While browsing knitting patterns and attempting to learn about the history of knitting, I came across Aran knitting. I find the cable designs of Aran knitting to be incredibly intricate and beautiful. This is my Aran star – possibly my most favourite star among knitting star quilt blocks. The diamonds and the lines between them in this star are very much inspired by Aran knitting.
This was the initial block I made using the Grandma’s House Keys fabric for the background. I love to pretend that the “petals” are portals to different worlds. With a different key, a completely different world opens up through the same portal.
Although the Aran star is not nearly as complex as traditional Aran knitting, it can have that layer of intricacy by adding extra colours to the basic design.
Purchase Fair Isle Star Pattern
The Fair Isle Star seemed like the perfect companion for the Aran Star since they share similar diamond shapes and lines.
This exact block is the reason for my having to make two of each! I made the Aran Star with the Keys fabric at first, and then I moved on to making this one. Once I finished the block, I realised that I had printed this one at 94%. Since this was going be used on a mini quilt, I needed this to be an exact 10″ block. By now I had completely run out of the keys fabric since I only had a fat quarter to begin with. So I had to switch to a different background fabric and I made the Fair Isle Star with the blue background. Since I couldn’t have just one star with a different background, I had to make another matching Aran star with the same blue background fabric as well.
To avoid future printing mistakes, I have started putting a 1″ square on every page of my new patterns. I am updating all of my old patterns to include that 1″ square as well. Hopefully no more printing mistakes for me.
I think I will make pillows with the keys blocks. They will go very well with the Fairy Door Pillow that I made earlier this year.
Purchase Fair Isle Star Pattern
I could play with the colours on these two stars forever! I love how the look changes with the added colours on the straight lines. They look like Star-bursts.
Mini quilt layout with my knitting stars quilt patterns – Vale, Fair Isle, Aran and Argyle
Purchase star patterns in my shop
In retrospect I am actually happy the mistake happened. Rather than having all four blocks with a green background, the blue blocks add more interest to the mini. I will be using Kona Bone for sashing. I really want to hand quilt this mini which will have to wait until I finish making the Halloween quilt. You will see these stars appear again on that quilt too. I am also nearly finished with the layout of the star quilt with solid colours as well. More on that later!
Happy Sewing,
-Soma
13 thoughts on “Aran And Fair Isle Stars”
Rae November 7, 2014 at 11:25
I love the mini you are making. It is beautiful. The contrast of the green and soft blue/turquoise color backgrounds is astounding. I don’t think the end result would have been nearly as appealing if the blocks were all done in green backgrounds. Yay, for mistakes that make our finished project better! I love those shades of green and blue together. I would not have thought of doing those blocks in those colors, especially since I dislike brown usually, but these blocks are scrumptious. I stumbled onto your blog, and am glad I did. Hope to find the finished mini sometime soon. (Am not sure of the date of this blog, looked but must have missed it.) You do lovely work. TFS
Rae
Janine October 9, 2014 at 14:34
These really are gorgeous! Thank you for linking with Wool on Sundays :)
Leanne Parsons October 4, 2014 at 09:39
Both stars are absolutely beautiful! I’ve had issues with printing things the wrong size before too, so I really appreciate those 1″ lines. I’ve been wondering about how to add them to my own patterns, as I have a paper-pieced block I’m just starting work on now. How do you go about adding the 1″ line to your patterns?
Shauna October 3, 2014 at 08:10
very cute, I love the color combinations you chose
Rachel October 2, 2014 at 07:13
Beautiful blocks!
Cheryl September 28, 2014 at 16:32
Very nice blocks. I really like the different background colors, it will give the quilt a little pop.
Maria September 25, 2014 at 20:55
Such beautiful blocks, Soma! The mini quilt will look wonderful :-)
Mary September 25, 2014 at 18:58
Those are fabulous. What a beautiful quilt that will make!
AmandaK@whatthebobbin.com September 25, 2014 at 18:20
These blocks make me want to a Christmas quilt! I find those 1″ squares super helpful on patterns. good idea :)
Kathleen September 25, 2014 at 15:26
These look wonderful together!
Susan September 25, 2014 at 12:10
Another wonderful set of stars. I am adding them to my wish list.
krislovesfabric September 25, 2014 at 11:03
These look like beauties together and I especially like the effects you are getting with the solids. I know how you feel with the printer problem, I had to get a new one when I switched operating systems and I seem to have lost the checkbox to print without scaling with this change?? Seems my computers and accessories are always smarter than I am. I think the 1 inch box is a great idea…at least you will know if you have a problem before you start!
Susan in OK September 25, 2014 at 10:43
The beloved stars keep getting better. This is great in every color combination – the aqua and brown is over the moon.