machine-pieced Stars
Hello, friends! I hope you had a great weekend! I feel like it was exactly what I needed to truly "reset" from the rush of QuiltCon. Today I'm stitching up a row of stars and then clearing the table to start something new and improv. But, let's back up.
On the Wednesday when I was traveling to QuiltCon, I posted this wordless WIP. Thank-you for your very sweet comments! Some folks remember the English Paper Piecing templates I shared back in October for making six-pointed stars like these by hand. My current project is a similar design, but it's machine-pieced instead. Also, it nests the stars really close together!
See, I'm using triangles and diamonds to make triangle blocks. Each point of the triangle is a piece of a six-pointed star. To make yours, use a quilting ruler to cut 60 degree triangles and diamonds. You can easily scale the stars bigger or smaller, based on how large you cut your pieces. Something like the Fons and Porter Diamond Ruler
works great!
This design doesn't rely on any fancy seams. You just sew the pieces together in sets of 3 with regular straight seams and then use one long seam to complete each triangle block. You do need triangle-sewing know-how to understand how to keep all the points tidy. I'm very happy with how neatly it works!
This project actually began in December like so. I was working monochromatic triangle blocks that would yield scrappy stars. I made maybe 10 blocks and totally wasn't feeling the look. Sometimes when things aren't clicking, it's tempting to completely scrap a good idea.
After a long time out I was able to pick it up again with the energy to rip blocks and sketch a color layout to create monochromatic stars (thanks, Heather!). Now this project is scratching my "machine-pieced stars" itch while also becoming scrap friendly, which was the original point after all.
Today I'm over half-way done with this throw-sized quilt. After completing my current row, I'm going to switch gears. Time for some improv!
Look who's keeping me company! Aria (8) is working on her first quilt that's not simple squares patchwork. She's building squares around a silk scarf and using my practice FMQ sandwhich for her backing/batting. And, no, she is not worried about the strength of the silk combined with her quilting cottons. I told her... But, well, sometimes you have to try things yourself. Of course, I love to see her getting creative! I'll try to remember to update you on her conclusions if/when it's finished.
Happy Monday!
On the Wednesday when I was traveling to QuiltCon, I posted this wordless WIP. Thank-you for your very sweet comments! Some folks remember the English Paper Piecing templates I shared back in October for making six-pointed stars like these by hand. My current project is a similar design, but it's machine-pieced instead. Also, it nests the stars really close together!
See, I'm using triangles and diamonds to make triangle blocks. Each point of the triangle is a piece of a six-pointed star. To make yours, use a quilting ruler to cut 60 degree triangles and diamonds. You can easily scale the stars bigger or smaller, based on how large you cut your pieces. Something like the Fons and Porter Diamond Ruler
works great! This design doesn't rely on any fancy seams. You just sew the pieces together in sets of 3 with regular straight seams and then use one long seam to complete each triangle block. You do need triangle-sewing know-how to understand how to keep all the points tidy. I'm very happy with how neatly it works!
This project actually began in December like so. I was working monochromatic triangle blocks that would yield scrappy stars. I made maybe 10 blocks and totally wasn't feeling the look. Sometimes when things aren't clicking, it's tempting to completely scrap a good idea.
After a long time out I was able to pick it up again with the energy to rip blocks and sketch a color layout to create monochromatic stars (thanks, Heather!). Now this project is scratching my "machine-pieced stars" itch while also becoming scrap friendly, which was the original point after all.
Today I'm over half-way done with this throw-sized quilt. After completing my current row, I'm going to switch gears. Time for some improv!
Look who's keeping me company! Aria (8) is working on her first quilt that's not simple squares patchwork. She's building squares around a silk scarf and using my practice FMQ sandwhich for her backing/batting. And, no, she is not worried about the strength of the silk combined with her quilting cottons. I told her... But, well, sometimes you have to try things yourself. Of course, I love to see her getting creative! I'll try to remember to update you on her conclusions if/when it's finished.
Happy Monday!