Sister's Choice Quilts

My interests are quilting, reading, cooking, family, decorating, and matters of style. I post regular quilting tutorials and book reviews of current fiction.

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Civil War Stars

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What a happy finish for me.  I started this as a scrap buster project and tried to follow along with Barbara Brackman's Civil War Stars in a Time Warp sew along.  Barbara has had frequent blog posts on different types of fabrics that were prevalent in the 1800s, and had lots of examples of current reproductions.  I have Turkey Reds, Prussian Blues, Cheddar, Indigo, Poison Greens in my quilt, and feel like I got quite an education on antique fabrics, trends/fads,  and methods of dyeing cotton goods. 

Believe it or not, I am not sure how much stash I busted, as I bought more Civil War charm packs from Primitive Gatherings while I was making the top.   Even though my stash is not recognizably reduced, how fun for me that I have enough fabric left to make another one of these quilts!  

For this quilt, I was selective about just what colors I used, as I wanted the result to be colorful and light in feeling.  I am undecided if I should just call the top finished as is, or if I should add a narrow black containment border and then an outer border.  What do you all think?  Finding the right border fabric could be a real challenge.  In keeping with the spirit of the quilt, I could do a scrappy pieced border, but don't want to do too much to detract from the impact of the stars.

The blocks finish at 6 inches, and if I am counting correctly, I have 113 of them.  The blocks are set diagonally and the finished top measures 70" square.  There are two or three fabrics in each block, and I did repeat some of the fabrics.  If you enlarge the photo, you can see that the backgrounds are scrappy too, mostly small prints called "shirtings".  I used a few pieces from my stash when I wanted certain colors, but for the most part, all the blocks were made from charm squares, primarily purchased from Primitive Gatherings over a few years time.

If I were to change anything about how I made this quilt, I would have pressed all my seams open.  

This is a great project to work on in-between other projects, over a longer period of time.  The sew along is still going strong, and the blog posts Barbara has done since she began back in January are so interesting and inspirational.

75 responses to “Civil War Stars”

  4. I’m not a fan of Civil War fabrics, but this quilt is beautiful. I love those stars. I don’t think it needs a border, it looks a bit more contemporary without one.

  5. I’m not a fan of Civil War fabrics, but this quilt is beautiful. I love those stars. I don’t think it needs a border, it looks a bit more contemporary without one.

  6. I’m not a fan of Civil War fabrics, but this quilt is beautiful. I love those stars. I don’t think it needs a border, it looks a bit more contemporary without one.

  10. I would be very tempted just to bind it. it is a lot to look at already and big enough too. really a great quilt Nicole. good job.
    Mary

  11. I would be very tempted just to bind it. it is a lot to look at already and big enough too. really a great quilt Nicole. good job.
    Mary

  12. I would be very tempted just to bind it. it is a lot to look at already and big enough too. really a great quilt Nicole. good job.
    Mary

  13. Applause, applause!! The fabrics are lovely and I love the scrappy but coordinated look. I just knew these happy stars would be together by today!
    I favor the thought of a dark containment border and an outer border. Perhaps the more modern look would be for no borders, but – to me – these small blocks seem to need more. Your choice!
    Hugs!

  14. Applause, applause!! The fabrics are lovely and I love the scrappy but coordinated look. I just knew these happy stars would be together by today!
    I favor the thought of a dark containment border and an outer border. Perhaps the more modern look would be for no borders, but – to me – these small blocks seem to need more. Your choice!
    Hugs!

  15. Applause, applause!! The fabrics are lovely and I love the scrappy but coordinated look. I just knew these happy stars would be together by today!
    I favor the thought of a dark containment border and an outer border. Perhaps the more modern look would be for no borders, but – to me – these small blocks seem to need more. Your choice!
    Hugs!

  16. Beautiful! I love it! Now that I am almost done with my huge pile of UFOs, maybe I will start one of these beauties! You always inspire me! I personally like borders. To me it is the frame around your beautiful work of art.

