Level: Advanced

To introduce the new Memory Craft 4800QC, we developed a bunch of projects to entice you to try this wonderful machine. The Star Gazer Pillow will take you back in time to when elegance was commonplace in the home. The techniques that you will learn can be used over and over again to create quilts, potholders, pillow shams or whatever your heart desires. Once learned, never forgotten.

Kaye Wood features this technique in "Strip Quilting Projects 9".

Janome Supplies Required:

• Memory Craft 4800QC or any Janome sewing machine
• 1/4 in. Seam foot O
• Overcast foot M
• Zig-zag foot A
• 1 yd. dark print cotton
• 1 yd. blue print cotton
• 1 yd purple cotton
• Rotary cutter
• Cutting mat
• Quilting ruler
• Triangle ruler (Maddie used Kaye Wood's StarmakerÆ 6)
• 12" pillow form
• All purpose thread

Fabric Preparation:

1. Cut one 2" x 45" and two 1 1/4" x 45" strips from purple fabric.
2. Cut one 2" x 45" strip from dark print fabric.
3. Cut two 1 1/4" x 45" strips from blue print fabric.
4. Attach 1/4 in. Seam foot O. Select a Straight stitch. Adjust the stitch length to 2.0mm. Use 1/4" seam allowance. Press all seams as they are sewn.
5. Sew one 1 1/4" x 45" purple strip and one 2" x 45" dark print strip, right sides together. Press.
6. Sew the remaining 1 1/4" x 45" purple strip to the other side of the dark print strip. This will be referred to as Color #1.
7. Cut 2" strips at an angle, using the StarmakerÆ 6 and a quilting ruler.
8. Sew one 1 1/4" x 45" blue print strip and the 2" x 45" purple strip. Press.
9. Sew the remaining 1 1/4" x 45" blue print strip to the other side of the purple strip. This will be referred to as Color #2.
10. Cut 11/4"strips at an angle, using the StarmakerÆ 6 and a quilting ruler.
11. Sew one strip of Color #1 to one strip of Color #2.
12. Sew one strip of Color #2 to the opposite side of Color #1.
    Hint: You should end up with a diamond shape with the dark print in the center.
13. Repeat process to make five more diamonds.
14. To sew two diamonds together, place them right sides together with the solid diamond on top. Clip the corner of the solid diamond where it will intersect with strip diamond. Place a pin to mark the centerline. When you reach the center, pull the other side of the solid diamond around to line up with the strip diamond.
    Hint: Use your seam ripper to sweep any bunched up fabric from under the needle. The needle must be in the down position when pivoting.
15. Sew diamond #1 to diamond #2. You will need to pivot and sweep to turn the corners.
16. Sew diamond #3 to diamond #2. Set aside.
17. Sew diamond #4 to diamond #5.
18. Sew diamond #6 to diamond #5.
19. You should have two sections, diamonds #1, #2, #3 and diamonds #4, #5, #6. Trim as needed to achieve a straight edge.
20. Sew section #1 to section #2.
21. Cut six 3 1/2" diamonds from the dark print fabric, using the StarmakerÆ 6 and a quilting ruler.
22. Sew the dark print diamonds to the open sections of the strip diamonds to form a hexagon shape.
23. Cut four corners from the purple fabric, using the pattern piece provided above.
24. Attach the corners to form a square. Trim as needed.
25. Cut two 10" x 13" pieces from the blue print fabric for the pillow back.
26. Turn under 1/4" on one 13" side of each piece. Press.
27. Turn under 1/2", again. Press.
28. Attach the Zig-zag foot A.
29. Topstitch the each hem.
30. Place the pillow front and pillow back, right sides together. Be sure to overlap the flange back. Secure with pins.
31. Trim the flange back to match the front.
32. Attach the 1/4 in. Seam foot O.
33. Sew all four sides. Press.
34. Turn right side out. Insert pillow form.