60 Fabulous Paper-Pieced Stars is Back, Bigger and Better!

Nearly two years ago, C&T Publishing approached me about doing an updated version of my best-selling book, 50 Fabulous Paper-Pieced Stars. The vision was to remake the original stars in contemporary fabrics and to design 10 new star blocks. The journey to create the second edition of the book, brought this semi-retired professional quilter several revelations. 

1. Fabric!!!! When we retired from New Hampshire to Florida, I brought very little fabric so I had to go fabric shopping. Fortunately there is a delightful quilt shop, Flash Sew and Quilt nearby. I had been there before and met Bridget Sullivan, the owner. It is a very welcoming place and now, I had some serious fabric shopping to do. As I wandered about perusing the current fabrics, I saw some old favorites, but so many wonderful new collections from which to choose. I could feel that wonderful sense of returning to my happy place!

2. Having a second chance to redo something many years later was fun. I could edit the Nebraska Block with those dreaded 16 seams coming to the middle and add triangles, creating four seams coming together. This made this stunning block so much easier to put together.

Having the second chance to change the fabric placement in some of the stars was also fun. The Iowa Block in the original block was interesting, but the new fabrics make the block really shine. Overall, the stars in this second edition our brighter and simply stunning.

3. After the original book came out, a frequent question was how much fabric do I need to make an entire quilt of one block. The 2nd edition shows the reader how to easily calculate yardage.

4. Going back to my designing roots and creating 10 new star blocks that represent some of our National Parks, ignited that designing spirit that is part of my being. I loved having the opportunity to design these blocks and offer them in this new edition. The Acadia Block actually loses the look of the LeMoyne star and the Denali Block is so striking.

Having the designing bug, inspired 12 new star block designs that I thought I would offer as a Bonus Block of the Month on my web page. That was OK. But what if I created a Carol Doak Bonus Block of the Month Facebook Group Page where quilters could download the block design, cutting list and share a picture of their version of the block? Part of the reason for offering this group page was to show how easily one could make stunning paper-piece stars. In less than 2 weeks, we had 2500 members and 95 versions of the first block I offered (Preview Block). The variations on the same design were amazing. 

I am offering the September Bonus Block design so you can download the foundation and cutting list for this Bonus Block of the Month. I made my star in Autumn colors. What colors do you want to use to create this star block. I could see it in red, white and blue colors, pastels, graphic black and white. There are so many options.

This is the link to the foundation and cutting list. Be sure to make 4 copies of the first page printed full size on Carol Doak Foundation Paper, and one copy of the cutting list on regular printer paper. This paper is the perfect foundation paper for making these star blocks. The paper is not slippery, the ink absorbs into the paper, it holds up during the sewing process, eases as needed when joining units and removes easily. What more could you ask for?

Enjoy the September Bonus block and I hope you are as tickled pink as I am with the new and improved 60 Fabulous Paper-Pieced Stars, 2nd Ed.! My first word when I saw the completed proofs of the book pages? Beautiful!

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Carol Doak is a pioneer in the area of paper foundation piecing. She has published over a dozen successful books and earned many honors in the quilting industry. Carol lives in Bonita Springs, Florida.

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