  17. Beautiful! I love it! Now that I am almost done with my huge pile of UFOs, maybe I will start one of these beauties! You always inspire me! I personally like borders. To me it is the frame around your beautiful work of art.

  18. Beautiful! I love it! Now that I am almost done with my huge pile of UFOs, maybe I will start one of these beauties! You always inspire me! I personally like borders. To me it is the frame around your beautiful work of art.

  19. What a wonderful quilt. While I like it just as it is, I think a containment border and another bother would set it off perfectly.
    P.S.- (because I thought of you when I saw it……on Amazon’s Lightning Deals today there is a Rowenta DW9081 Steamium Steam Iron Auto Shut off with 400-hole Stainless Steel Soleplate, 1800-Watt, Beige Prime early access at 4pm central. Didn’t know if you could use a backup.)

  20. What a wonderful quilt. While I like it just as it is, I think a containment border and another bother would set it off perfectly.
    P.S.- (because I thought of you when I saw it……on Amazon’s Lightning Deals today there is a Rowenta DW9081 Steamium Steam Iron Auto Shut off with 400-hole Stainless Steel Soleplate, 1800-Watt, Beige Prime early access at 4pm central. Didn’t know if you could use a backup.)

  21. What a wonderful quilt. While I like it just as it is, I think a containment border and another bother would set it off perfectly.
    P.S.- (because I thought of you when I saw it……on Amazon’s Lightning Deals today there is a Rowenta DW9081 Steamium Steam Iron Auto Shut off with 400-hole Stainless Steel Soleplate, 1800-Watt, Beige Prime early access at 4pm central. Didn’t know if you could use a backup.)

  25. If you do a small border you might want to rethink the black as I don’t think it was a civil war color. At any rate I sure enjoyed seeing YOUR quilt. I too, have learned a lot from Barbara’s postings on these blocks.

  26. If you do a small border you might want to rethink the black as I don’t think it was a civil war color. At any rate I sure enjoyed seeing YOUR quilt. I too, have learned a lot from Barbara’s postings on these blocks.

  27. If you do a small border you might want to rethink the black as I don’t think it was a civil war color. At any rate I sure enjoyed seeing YOUR quilt. I too, have learned a lot from Barbara’s postings on these blocks.

  31. No borders needed, in my opinion! I think ‘just the right binding’ will make a nice ‘frame’ for those stars! It’s a Civil War meets modern quilt!

  32. No borders needed, in my opinion! I think ‘just the right binding’ will make a nice ‘frame’ for those stars! It’s a Civil War meets modern quilt!

  33. No borders needed, in my opinion! I think ‘just the right binding’ will make a nice ‘frame’ for those stars! It’s a Civil War meets modern quilt!

  34. What a beautiful quilt. Yes, I think you need a plain border or two. Frames set off artwork and a border will set off your stars.

  35. What a beautiful quilt. Yes, I think you need a plain border or two. Frames set off artwork and a border will set off your stars.

  36. What a beautiful quilt. Yes, I think you need a plain border or two. Frames set off artwork and a border will set off your stars.

  37. What a great quilt! Not my colors or fabrics at all but it’s beautiful! I wouldn’t add borders but how about a scrappy binding?

  38. What a great quilt! Not my colors or fabrics at all but it’s beautiful! I wouldn’t add borders but how about a scrappy binding?

  39. What a great quilt! Not my colors or fabrics at all but it’s beautiful! I wouldn’t add borders but how about a scrappy binding?

  40. You go girl! I can’t believe all the star blocks! It looks wonderful and I think it might look good with no borders. You are an inspiration and I’m not so sure I could make that many star blocks!

  41. You go girl! I can’t believe all the star blocks! It looks wonderful and I think it might look good with no borders. You are an inspiration and I’m not so sure I could make that many star blocks!

  42. You go girl! I can’t believe all the star blocks! It looks wonderful and I think it might look good with no borders. You are an inspiration and I’m not so sure I could make that many star blocks!

