I just finished this Asterisk quilt which will be raffled to benefit my Mom's nursing school alumni association. I designed this block which was the Empire Quilter's Block of the Month last year and appeared in Quiltmaker magazine too. The link to a tutorial is in the sidebar at right. (I'm getting a lot of mileage out of this one!)
One of the nurses made this label. Didn't she do a great job? She also made another little one with my name on it, and I put it in the other corner of the quilt.
My friend Jackie Kunkel of CV Quiltworks in Canton, CT did the machine quilting. Isn't it beautiful? Jackie is a fabulous quilter; one of her customers sends her quilts all the way from Spain to have Jackie quilt them!
It's challenging to make a quilt that you think will appeal to a large group of people that you don't know. But I like how the solids go with the bright Kaffe prints and the quiet background prints. I think it looks modern, but not too wild. Mom likes it too. 
Take a look at this one-of-a-kind antique quilt that was recently sold on eBay. Made in 1870 it measures 58" x 76." This caught my eye probably because of those crazy, improvisational "asterisks." The quiltmaker added some embroidery and applique for good measure too. I really like the cheddar, black and red in this quilt...and the pink too. I like the funky "Gee's Bend" flavor of this quilt!
Congratulations to the maker of this Asterisk Quilt and winner of a yellow ribbon at the New York State Fair! Linda Lasco's sister took this photo. Thanks Linda, for sharing it with us.
I was brainstorming about the asterisk block today and started wondering how it would look to use ribbons instead of pieced fabric strips or selvages. I orginally bought these ribbons to add to selvage quilts. The dots will add a nice touch, I think. I still have to try that.
These blocks were made for the month-long virtual white wedding celebration going on at http://www.virtualquilter.wordpress.com/ (Australia). Special days to visit are: July 10 (tomorrow), 17, 24, and 31. I'm going formal. (Heehee, it's virtual, so I'm ready. Do you like my new hat and lacy gloves? No, wait. I'll wear the outfit in the sidebar.)
You forensic quilters will notice that the block with the white ribbon is topstitched, but the black block above is just glued. Well, I can't find my black thread, and we quilters are "can do" people.
On July 3 some of our quilting sisters from Down Under got together to make Asterisk Quilts.
Margaret made the quilt shown at the top using 1800's reproduction fabrics, her favorite. Pattie made the quilt above, putting some big flowers right in the middle. Great idea.
Rachel made the quilt above using a pack of fat quarters. Don't these asterisks look like snowflakes? Alison made the quilt below for her grandson. Nice bright colors.
And here is the group. See more photos on their blog: www.goldfieldsquilters.wordpress.com.
You can click on the link in the sidebar to see how to make this surprisingly easy block. Feel free to use it for your group. Send photos to karen@onlinequiltmuseum.com. 
Have you been following the "Asterisk" Quilt-Along? This is the third (and final) Monday installment. If you want to see everyone's blocks on flickr, click here. (Be sure to click on "More" to see them all.)
To make the "piano key" border, cut a pile of strips 1" x 4+" long. I cut them about 4 1/2" long as I'm making the quilt, and keep them in a pile for the border. Sew them in a long row. Press.
Trim to 4" wide (below). Piece these lengths together as needed for the border (see bottom photo).
The three blocks above represent the quilt top.
The quilt shown in the first photo was machine quilted with parallel horizontal wavy lines. That is my "specialty." I just try to keep it simple so I don't ruin my quilt tops! I'm sure you'll blow me away with awesome quilting on your quilts. I can't wait to see them and put the photos in an up-coming Exhibit at http://www.onlinequiltmuseum.com/.
Please email your photos to karen@onlinequiltmuseum.com by Sept 1. Thanks! (Include your name the way you want it listed, where you're from, and the name of your quilt.)
So, did you think this quilt was easy? Was it fun? Is it on your "To Make" list?
Welcome Quilters! Start your engines! You will love how easy the Asterisk block is!
Okay, here we go. Each block is made from one 6" square and one 1" strip (about 32" long).
Cut your square, corner to corner, as shown above. Insert a strip. Press your seams toward the strip (not as shown below, oh well).
Next, cut your square diagonally in the other direction, as shown below. Insert strip. Press.
You can see below that my strips aren't lined up perfectly. This won't matter since you'll cut through the center twice more anyway. 
Now cut your square vertically and insert a strip. Press.
Isn't this looking great? And no triangles to measure!
You know what to do, right? Cut horizontally, insert, press. Now trim your block to it's original size, 6" square.
That last step assures that your blocks are all the same size. What do you think? Easy?
Welcome to the Quilt-Along! Today (and for the next two Mondays) we're going to have a tutorial here on the Selvage Blog showing how to make this quilt. You can join officially by going to http://www.flickr.com/ and joining the Group called the "Old Red Barn Quilt Company." Then you can share photos of your version of the Asterisk quilt, and chat with other quilters (and me).
I designed this quilt. Another version of it appeared in the May/June issue of Quiltmaker magazine. This time I'm making it in solids. I think it would also look great made from scraps.
To make one block: cut one 6" square, and one 1" strip about 32" long. (See above and below.)
Twin quilt: For a quilt that measures 56" wide x 72" long, make 88 blocks. Cut each block 6" square. Cut 88 strips 1"wide x 32" long. (Save leftovers for the border.) 
