These 16 point compasses are set with hand marbled yellow cotton and bordered with Prairie points, which is folded patchwork. The traditional mariners compass pattern offers many variations and I love the circular design of the compass pattern, using it often in my work.
I drafted the compass pattern on my Macintosh computer and printed out the paper piecing patterns. Working with green and blue fabrics I experimented with simple variations on the 16-point design wanting my compasses to float across the yellow marble cotton.
Most of the quilting is subtle but I did use some gold metallic thread to create half stars. There are tiny 5 pointed stars in gold metallic thread all over the piece with a concentration of them in the center. The effect is subtle and difficult to photograph. You can see one of the large gold quilted stars below.
Prairie points are a traditional way to use folded patches of cotton and blend well with the pointy compasses.
*******