When I
start thinking about design for any Jewish quilt project, the first option
that I consider is something that involves a six-pointed star.
I can't help
myself.
First, there's the history. It's not the oldest Jewish symbol (the
7-branched menorah is far older), but it has deep roots, going back to about
the 2nd Century. (Archeologists found it adorning the ruins of
the Capaerneum synagogue on the Sea of Galilee―along
with menorahs, five-pointed stars and even, believe it or not, swastikas.) In
modern times, the star is powerfully evocative of our history, and of
sacred space. And in the brief-by-comparison history of
American patchwork, the six-pointed star also has a noble history. Traditional patterns like Baby Blocks, Tumbling Blocks, Seven Sisters,
Grandmothers' Flower Garden, Mariners' Compass, and others are based
on the shape.
The arrangement
can be simple and symmetrical ―as in the Seven Sisters arrangement (figs.
3 and 4)―or random and whimsical (fig. 2). The stars also
kaleidoscopic potential. If the points contain identical patterns,
printed or pieced, the stars pulsate and spin.
Even more exciting is the potential for depth. Traditional six-pointed
stars are composed of 60 degree triangles. Depending how you
arrange the darks and lights, you can create
3-D illusions that jump in and out of the
quilt's surface. The Tumbling Blocks design is the best known . (Check
out these two, by Sara Nephew:
one,
two).
In short, every six-pointed star quilt can be completely different from
every other. These quilts can be sublime, thrilling,
even....spiritually uplifting! (Good choice, ancestors!)
What's less thrilling is the fact that, as traditionally
constructed, six-pointed stars pieced into a background require challenging
Y-shaped seaming. Fortunately, there are ways to avoid this challenge―or,
depending on your character, to rise to meet it! A range of
approaches is below:
THE EASIER WAYS
Magic Star 6, by Mace McElligot - This may be the fastest and most unconventional way to create kaleidoscopic
six-pointed stars. The system includes a template, a set of instructions, a hinged pair of mirrors, a point turner (a
hemostat will do the same job), and an idea book (If you buy everything, it
will set you back about $30). Slide the mirrors around on a piece of fabric,
until you find a design you like. Put the template there, cut out a diamond.
Then cut 5 more of the same.
Join two adjoining ends of one diamond, right sides together, and turn right-side
out. Do the same for all 6 pieces. Seam all six together (just straight stitching), and―voila!
There you stand, holding a cool little Jewish frisbee! Which won't
damage framed art! Actually, it's a kaleidoscopic 6-pointed
star,
neatly finished all around the edges. It's ready for a fast hand or machine
appliqué. I used this system to make a simple matzoh cover (1). If you create a lot of stars, you can make a quilt
that's elegant, to serve as a Jewish wedding chuppah,; or use fun and funky juvenile fabrics to make
a Jewish baby quilt (2). Since the
top third of each star point is backed, I was able to create flaps with
surprises underneath―the star at the lower right even hangs
over the edge of the quilt.
Downsides: With the Magic Star 6 system: it's more difficult to achieve the
mathematical precision of traditionally-pieced quilt. And the star points
won't be absolutely flat. If you
care about the absolute flatness of your points, scroll lower.
Otherwise, I recommend it. Your local quilt shop may be
able to order the template for you, or order it online
from 'Quilt Crafts,' at
http://www.quiltcrafts.com/rulers.html#MagicStar (scroll down to the
'Magic-Star' rulers). (You can also order it from the
inventor, Mace McElligot, 106 Manito Rd., Manasquan, NJ., Tel. 908-223-4434.)
Stack'n'Whack, by Bethany Reynolds
To pull this off, you need a copy of the book Magic Stack'n'Whack Quilts,
by Bethany Reynolds (American Quilters Society, 1998). This is a fun
and serendipitous way to spend an afternoon. First, buy a half-dozen or so
yards of one interesting, colorful, high-contrast large-motif print
fabric. Cut it into several identically-patterned strips. Cut those strips
into triangles. Sew together the triangles into kaleidoscopic stars (or
hexagons, or both). Next thing you know, you have an amazing quilt
that makes you look like a genius! I used this approach to make the
chuppah in Fig. 3; my friend Sue used richly colored fabrics for the
Chanukah quilt in fig. 4. An overview of the
process is at
Bethany's website,.
(For the best of both worlds: Stack six layers of
pattern-aligned fabric, the way Bethany Reynolds shows you, then use Mace's
tool to cut out the points. Before you know it, you'll have a large pile of
ready-to-appliqué stars!)
