2023 AQS & AccuQuilt-Along Project: Morning Star Rainbow Quilt

2023 AQS & AccuQuilt-Along: Morning Star Rainbow Quilt

Join us for the June quilt along as we make the Morning Star Rainbow Quilt.

Be sure to join in the fun on the AQS Quilting Project Parade Facebook Group where you'll meet quilters participating in the quilt along, be able to ask questions, and share your progress.

Click here to join our Facebook group.

Download the GO! Morning Star Rainbow Quilt pattern here.

This pattern produces a simply stunning quilt with plenty of room for creativity, stash-busting, and innovative quilting styles for finishing. 

This quilt is all about the fabric and color choices you make! The original version of this pattern is a rainbow of color, starting with a striking yellow center and radiating out from there.

It’s also the perfect time to work with AccuQuilt’s free GO! Quilt program to help you select fabrics. If you’ve never tried GO! Quilt, it’s a fun way to envision patterns in all different colorways. You can work with basic colors, a wide array of fabric collections that are pre-loaded or even pictures of your own fabrics. Click here to give it a try!

In addition to the GO! Quilt design, Erica suggests you visit the product page for the GO! Morning Star-12" Finished Die to download and print two copies of the coloring page for the block. Pam and I will be showing you how to use this or organize your pieces for this project when we start cutting. 

As you read through the pattern, you’ll see that this effect is created using two different block layouts, but that’s just the beginning of your color options.

Fabric Requirements

Warm Colors - Fat Quarters or scraps

o Light Yellow
o Medium Yellow
o Peach
o Light Pink
o Dark Pink
o Red
o Magenta
o Red/Purple

Cool Colors - Fat Quarters or scraps

o Medium Blue
o Medium Purple
o Medium Teal
o Blue/ Green
o Dark Teal
o Dark Green
o Medium Green
o Light Green

Grey Fabric - 3 Yards (Border & Binding Included in grey yardage)
Batting 57” X 57”
Backing 57” X 57”
#The yardage estimate for the grey assumes the long strips for the border are pieced.

Take a look at Pam's fabric selection:

Pam selected Halloween-themed fabrics. Here's a breakdown of all of them:

• The black tone-on-tone print for the background is from Kitty Corn by UrbanChicks for Moda Fabrics. She really wanted spiderweb fabric for the background, but it was just too busy with the other prints!
• The orange ghosts are Spooky 'n Sweet by Art Gallery, while the rest are all by Moda.
• The purple prints are from Ghouls and Goodies by Stacy Lest Hsu.
• The green skull print is from Basic Grey's Hallo-Harvest.
• The green print with words is from Boo Crew by Sweetwater.
• The bat print is from Too Cute to Spook by Me & My Sister Designs.

Take a look at Erica's fabric selection:

Erica went with fabrics from Hello Spring by Sandy Gervais for Riley Blake Designs. The background fabric is from Bee Basics & Backgrounds by Lori Hold of Bee in My Bonnet for Riley Blake as well. She really wanted a background with just a little "something" going on, and this is just right.

Cutting System

Make cutting quick and easy with just two GO! Dies: the GO! Morning Star-12” Finished and the GO! Setting Triangles-12” Finished Dies, along with the GO! Strip Cutter-1 1/2” (1” Finished) 5 Strips Die for an optional border. As with all our 2023 AQS & AccuQuilt-Along projects, you’ll also be able to cut this project using your rotary cutter. The quilt will finish to 53” x 53”.

Learn more about helpful AccuQuilt products to use with the project on their project blog post here.

Rotary Cutting Instructions

Click here to download the rotary cutting instructions.

From the grey fabric, cut:

6 squares 12 7/8" x 12 7/8"; cut each square diagonally once to make 12 triangles (setting HST)

5 strips 1 1/2" x WOF (border); subcut 2 strips 51 1/2", 2 strips 53 1/2"

6 strips 2 1/2" x WOF (binding)

200 Template A

8 squares 4 3/8" x 4 3/8"; cut each square diagonally once to make 16 triangles

Warm Colors

From the light yellow solid fabric, cut:

8 Template A

From the light pink fabric, cut:

8 Template A

From the red fabric, cut:

12 Template A

From the peach fabric, cut:

12 Template A

From the dark pink fabric, cut:

16 Template A

From the magenta fabric, cut:

8 Template A

From the medium yellow fabric, cut:

2 squares 4 3/8" x 4 3/8"; cut each square diagonally once to make 4 triangles

From the red/purple fabric, cut:

6 squares 4 3/8" x 4 3/8"; cut each square diagonally once to make 12 triangles

Cool Colors

From the light green fabric, cut:

8 Template A

From the medium purple fabric, cut:

16 Template A

From the medium teal fabric, cut:

16 Template A

From the blue/green fabric, cut:

16 Template A

From the dark green fabric, cut:

16 Template A

From the medium green fabric, cut:

16 Template A

From the dark teal fabric, cut:

32 Template A

From the medium blue fabric, cut:

8 squares 4 3/8" x 4 3/8"; cut each square diagonally once to make 16 triangles

Click here to download the Templates.

Be sure to print your template at full size and double-check the 1" guide to confirm the correct sizing.

Click here to download the Rotary Cutting Instructions.

Schedule

Week One: Wednesday, June 7, 2023 - Click here to watch the Week One video.

Week Two: Wednesday, June 14, 2023 - Click here to watch the Week Two video.

Week Three: Wednesday, June 21, 2023 - Click here to watch the Week Three video.

Week Four: Wednesday, June 28, 2023 - Click here to watch the Week Four video.

Join the Fun

Be sure to join in the fun on the AQS Quilting Project Parade Facebook Group where you'll meet quilters participating in the quilt along, be able to ask questions, and share your progress.

Click here to join our Facebook group.

If you've missed our previous AQS & AccuQuilt-Alongs, check them out!

February - Stars in the Crown Quilt Along

April - Scrappy Star Log Cabin Quilt Along

Show & Tell

Thank you to everyone who participated. For those of you still putting in your final stitches, please be sure to share your projects with us in the AQS Quilting Project Parade Facebook Group or send them to us at info@aqsquilt.com and we'll add them here.