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 pointed design wanting my mariners 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.
Prairie Point edge
Four Mariners Compass patterns with yellow marble background.
Compass with circle center
16 point compass with diamond center
Mariners Compass with split points
Light diamond center of a 16 point
Mariners compass.
Gold metallic thread quilted close up against prairie point edge.