AMERICAN PATCHWORK & QUILTING (APQ): OCTOBER 2024 ISSUE- THE SAWTOOTH STAR

The October 2024 issue of American Patchwork & Quilting (APQ) is LIVE on newstands, again exploring the conversation on modern vs. traditional quilting! This is our fifth out of six articles and we are so happy with how it all came together once again… but keep reading, this one definitely has a little twist.

For this issue, I asked my MODA friend Betsy Chutchian to join me as my partner but this time it was Betsy who worked on the “traditional” side and I became the champion of the modern interpretation.

Betsy is one of the sweetest people I have had the pleasure to meet in our community and I loved sharing this project with her. We decided on the sawtooth star together, both becuase it is one of our favorite blocks and because we thought that no conversation about classic quilt blocks would be complete with the sawtooth star!

If you don’t know Betsy, she has a classic, traditional design style and has been working her quilty magic in the quilting world for quite sometime. She designs wonderful reproduction fabrics for MODA and is a prolific quilter in her own right. You will for sure want to check out her traditional version of the sawtooth star below.

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MY QUILT: CIRCLE OF STARS

Although normally when thinking of sawtooth star blocks, I would be drawn to lots of small scrappy stars in a variety of prints and colors, this time around I knew I wanted to change it all up and focus on something a bit more simple. I knew “modern” wasn’t going to mean a completely different color scheme for me since I still wanted to be able to use the quilt in my own home or more likely, gift it to one of my three kids [all who love this particular color scheme]. But that still left me with lots of color choices within my own palette that could be used together for a brighter, cleaner feel.

First, I decided on a crisp classic color combination, denim blue and chartreuse green and simple prints that could easily be incorporated into pretty much any style. I stayed away from florals or anything feminine. I really love the result even though it is quite different from what I would normally be drawn to.

Second, I opted for the clearer “off white” background solid to help keep with a slightly more modern aesthetic. I didn’t add anything scrappy or mixed into the background and just kept it all one bella solid background.

Lastly, I decided to go big & oversized with my design with just a few blocks set in a unique way. The center star was a great opportunity to add in a bit of that fabulous blue denim and the green stars in somewhat of a circle around it. I think the result is both classic and modern all at the same time.

Believe it or not, this is actually a design I have done before in softer, more traditional fabrics and have always wanted to work on it in a more “modern” feel… this was definitely my chance and I love the result!

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Finished Quilt: 57 ½” x 57 ½”

We are offering KITS HERE while supplies last if you are interested in sewing along with us over the month of August. We have a set with the magazine and once those sell out, we will try to offer the kit without the magazine for those of you who already have a subscription or are able to find it on your own.

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Fabrics are a green from my stash but a wonderful equivalent would be either of my green EYELETS, MODA BELLA off-white and one of my favorite prints from the upcoming DENIM & DAISIES collection, shipping in the next few weeks from the wonderful folks at MODA fabrics.

It was quilted by the amazing Marion Bott with a tilework pantograph that adds wonderful texture to the overall quilt. Marion and I were both drawn to this print for its open and modern feel while still being classic in style.

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BETSY’S QUILT

BETSY_CHUTCHIAN on Instagram

“I’ve had a love and appreciation for antique quilts since I was a child. When I replicate classic designs from past generations, I’m honoring the history of those women,” Betsy says in our APQ interview. Honestly, I could not agree more in my own design as well!

Betsy’s stars are set in a classic chain and accented with multiple floral borders. So lovely!

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MAGAZINE AVAILABLE NOW

The APQ OCTOBER 2024 issue is available now. Be sure to pick up your copy at your local quilt shop, at major newsstands, or digitally from the American Patchwork & Quilting website.

In addition to the patterns for both sawtooth star versions, this issue includes so many other wonderful projects as well…….

As a reminder, this is the 5th installment for APQ and we have one more final one after this. Here are links to the first 4 blog posts in case you missed them:

• #1 – February 2024 – LOG CABIN block – Alexia Abegg
• #2 – April 2024 – WEATHERVANE block – Alison Glass
• #3 – June 2024 – CHURN DASH block – Jen Kingwell
• #4 – August 2024 – FLYING GEESE block – Emily Dennis

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THANK YOU

I hope you enjoy the article and find new inspiration! Stay tuned as we continue with one more issue this year on the Modern vs. Traditional Conversations with APQ.

Happy Sewing!

-Joanna