "Terry's Tips" which I found very useful, especially if this is one of your first quilts and no one is around to teach quilting.

I love making things with lots of color and this quilt allowed me to do that without it looking terrible. I believe I made the queen size version of this quilt using 42 different fat quarters. I think that's enough color to last a while. The finished size is around 90" x 105".

The quilting itself is not good at the very least. I can't use a machine properly to save my life, so hand quilting it was. I got bored with it part way through and stopped. Oh well. There's always the next quilt, which I did finish quilting completely!

This is the first quilt I have made. As you can see, I really love reproduction 30's fabrics. The quilting is done by hand.

Basic Supplies

• Sewing machine
• Cotton thread in a neutral color
• Sewing machine needle- 80/12 or 80/11
• Rotary Cutter
• Self healing cutting mat
• Ruler 6" x 12"
• Ruler 6" square
• Pins, seam ripper, pencils

Fabric

• 1 fat quarter of each of 5 colors- a, b, c, d, e
• 2 fat quarters of background fabric- f
• 1/4 yard inner border
• 1/2 yard outer border
• 1 1/2 yard backing
• 1/2 yard binding
• Crib size batting

What to do

Fold fat quarter in half and then cut 3" strips as follows:

• Fabric A = 1 strip
• Fabric B = 1 strip
• Fabric C = 1 strip
• Fabric D = 1 strip
• Fabric E = 1 strip
• Fabric F = 5 strips

Using a 1/4" seam allowance, sew a strip of fabric f to each of your remaining cut strips. Sew right sides together and press seams towards darker strip.

Subcut each strip set into 3" segments. Sew 4 patch units by matching 2 patch units of the same color. Rotate these pieces to make sure that like colors do not touch each other.

Measure several of your 4 patches. This will determine the size you should cut your large squares. Figure out how you want your quilt to look then cut large squares according to that.

Example:
A (4 patch c) B (4 patch d) E
(four patch c) B (4 patch d) E (4 patch a)
B (4 patch d) E (4 patch a) C
(4 patch d) E (4 patch a) C (4 patch b)
E (4 patch a) C (4 patch b) D
(4 patch a) C (4 patch b) D (4 patch e)
C (4 patch b) D (4 patch e) A

Center large squares on the 4 patches. Make sure right sides are together. Sew (with 1/4" seam allowance) the pieces together. Sew the newly made rows together to make the quilt top.

For the first border, cut 4 1/2" strips. measure border from the middle of the quilt and cut the border fabric length. Sew length border to quilt top. Measure the width of the border using same technique as the length. Cut and sew the top and bottom border to quilt.

For the second border, cut 4 3 1/2" strips. As with the first border, cut and sew onto the quilt top.

Attach the batting and backing. Quilt any design you like. Cut the excess batting and backing. Cut the binding fabric into 2" strips. Attach together and then fold in half wrong sides together down the length and press. Attach to the quilt.