This post is part of the Sparkle Punch Quilt-Along. If you have questions that aren't answered in this post, please check out the others, which are linked on the main page, here.
Read about Mo’s Sparkle Punch quilt here.
Gather Your Materials
To make the quilt back, you'll need 4 different pieces of solid fabric, each 1-1/4 yards. Each of these pieces will be used to make one quadrant of the quilt back.
Each quadrant will also include a star similar to the ones we made for the front of the quilt. For each star, you'll need a set of 5 squares, each 3-1/2" x 3-1/2". The stars will appear to be floating on a solid fabric background, so I recommend picking star fabrics that contrast with the solid fabric with which they'll be paired.
(If you're keeping score at home, you may have noticed that I subbed out the Kona Stone I had originally planned to use for Kona Thistle.)
Cut the Solid Fabrics (follow these instructions for each of the 4 solid fabrics)
1. Cut 1 strip 31-1/2" x width of fabric and trim to 31-1/2" x 34-1/2".
2. Cut 1 strip 9-1/2" x width of fabric and trim to 9-1/2" x 25-1/2".
3. From remaining fabric, cut 8 squares 3-1/2" x 3-1/2".
Note: All seams are sewn with a 1/4" seam allowance and pressed open.
Make the Stars
Follow the instructions from two weeks ago to make 4 sets of Whole Star components. Make one set for each quadrant of the quilt back, using 4 of the 3-1/2" x 3-1/2" solid fabric squares in place of the negative space fabric that you used on the quilt top.
The stars on the quilt back aren't going to be nestled together. Instead sew the components you just made and the 4 remaining solid fabric squares together like a conventional star block (in a nine-patch formation with the solid squares in the four corners).
Repeat this process to make 4 star blocks, each with a different solid background.
Make the Quilt Back
Arrange the 4 star blocks in 2 rows of 2, as you would like them to be arranged on the quilt back.
From here, we'll sew the rest of the solid fabric onto each star, creating a quadrant of the quilt back.
(Note that the position of the stars in the bottom row in the photo above is different than my finished quilt back. I sewed my pieces together in the wrong order, but decided that I liked it better. It was, as Bob Ross would have said, a "happy accident.")
Sew the 9-1/2" x 25-1/2" strip of matching solid fabric to the left side of the star block in the upper left of your arrangement. Sew the 31-1/2" x 34-1/2" piece of solid fabric to the top, matching 34-1/2" sides.
This is the Upper Left quadrant of your quilt back, but the star should be in the lower right corner.
Sew the 9-1/2" x 25-1/2" strip of matching solid fabric to the right side of the star block in the upper right of your arrangement. Sew the 31-1/2" x 34-1/2" piece of solid fabric to the top, matching 34-1/2" sides.
This is the Upper Right quadrant of your quilt back, but the star should be in the lower left corner.
Sew the Upper Left and Upper Right quadrants together, matching star blocks along the 40-1/2" sides.
This is the Upper Half of your quilt back. The stars should be next to each other at the bottom center.
Sew the 9-1/2" x 25-1/2" strip of matching solid fabric to the left side of the star block in the lower left of your arrangement. Sew the 31-1/2" x 34-1/2" piece of solid fabric to the bottom, matching 34-1/2" sides.
This is the Lower Left quadrant of your quilt back, but the star should be in the upper right corner.
Sew the 9-1/2" x 25-1/2" strip of matching solid fabric to the right side of the star block in the lower right of your arrangement. Sew the 31-1/2" x 34-1/2" piece of solid fabric to the bottom, matching 34-1/2" sides.
This is the Lower Right quadrant of your quilt back, but the star should be in the upper left corner.
Sew the Lower Left and Lower Right quadrants together, matching star blocks along the 40-1/2" sides.
This is the Lower Half of your quilt back. The stars should be next to each other at the top center.
Sew the Upper and Lower halves together, matching star blocks at the center.
Your finished quilt back should measure approximately 68" x 80".
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The next quilt-along post, Finishing the Quilt, will be on February 1.
Love it! Thanks so much!
Posted by: NancyinSTL | January 25, 2012 at 02:17 PM
Thank you for the awesome tut! I have your first book and can't wait to get your second. Love all that you do!
Posted by: Sharon T | January 25, 2012 at 03:58 PM
Love this quilt along.. I have all my squares cut and almost half of them sewn. Can't wait to get the rest of the squares finished to get this quilt finished. So far I'm lovin' it. Thanks
Posted by: Mary | January 25, 2012 at 06:14 PM
So excited! I have the quilt all together on the wall. Hope to post a picture tomorrow on Flickr. Can't wait to start sewing the squares together!
Posted by: Janet Rochleau | January 25, 2012 at 09:23 PM
That is such a great back for a quilt -love it!!
Posted by: Helen in Switzerland | January 27, 2012 at 07:04 AM