Level: Advanced
Time: 20 hours

The Lone Star quilt represents the epitome of quilting skills, a worthy quilt to showcase the features of the new Horizon. The superior feed system, the simple conversion to a straight stitch plate, the unbelievable stitch quality—all provide the precision needed for bias seams and perfect corners. Add to that the amazing work space provided by the extra long bed, the well lit work area and the control of the AcuFeed system, and you have the perfect machine for any quilter, from the novice to the most accomplished!

Finished Quilt Size: Approximately 60" x 60"

Janome Supplies:
-Precision sewing machine with SFS plus, such as the Horizon 7700QCP
-AcuFeed foot
-AcuFeed ditch stitching foot (optional)
-1/4” foot
-F2 foot
-P foot
-Knee lifter

Sewing Supplies Required:
• Rotary cutter and cutting board, 24” x 30” minimum size suggested
• Quilter’s ruler, 24” minimum length suggested
• 12” square template
• All purpose thread in neutral colour
• Monofilament thread
• 2 yds of fusible web for appliqué
• 40 wt embroidery thread for appliqué
• 24 small burgundy buttons (optional)
• Bobbin thread
 

Fabric Required:
Note: All fabrics are 45” wide 100% cotton.

• Ivory solid 2 1/2 yds Quilt background and border
• Lt Yellow tone-on-tone 1/8 yd Diamonds
• Lt Blue tone-on-tone 1/4 yd Diamonds
• Med Blue small print 1/4 yd Diamonds
• Lavender small print 3/8 yd Diamonds
• Burgundy tone-on-tone 3/4 yds Diamonds, inner border
• Dk Rose tone-on-tone 1 yd Diamonds and appliqué
• Bubblegum Pink marble 1/4 yd Diamonds
• Lt Pink small print 1/4 yd Diamonds
• Sunflower Gold Crackle 1/4 yd Diamonds and yoyos
• Tan solid 3/8 yd Binding
• Green batik 1/8 yd Appliqué
• Quilt backing 3 1/2 yd
• Low loft quilt batting 65” x 65”

Cutting Instructions:
Cut the following strips from each of the fabrics:
Lt Yellow tone-on-tone:
     One strip, 2 1/2” by width of fabric
Lt Blue tone-on-tone:
     Two strips, 2 1/2” by width of fabric
Med Blue small print:
     Three strips, 2 1/2” by width of fabric
Lavender small print:
     Four strips, 2 1/2” by width of fabric
Burgundy tone-on-tone:
     Five strips, 2 1/2” by width of fabric
     Six strips, 1” by width of fabric
Dk Rose tone-on-tone:
     Four strips, 2 1/2” by width of fabric
Bubblegum Pink marble:
     Three strips, 2 1/2” by width of fabric
Lt Pink small print:
     Two strips, 2 1/2” by width of fabric
Sunflower Gold crackle:
     One strip, 2 1/2” by width of fabric
Tan solid:
     Six strips, 2” by width of fabric
Ivory solid:
     Six strips, 4” by width of fabric
     Two strips, 15” wide, cut into 4 15” squares
     One strip, 21” wide, cut into two 21” squares
 

Construction:
1. The instructions are for a 5 row Lone Star arrangement. Each row is sewn together in a planned order to form a unit. As each strip is added to the unit, it is offset by 2”, as shown below.

2. Set up the MC7700 for piecing by selecting D1. Adjust the stitch length to 1.8 mm and attach the 1/4” foot. Assemble each unit in the following order:
Unit 1:
Lt Yellow strip, Lt Blue strip, Med Blue strip, Lavender strip, Burgundy strip.
Unit 2:
Lt Blue strip, Med Blue strip, Lavender strip, Burgundy strip, Dk Rose strip.
Unit 3:
Med Blue strip, Lavender strip, Burgundy strip, Dk Rose strip, Bubblegum Pink strip.
Unit 4:
Lavender strip, Burgundy strip, Dk Rose strip, Bubblegum Pink strip, Lt Pink strip.
Unit 5:
Burgundy strip, Dk Rose strip, Bubblegum Pink strip, Lt Pink strip, Sunflower Gold strip.
3. Using a rotary cutter and cutting mat, cut each unit into eight 2 1/2” strips, cut at a 45% angle as shown below.

