Shining Lace Quilt

I channeled very traditional vibes when I designed Shining Lace.

Shining Lace quilt by Canuck Quilter Designs

The starburst design came first.  It's a fairly substantial, sturdy design.  After playing with various sashing and setting options, I eventually decided the blocks needed some breathing room to make the quilt design lighter.  Option 1 was to simply float the blocks on the background, with no other elements.  Option 1 was bland.  

Option 2 was to add light, airy, but not blank, blocks between the starburst.  These new blocks added extra interest between the starbursts without competing with them.  Option 2 sparkled!

Shining Lace quilt by Canuck Quilter Designs

Straight set, no borders!

The resulting design has strong diagonal elements and even the starbursts seem to be set on point, but this is in fact a straight set, with blocks in horizontal rows.  Easy peasy.  It doesn't even have separate borders added.  The background "border" area is built into blocks in each row.

Shining Lace quilt by Canuck Quilter Designs

Piecing Techniques

Don't panic about those those 208 1" finished squares in the chains.  There are no individual tiny squares to cut and sew.  Strip-piecing really is your friend in this case! It reduces the number of cuts you need to make and individual pieces you need to sew, and really speeds up block assembly.

As for the 45 degree angles in the starbursts, if you're familiar with my patterns you have probably guessed that I used stitch-and-flip corners (AKA snowballed corners or lost corners) to make those.  

Don't forget to greet your trimming monster after you trim those lost corners!

Also, there are no inset seams here, though the points of the starbursts might tempt you to think otherwise.

Color Inspiration

My quilt was made with fabrics from the Rosy Blooms collection from Island Batik for Lumin Fabrics, but I submitted the design in alternate collections as well.  What do you think of the light versus the dark versions mocked up in Countryside Charm?  I find it interesting that the starburst in the dark vesion looks more like a blossom to me.

Shining Lace by Canuck Quilter Designs
in Countryside Charm from Island Batik for Lumin Fabric
Fabric arriving in stores in spring 2026

Shining Lace by Canuck Quilter Designs
in Countryside Charm from Island Batik for Lumin Fabric
Fabric arriving in stores in spring 2026

Pinks and spring greens lend springtime charm to the design.

Shining Lace by Canuck Quilter Designs
in Posy Twist from Island Batik for Lumin Fabric
Fabric arriving in stores in spring 2026

For a more muted, elegant look, try a monochromatic palette leaning more heavily on values than colors.

Shining Lace by Canuck Quilter Designs
in Twilight Realm from Island Batik for Lumin Fabric
Fabric arriving in stores in Feb/March 2026

This pattern is also a fabulous canditate for a scrappy version.  I may have dug into my overflowing bin of blue scraps...

Stay tuned for the blue scrappy version!  

I hope all is well in your quilting world. Let me know what you're up to during these cold winter days (or warm summer days in the Southern hemisphere).

Happy quilting,

Joanne

The Shining Lace PDF pattern download is available in my Etsy shop 

or you can ask for the printed version at your favourite quilt shop.