  43. Wonderful! Wonderful! My favorite kind of quilt, and you did a great job. I vote for a border – a narrow containment border, then a border of a civil war reproduction floral. Sally

  44. Wonderful! Wonderful! My favorite kind of quilt, and you did a great job. I vote for a border – a narrow containment border, then a border of a civil war reproduction floral. Sally

  45. Wonderful! Wonderful! My favorite kind of quilt, and you did a great job. I vote for a border – a narrow containment border, then a border of a civil war reproduction floral. Sally

  46. I love the light, colorful feel of this quilt — so different and fresh from the usual Civil War look. And since you’ve not gone traditional with your colour choices for the quilt, maybe doing the same with no border would make for a good finish. Whatever you do, these stars are definitely going to shine!

  47. I love the light, colorful feel of this quilt — so different and fresh from the usual Civil War look. And since you’ve not gone traditional with your colour choices for the quilt, maybe doing the same with no border would make for a good finish. Whatever you do, these stars are definitely going to shine!

  48. I love the light, colorful feel of this quilt — so different and fresh from the usual Civil War look. And since you’ve not gone traditional with your colour choices for the quilt, maybe doing the same with no border would make for a good finish. Whatever you do, these stars are definitely going to shine!

  49. it doesn’t need anything else….it’s gorgeous just the way it is! send the beauty off to the quilter! ;p

  50. it doesn’t need anything else….it’s gorgeous just the way it is! send the beauty off to the quilter! ;p

  51. it doesn’t need anything else….it’s gorgeous just the way it is! send the beauty off to the quilter! ;p

  55. Your cluster of stars quilt is gorgeous. I am in a “no borders” phase I think. I prefer quilts without the extra frame. I think the blocks stand out better… don’t you? I am trying to make PRESSING SEAMS OPEN a habit. It’s so time consuming… but the pay off is all on the positive side.

  56. Your cluster of stars quilt is gorgeous. I am in a “no borders” phase I think. I prefer quilts without the extra frame. I think the blocks stand out better… don’t you? I am trying to make PRESSING SEAMS OPEN a habit. It’s so time consuming… but the pay off is all on the positive side.

  57. Your cluster of stars quilt is gorgeous. I am in a “no borders” phase I think. I prefer quilts without the extra frame. I think the blocks stand out better… don’t you? I am trying to make PRESSING SEAMS OPEN a habit. It’s so time consuming… but the pay off is all on the positive side.

  58. Your stars came out gorgeous! I’m stuck on whether to put a border on it or leave as is because it’s so pretty. Maybe look at some of Barbara’s fabrics that might work as a border and pull a color from there to use as a containment border. Great job, as always 🙂

  59. Your stars came out gorgeous! I’m stuck on whether to put a border on it or leave as is because it’s so pretty. Maybe look at some of Barbara’s fabrics that might work as a border and pull a color from there to use as a containment border. Great job, as always 🙂

  60. Your stars came out gorgeous! I’m stuck on whether to put a border on it or leave as is because it’s so pretty. Maybe look at some of Barbara’s fabrics that might work as a border and pull a color from there to use as a containment border. Great job, as always 🙂

  61. I like your Stars quilt the way it is, but if you want a bigger quilt, I’d add a narrow black containment border then a wider border out of one shirting print that appears very light, like the lighter of your star block backgrounds. The border could be more elaborately quilted than the center.

  62. I like your Stars quilt the way it is, but if you want a bigger quilt, I’d add a narrow black containment border then a wider border out of one shirting print that appears very light, like the lighter of your star block backgrounds. The border could be more elaborately quilted than the center.

  63. I like your Stars quilt the way it is, but if you want a bigger quilt, I’d add a narrow black containment border then a wider border out of one shirting print that appears very light, like the lighter of your star block backgrounds. The border could be more elaborately quilted than the center.

  64. I love your Civil War Stars quilt top. I can’t wait to see how you finish this quilt top. I want to make this quilt now too.
    JaneN

  65. I love your Civil War Stars quilt top. I can’t wait to see how you finish this quilt top. I want to make this quilt now too.
    JaneN

  66. I love your Civil War Stars quilt top. I can’t wait to see how you finish this quilt top. I want to make this quilt now too.
    JaneN