My bestie, Victoria, says “Never say ‘Never say never’, or that’s the thing you will end up doing!” And turns out, it is so true.
I used to say I never wanted to make a Log Cabin quilt, but I’ve made several, and am working on one right now!
I also said I never wanted to make a quilt out of Crown Royal bags, but when my dear friend, Lindsay, asked me to make one for her momma for her birthday, I couldn’t tell her no. But I also knew I wasn’t gonna get all fancy with it, either.
Lindsay wanted it to be throw size, so her momma can use it on the couch, and based on the number of bags I had, I came up with an idea.
I decided to use the Star Junction pattern, designed by Ariga Mahmoudlou for Robert Kaufman. It’s a free pattern you can get from their website HERE.
It turned out to be a great decision! Here’s the finished quilt:
Due to the size of the Crown Royal logo, I had to make lots of adjustments to the pattern, and obviously couldn’t do the centers of the blocks with triangles. I also had to make them just a hair bigger so the logo would fit. The fabric the bags are made of is very fuzzy, kinda crawly, and ravels a LOT, so I had purple fuzz and threads all over my studio while I was making it! I didn’t want to have to stabilize it, so I simply sewed very carefully. It also can’t handle a hot iron — I learned that after melting a piece!
I used only the Crown Royal bags, and Moda Bella white solid for the background. By using one green bag in the very center, I had just enough logos to fit the pattern perfectly (but no room for mistakes)!
I amazed myself by getting them all right side up on the first try, too!
I chose a Moda grunge for the backing and binding that matched so perfectly. Since it’s to be a couch quilt, I didn’t want to put white on the back. The only thing she wanted on the label was her birthday:
I quilted it with a pantograph called Citrine, by Patricia Ritter, which came from Urban Elementz.
Then I made a matching pillowcase for her to use with it or store the quilt in when she’s not using it:
Here are all the nitty gritty details:
Finished quilt size: 63″ x 77″ (7″ blocks)
Pattern: Star Junction, by Ariga Mahmoudlou for Robert Kaufman
Fabrics (top): Moda Bella White solid, and Crown Royal bags
Fabrics (backing and binding): Moda Grunge (I think the color is eggplant)
Batting: Quilter’s Dream Poly Select white
Thread (for quilting): Superior OMNI #3002 Natural White
Pantograph: Citrine by Patricia Ritter
And now I’d love to say, “I’ll never make another Crown Royal quilt,” but I’m afraid that will cause me to have to make another one, so you didn’t hear that from me!
I told my mom I’d never marry a lawyer – she also said never say never. She found this completely amusing on my wedding day, as I was marrying a lawyer. Ha!
I love this quilt. I have a ton of bags and have entertained “doing something” but I know it would never be anything as beautiful as this. Nice work, as usual.
What an amazing quilt! Nice work!
This turned out great, it’s the best Crown Royal quilt I have seen made from those bags. I’ve sworn to never piece a Crown Royal bag quilt or a t-shirt quilt, we’ll see, never say never. lol
I wonder what I can make from Diet Mountain Dew? oh, but they don’t give you those fancy bags? As Victoria says I said I would never make a cow quilt, and there is one on the wall of her studio…..Never say never! Ever.
Thanks for the idea for the quilt. I have the bags to make a quilt also your hints are worth a lot to someone who did not know how to use them.
Thanks again.
It came out beautiful and I think you didn’t exactly keep it simple. Love the green label in the center.
I am trying to form a comment about why people want quilts made from liquor bags and tee shirts but I I shall leave it at I am not one of those people. You made a work of art despite it. I have successfully deferred several attempts to get me to make a tee shirt quilt. I have been a design consultant to several.
That’s the best Crown Royal bag quilt I’ve seen! All your choices made it great.
Oh wow, that is really stunning! Well done Shelly!!
Fabulous use of those bags! I’ve got 5 Crown Royal Bags stuffed tight with Crown Royal Bags that I need to get to if for no other reason than to have the drawer space. I’m impressed that you didn’t stabilize them. I am concerned about working with that wonkyness. I know when I make it, the recipient will use it. Ekk, this stuff doesn’t iron well does it? Let the good times roll…
I think it’s good to say “Never say never”. The doctors said “never”, yet here I am.
I love Moda Bella solids – any color. I also love Quilter’s Dream battings – even the Dream Green. The quilt is beautiful.
Beautiful quilt, Shelly.
I was wondering f the bags were pre-washed to shrink and remove excess die?
I never was going to be a nurse, marry a doctor or smoke. Took me a while to learn that lesson. Don’t say it ever. Is that like”never”?
Beautifully done and quilted. Congrats!
Cool quilt!
When in need of a stabilizer that won’t be stiff and works in a quilt, I have found Pellon Wash n Gone (there are many different brands on the market) to be a good solution. I use it mainly in machine embroidery, it is a water soluble stabilizer that leaves support behind stitches when washed out. The nifty thing, is that even if it’s not washed (will never be washed) it is soft and non-intrusive. It may not be the solution to every stabilizer dilemma; but, it might be worth a look for anyone who searching for a stabilizing solution.
Shelley your Crown Royal quilt is stunning. Makes me almost wish I had saved the bags years ago!
I love the quilt!! What were the actual sz of the blocks?