Salute to the Red, White and Blue . . .

Memorial Weekend I was inspired to piece a new quilt for my July quilt parade.  There are so many amazing stars and stripes quilt patterns out there I had a hard time deciding what to make, so I made two.

First up is Betsy Ross.

This is Lifetime Quilt Number 283

The pattern, Betsy Ross, is by Katie Malan Designs.  (available here) 

My version finished at 52" by 64"

It has approximately 285 pieces

I added an extra row of white fabric on the bottom of the pattern to better fit the space where I planned to hang it. I think the red binding pulls it all together just fine. 

Abby at Latimer Lane Quilting finished it up beautifully with wavy lines.   

The blue fabric is by Bonnie and Camille for Moda and was from their Happy Go Lucky line, I bought a bolt of that blue dot fabric and have used it in so many of my Bonnie and Camille projects. 

The red is another Bonnie and Camille print, Little Ruby, I didn't buy a bolt of this one but should have, you know me and red!


The second top that I pieced is Stars and Stripes, a free Missiouri Star pattern.

This is Lifetime Quilt Number 284

The pattern is Stars and Stripes by Missouri Star Quilt Co (available here)

My version finished at 54" x 64"

The fabric is all Bonnie and Camille for Moda

It has approximately 240 pieces

We used wavy lines for this quilt too, my go to for patriotic themed quilts.

The Missouri Star pattern used 11" star blocks, I thought that was an odd size, given the strips finish at 2", so I pieced 10" stars instead.  Most people would probably never notice the stars not lining up symmetrically with the stripes in the original pattern. It's all even Steven, debits equals credits happening in my brain all the time, so it was a simple swap.  I like the way it looks, and my brain is happy.

Both patterns were easy, I had them pieced and off to Abby  in less than a week and back just in time for the 4th of July and my July quilt parade.  I'll be sad to pack them up at the end of the month.

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