Needle Stars Workshop with Paula Nadelstern

by Elizabeth Eastmond

Mt. Vernon Quilters gathered in the Government Center on March 11, 2008 for a workshop with Paula Nadelstern, the internationally-known quilter famous for her kaleidoscope quilts using intricate symmetrical fabrics.

First up, some time learning to work with our gridded paper in drafting our perfectly angled triangles and templates.

We had twenty-two people take the class and two assistants (one was a visitor from California--me!). We were happy that another guild from QU was represented as well.

Mary concentrates on correct measuring. If you visit Paula's website, she shares a simple way to draft a perfect 45-degree triangle.

Beverly and Cathy study the triangle chart to get that perfect angle. We worked with eight-to-the-inch gridded graph paper and template plastic.

Paula took extra time with many class members to assist them at this crucial step. Angie and Paula discuss the formulas.

Beverly, Gail, and Aby transfer their drawn template to their plastic with special markers that really stay on.

Mary, Rhonda and Pat visit during the next step: choosing a motif from the bilaterally symmetrical fabric. After identifying a favorite motif, we laid the template over the fabric and transferred the outline of the design onto the plastic, ensuring that we could duplicate the placement over and over again.

Carol is tracing her template in several different sections of her fabric, generating the eight portions of the Needle Star.

Pat and Mary look like twins in their hunt for Needle Star placement.

Rhonda and Kathy chat over template plastic.

Several workshoppers are now crafting the next portion of the template.

With our main piece cut, Paula talks about "auditioning" fabrics for the "needle" in the block.

The amazing Needle Star quilt, alongside Ms. Nadelstern and Rhonda. We appreciate our VPs (Rhonda is one of them) for bringing this workshop to our guild.

Beverly, the current blogger, poses with the previous blogger, Elizabeth (who lives in California, but came for the workshop).

Lynn and Paula in front of the quilt.

This image of a Needle Star Quilt is from Ms. Nadelstern's website. Please visit there (click on underlined link) for more information on scheduling workshops.
Thank you Paula, for a wonderful day!