 
4. Sew 1 strip from each unit together with a 1/4” seam, matching each intersection, to form large pieced diamonds.

5. When all large pieced diamonds are assembled, sew the diamonds together in pairs. The seam starts and stops 1/4” from each end—use the angles marked on the plate of the new MC7700 to position the needle exactly 1/4” from the end. Press seams to one side. Check each pair to make sure it is ‘square’ using the 12” square template as shown below.
 

6. Sew two pairs together to form half of the star, and then sew the two halves together to complete the star, making sure that all intersections match. Press.

7. Print the pattern for the appliqué flower arrangement. Trace the flowers and buds onto the paper side of the fusible web. You will need twenty four flowers, three for each of the inset corners and triangles that complete the Lone Star quilt, and 16 buds. Iron the traced flowers and buds to the wrong side of the Dk Rose tone-on-tone fabric. Trim each piece along the traced line. Trace the leaves for each arrangement onto the paper side of the fusible web. Iron the traced leaves to the wrong side of the Green batik. Trim the leaves along the traced line. Remove the paper backing from the appliqué pieces.

8. Place a 15” square of Ivory fabric over the appliqué pattern, with the pattern centered diagonally under the square. The outline of the pattern should be visible through the fabric. Position the leaves and roses using the outline as a guide, with the roses slightly overlapping the leaves. Fuse in place, following the manufacturer’s instructions. Repeat for each square.

9. Cut each 21” square diagonally in half for a total of four triangles. Place a triangle over the appliqué pattern, with the pattern centered and parallel to the long side of the triangle. Position the leaves and roses using the outline as a guide, with the roses slightly overlapping the leaves. Fuse in place, following the manufacturer’s instructions. Repeat for each triangle.

10. Thread the MC7700 with embroidery thread and with bobbin thread in the bobbin. Attach the F2 foot. Select Stitch 11, zigzag. Adjust the stitch width to 3.0 mm, and stitch length to .0.40 mm. Satin stitch around each appliqué piece, starting with the stems and leaves. Add details using decorative stitches for the veins of the leaves. Add details to the flower centers using straight stitch and individual French knots if desired. A fabric yoyo will be added to each flower center after the quilt is complete.

Inside Information: Other appliqué methods can be used for the appliquéd flower arrangements. Suggestions include the freezer paper method, or turned needle technique. The design can also be digitized and embroidered in a hoop on an embroidery machine such as the Janome MB4.

11. Set up the MC7700 for piecing by selecting D1. Adjust the stitch length to 1.8 mm and attach the 1/4” foot. Sew a square into the four corners of the Lone Star. Sew a triangle into each of the sides. The squares and triangles are cut slightly oversized. When the Lone Star is complete, trim the excess fabric, making sure a 1/4” seam allowance remains at the tip of each point of the star.

12. Sew a 1” Burgundy strip to each side of the completed star for the inner border, piecing where necessary. Press seams toward the inner border. Add the 4” strips of Ivory fabric to each side, piecing where necessary, for the outer border. This completes the quilt top for the Lone Star Quilt.

13. Prepare the quilt backing, seaming if necessary to create a block 4” larger than the completed quilt top. Place the backing right side down on a flat surface. Layer with the batting and quilt top. Baste the layers together using large hand stitches, or pin baste as desired.

14. To quilt a Lone Star quilt, stitch in the ditch along each diamond and border using the Accufeed foot. Change to the P foot for free-motion quilting, drop the feed dogs, and select D1S. Outline each appliqué arrangement adding free-motion leaves. Stipple quilt the background. Quilt the border with feathers. Trim the quilt backing and batting to match the completed quilt top.

Inside Information: You can also quilt the many diamonds of the Lone Star using a free motion scallop as shown in the sample quilt. This can be done as continuous quilting because of the large work space available on the new Horizon.
 

15. Piece together the 2” tan strips to make enough binding to go around the quilt. Fold the binding in half and press. Sew to the quilt with a 1/4” seam, mitering each corner. Join the ends. Fold the binding to the wrong side of the quilt and hand stitch in place.

16. Cut twenty four 2 1/2” circles from the remaining Sunflower Gold fabric. Hand stitch around each circle, folding under 1/4” as you go. Pull up the stitches, creating a ‘yoyo’. Secure the thread and hand stitch in place at the center of each appliquéd flower. Add a small button to the center if desired.

This completes the Lone Star quilt. Congratulations!