A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion Hobbies, Crafts and Creativity Mariner's Compass Quilt

I have been planning for several years to make Maxi a Mariner's Compass Quilt.

This first sample is Windrose by Judy Mathieson. I like this version for many reasons.



But notice how the star spins off of a circle? That is what differentiates a Mariner's Compass from a pattern such as Ohio Star, for instance, whose rays come off of a square.

The reason it is known as a "windrose" is because the original patterns were taken off of ancient maps for sailors... the directional "rose" showed the winds, like this:




But here is a Mariner's Compass stitched in 1850 by Mary Benedict Baker, a 19 year old girl. She did not add the central circle but I'm guessing her rays work out to be mathematically correct.




Once in a while you see a Mariner's Compass made into blocks which are repeated across the surface of the quilt. But I want to do it more traditionally, and make the Compass as the central medallion.

What do you think of my project so far? I plan to start shopping for fabrics soon.

That looks great .
Doing is another thing.
I too have that pattern, but accuracy is the biggie.

Show how you cut an lay it out.

dodge

Yes, I was planning to do a photo-op thread for the making of this quilt, Dodge, so you'll get to see lots of pictures as time goes by!

Fortunately for me, there is a Quilting Club which meets every Tuesday at my previous church and many quite expert quilters attend & teach the newbies while working on quilts for sale or gifts. (They give each graduating senior from high school a quilt).

So once I get my fabric, I can go over on any Tuesday morning and get expert advice. Also, to make use of the many very long tables for laying out and cutting the fabrics.

The Mariners Compass medallion is a bit tricky to piece because although it works out mathematically correct for a circle, the necessairy angle for some of the pieces is odd.

I am tenatively planning to do the compass in shades of red and gold and use a plain background, perhaps in a deep sea blue, rather than to "busy up" the quilt face w/ many smaller blocks. I want that medallion to shine! Front and center!

Thats great,

I will watch.

dodge

Good Luck with your project it will be nice to see the pics as it develops. I'm hoping to take up quilting in the near future though I think I'll start with something a little simpler.

Wow, that's a beautiful pattern.

I know nothing about quilting but it looks like it will be beautiful.

Very intresting too.
I longed to do that one for years.. Still longing.

dodge

Good luck with your quilt Merme. All the quilters I know believe the Mariners Compass is the hardest of all quilts to piece. Too hard for me.

Or me

hey, merme--how is your quilt project coming??
have yo udecided to wain until you get moved & get maxi settled in school??
Then of course there is your Compatible Parts, project to consider as well.

My Merme you are one busy lady, ya know???