FOR EXPERIENCED QUILTERS ONLY
Sara Nephew's books
When the day comes that you want to design
your own 6-pointed-star quilt, replete with fascinating optical
illusions (or not), you'll need isometric triangle graph paper (or
computer program), with lines at
60 degree angles. And when
you start playing around, you will discover that the design possibilities
are truly infinite. Books could be written about them. And many have been. Mostly by Sara Nephew . Her books feature complex but relatively-easy-to-piece designs based on
equilateral triangles. See them at
http://www.clearviewtriangle.com/quiltgallery/qgserendipity.html).
Her patterns do
require a 60 degree quilter's template and rotary cutting system. They also
require care. But there's a break (literally): In most of her patterns, and all of the
most recent ones, there are no set-in seams. Explore Sara's isometric world at
www.clearviewtriangle.com. By the way, although her family is not Jewish, her daughter married a Jewish person,
and Sarah made a
stunning chuppah for the occasion.
Ann Feitelson
The first six-pointed star quilt
that Ann made was featured on the cover of Quilters Newsletter Magazine, in
April '04. Her second was published
in the Museum of the American Quilter's Society book,
New Quilts
from an Old Favorite: Seven Sisters. That's a photo of Ann with one her
smaller quilts in Fig. 5, at the right. More of her work is in
Gallery 7.
Ann
combines traditional and speed methods. She initially chain-sews pairs of
diamonds. There's some stitch-release and rotation in the final steps. An
article outlining her system appeared in the November, 2005 issue of
QNM.
Ann's favorite tools include Sharon Hultgren's Easy Six ruler in conjunction
with
Marti Michel's templates (sets G & H) and rulers . She also recommends
Marti's book, Six is for Hexagons. Ann can be reached at
phweis@valinet.com.
Paula Nadelstern
If you are a careful, patient person, you have a lot of time, and ambition,
and quilting experience---or, if you just want to gape at incredible
beauty--- check out Paula Nadelstern, at
http://www.paulanadelstern.com/.
('Kaleidoscopic IV, The Crystal Canopy,' is a chuppah). These are
labor-intensive approaches―each
star point is meticulously graphed and foundation pieced, using specialized
tools. Yet still leaving room for serendipity.
More ideas for everyone:
- The easiest possible way to generate
six-pointed star quilts―
Just find a nice print fabric that is loaded with stars, back it with
fusible, peel and press! Judaic fabrics can be purchased at local quilt
stores, or some online quilt shops. And
sheets of printed stars, in various sizes and designs, are sold at
http://www.lizardofoz.com.au/Fusables/Fusables_star_of_david.asp.
- Anita Solomon Grossman has pioneered an
approach to paper-foundation piecing, which virtually guarantees
precision, and one of her blocks is a 6-pointed star. The approach is
described in her C&T book, 'Make it Simpler Paper Piecing,' available in
quilt shops and bookstores. Read more at
www.makeitsimpler.com.
Squier Craig, Sharyn, Pyramids
Plus, (Chitra Publications, 1997). Six-pointed star sewing,
simplified. Similar to Nephew's approach.
Johannah, Barbara, Barbara
Johannah's Crystal Piecing. (Chilton, 1993) Complex,
interesting six pointed star designs. Not for beginners.
- Daniel, Nancy Brenan, Stitch it, Snip
it & Flip It, (American School of Needlework, 1993). Neat technique
for making six-pointed stars from squares and half square triangles.
- Poster, Donna, Stars Galore and Even
More, (Chilton Book Company, 1995.)
- Finklestein, Sheila, Magic Mandala
Quilts
- Phillips, Cheryl, with Linda Pysto,
WedgeWorks (Phillips Fiber Arts, 1997)
- Wood, Kaye
http://www.kayewood.com. The TV quilt guru offers several
six-pointed star patterns and books, and a plastic template geared
to her system.
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1. Matzoh cover. The central star is pieced from matzoh fabric (see
Resources ) using Mace McElligot's Magic Star 6 (TM) tool.
2. Raining Cats and Dogs, a baby quilt. I cut out stars from different cat and dog fabrics, using
the Magic Star 6 (TM) tool. Some of the stars overlap the edges of the quilt, and a few star points are flaps with surprises underneath.
3. Chuppah in a Churry.
4.
A Hanukah quilt made by my quilting buddy Sue Feinberg. Sue picked the
colors and fabric, and followed directions found in Bethany Reynolds'
Stack and Whack' book.
5. Massachusetts quilter Ann Feitelson with one of her
glorious constructions.
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