When you've been eyeing a ruby star society layer cake lately, you happen to be definitely not by yourself because obsession. Generally there is just some thing about those perfectly stacked 10-inch squares that makes any quilter's heart defeat a little faster. If you aren't familiar with them however, Ruby Star Society is basically the particular "cool kid" associated with the quilting entire world, and their layer cakes are among the almost all versatile techniques for getting your own hands on their entire fabric choices without spending a lot of money.
I recall the first time I actually bought one. We didn't have a pattern in mind; We just wanted in order to flip through those gorgeous prints plus have the high-quality natural cotton. That's the thing about Ruby Star—their stuff includes an extremely specific vibe. It's modern, it's the little bit unquiet, and it often has these unexpected jumps of neon or metallic that a person just don't see in traditional quilting lines.
Why is These Precuts So Special?
Let's be real: reducing fabric is generally probably the most tedious part of any project. That is precisely why a ruby star society layer cake is like a game-changer. You get 42 precut 10-inch squares, which often covers every single print in the specific collection. Instead of standing at your cutting mat for 3 hours trying in order to get perfectly straight lines, you are able to pretty much jump straight to the fun part—the sewing.
The things i love most regarding Ruby Star specifically is the cooperation. You've got designers like Melody Miller, Rashida Coleman-Hale, Alexia Marcelle Abegg, Kim Kight, and Debbie Watts. They just about all have distinct designs, but when they put a collection jointly, it works. It's "scrappy" but cohesive. Making use of a layer cake allows you to see how all these different artistic sounds play together in one single duvet top.
Simple Projects for 10-Inch Squares
When you've got the ruby star society layer cake sitting on your own shelf and you're too intimidated in order to cut into it, don't worry. We've most been there. The particular "fear from the 1st cut" is real. But these pieces are designed in order to be used!
One associated with the easiest issues you can perform is a simple patchwork quilt. If you sew the pieces together in a 6x7 grid, you've got a decent-sized throw quilt nearly instantly. It's the perfect way in order to allow bold images from the Ruby Star designers really glow without a complicated design distracting from the particular art.
If you want in order to get a small fancier, half-square triangles (HSTs) are your very best friend. You may take two 10-inch squares, sew all of them together, and reduce them down to make massive HSTs. It's a very modern look that matches the Ruby Star aesthetic perfectly. Or, you can reduce each 10-inch rectangle into four 5-inch squares. Suddenly, your layer cake provides changed into a substantial charm pack, providing you even even more flexibility for smaller sized block patterns.
The standard Factor
We can't speak about a ruby star society layer cake without mentioning the actual fabric quality. They use reduced natural cotton that feels various from your standard big-box store fabric. It's soft, it offers a beautiful drape, also it doesn't arena often the 2nd you touch this.
The colors will also be incredibly saturated. In case you get a bundle using their signature neons or even those famous metallic flecks, you'll notice they don't simply sit on top of the fabric like cheap glitters. It's woven within or printed with such high quality it survives the particular wash and will keep its shimmer. There's nothing worse than finishing a duvet and having the particular "special" parts fade after one trip through the laundry washing, but that's seldom an issue right here.
Tips intended for Working With Your own Layer Cake
Even though precuts are made to save period, there are some little methods to make sure your task turns out flawlessly.
Watch Out for the Pinked Edges
Most layer cakes, including those from Ruby Star, come with "pinked" or zig-zag edges. This really is great due to the fact it stops the fabric from fraying while you're dealing with it. However, a person need to decide in early stages if you're measuring from the outer points of the teeth or the inner divots. Consistency is key right here. In case you switch halfway through, your stitches won't line up, and you'll be reaching for that seam ripper.
Give Them a Good Press
Whenever you pull all those squares out of the bunch, they might have some slight rippling from being tied up in a bundle. The quick hit with a dry metal (or just a little steam) can make a huge distinction. You desire those squares to be as flat as you can before you start sewing all of them together. Just end up being careful not in order to "push" the metal and stretch the particular fabric—just press it.
To Starch or Not in order to Starch?
This can be a hot topic within the quilting world. Individually, I love making use of a little bit of starch upon my ruby star society layer cake squares, specifically if I'm heading to be slicing them into smaller pieces like triangles. It gives the fabric a bit more "body" and prevents it from stretching on the particular bias. If you're just sewing them as full pieces, you are able to probably neglect it, but for intricate piecing, it's a lifesaver.
Why Earning Good Gifts
If you have the friend who sews, a ruby star society layer cake is actually the particular ultimate "I such as you" gift. It's a manageable dimension, it looks stunning all tied up using a bow, plus it's a luxurious item that many quilters hesitate to purchase regarding themselves.
The beauty of it really is that the particular recipient doesn't want to be the pro. A beginner can handle 10-inch squares. It's also a great way with regard to anyone to try away a new designer. Maybe they thought they weren't in to "modern" fabrics, yet once they see the whimsical designs of Sarah W or the vintage-inspired vibes of Kim Kight in individual, they'll be hooked.
Mixing and Matching
One particular of the best things about the particular Ruby Star world is the fact that their colour palettes often carry over from a single year to another. This means if you have a ruby star society layer cake from a collection launched two years back, it is going to likely organize beautifully with the newer release.
I've noticed some incredible "mega-quilts" made by blending two different layer cakes. Because the designers work so closely together, the particular shades of "RS Orange" or "RS Turquoise" stay fairly consistent. It allows you to create a stash that in fact talks to itself. You aren't just buying random fabric; you're creating a cohesive library of color.
Conclusions
From the end of the day, quilting is supposed in order to be fun. It's a creative wall socket that should bring you joy, not really stress you away with difficult trimming and mismatched colors. That's why I keep returning to the ruby star society layer cake . It takes the guesswork out of the process.
You get the variety, you get the high-end quality, plus you get that "designer look" without needing to be a professional stylist. Whether you're creating a quick infant quilt for the shower or perhaps an attraction for your very own family room, these precuts are such the solid investment. So, if you've already been on the wall about grabbing that stack of 10-inch squares, honestly, go for it. Your sewing machine will certainly thank you, plus you'll have a blast seeing how those vibrant designs get together in your finished project.