Thursday, March 30, 2017

QUICK LINKS to posts from TODAY X 6 ...

DANG.... I posted 5 new blog posts and they were so big they bumped the first one to the bottom of thread.... be sure to use the OLDER BLOG POST icon at the bottom of the page to find them.  I had a lot of  important information in them..
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http://eveningstarquilters.blogspot.com/2017/03/star-challenges-quilters-choice.html
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http://eveningstarquilters.blogspot.com/2017/03/wanted-quilts-for-hurley-hospital-nicu.html

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http://eveningstarquilters.blogspot.com/2017/03/notes-from-guild-meeting-march-29-2017.html
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http://eveningstarquilters.blogspot.com/2017/03/a-night-will-laura-patterson-from-bay.html
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http://eveningstarquilters.blogspot.com/2017/03/variable-star-quilt-block-125-inch.html

http://eveningstarquilters.blogspot.com/2017/03/charlies-power-point-presentation.html


THESE ARE QUICK LINKS to make it easier for you to find/ read the information.

MEMBERSHIP FORM 
TO download  ..... RIGHT CLICK on the picture of the form.  SAVE IMAGE to your computer .... it can then be printed off and filled out and brought to the guild on meeting night.

 
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Variable Star Quilt Block ( 12.5 inch )



Found another STAR block.   I am making a quilt from the MIDNIGHT QUILT SHOW on You Tube.

MIDNIGHT QUILT SHOW .. VARIABLE STAR QUILT

I often make a trial block when I am using a new/ different technique.  Since we are making STARS for the guild challenge I decided to make a block using fabric selected for the challenge.  If the block turns out okay I plan to donate to the challenge.


select three fabric cut to 6 inch blocks 





YOU can make your HsqTri patches any way you want, but I used the method shown on YOU TUBE and I give the measurements for that technique.  The measurements can be used so you can figure out how to make the block using your favorite methods. 

Match a focal fabric with a second fabric then with the background patch.  ( See picture.)



Sew around the block using a QUARTER INCH seam ... NOT scant a little generous would not hurt.






SEW around the block using a generous quarter inch seam.  This is an over sized block and you will be trimming the HsqTri patches to 3. 5 inches.   

 
I marked the diagonal to show where to cut.


 I marked the diagonals to show where I will be cutting the sewn patches to make the HsqTRIs.  REMEMBER the outsides of the block is on the BIAS and will distort if handled roughly.



3 sets of four half square triangle

 There will be 3 sets of FOUR half square triangles.  They need to be squared to 3.5 inches.  As I said earlier these patches were over sizes so you have at least a quarter of an inch of fabric to trim off.  

When pressing your triangles BE SURE TO SET THE SEAM then open the triangle.  I pushed the seams to the dark side, but I found that sometimes I had to reverse the seam press in order to get the intersections to lock. 

 It is up to YOU to decide if you want to press your seams to one side or to press open all the seams.  IT IS IMPORTANT WHAT EVER METHOD YOU USE YOU ARE CONSISTENT.    ( Watch out for burned fingers when you press open your seams.)


square up to 3.5 inch patches



 Once all your half sq triangles are squared up lay out your block.  I did not mention earlier you will need 4 patches of 3.5 inches.



Lay out the patches forming a pinwheel in the center
I like sewing the pinwheel first then I add the star points on the side.  I sew the top and bottom rows adding the 3.5 inch patches on the ends of the star points.  I press as sew each section together.


Pinwheel center sewn


 Surprise, surprise my block came out to the correct 12.5 inch block ( 12 inch finished)   I do not think I will have any cut off points. 


Square up block if necessary but watch the POINTS!

SURPRISE, SURPRISE it is the correct size block.


 I hope you will want to make this block for one of your quilts ... it was surprisingly easy to make and went together fast.  It took less then 2 hours and it took that long because I stopped to take photos.  The second block I made went together much faster... took a tad longer than an hour.

WHEN ASSEMBLING INTO A QUILT remember the outside edges are ON THE BIAS!

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Charlie's Power Point Presentation



Before we get started…

Do You Know what this is…   

It is a small ruler used to mark those little diagonal lines on the back of squares.


QUARTER INCH RULER for diagonal markings
Do You Know how to use it…    

You just lay it down so you can see the corners and mark on both sides.

MARK across the diagonal of the square


Do You Know what you end up with…  

Now when you need even lines on the back of those smaller squares you know what to do.

In January we talked about some of ways to do the star-point or flying geese blocks. That didn’t go very well, because I talk too fast and had dropped many of my show ‘n’ tell.

Here is the Star Point that most people find very easy to do and still be fairly consistent and have correct measurements.

 
patches need for the flying geese no waste method



 Here we go:       

You need (for a 6 ½” x 3 ½” star point) 

1) 7 ¾” background square and 4) 4 ½” star point squares.
Mark double lines on the back of all 4 star points. Place the first two on opposite corners of the background fabric.  Mark the diagonals.

 
Sew on marked lines
 

Sew on both drawn lines.

 
Sew on marked lines then cut apart


Cut in half.
 
Cut the block on the diagonal ... be sure to set the seam
  
 One other thing, please make sure you set your seam before pressing open. Press points up, on both pieces. They look like a squared up heart.

 
looks like  a heart block
 Place a marked square on each piece.

 
Place a third marked square in the corner of the triangle then sew on the lines and cut apart
 Sew on both lines.

 If you look close, you will see that the sewing starts and ends in a vee. ( see red arrow)   CUT unit in half then on diagonal.  
Press all 4 pieces open.

Trim to a 6 ½” by 3 ½” star point. Charlie loves the flying geese square up rulers by QUILT IN A DAY.  There are similar products on the market.   She finds this method most accurate.


 
Make sure there is ¼” seam allowance after the point.

You will have 4 star points.



You will need 4) 3 ½” squares of background fabric to place in the corner and to finish the star points.


Sew a square to each side of two star points.

Trimmed flying geese patch with 3.5 square patches


  Sew remaining star points to opposite sides of your center square.
Then sew star points with corner squares to the other sides.

This will finish up a star block with a center square.

         You can make all the star points for your quilt and set them aside.
         By the time you make a dozen or so you will be able to do them blindfolded.
         By that time you will also start to believe that they are fun to make and you will see several ways to incorporate them in your quilts.
          

Then you can decide which square to put inside the star point block.

         A Snowball Block
         A Half Log Cabin Block
         A Leah’s Star
         A Positive 9 Patch
         A Negative 9 Patch
         A Disappearing 9 Patch
         Let’s check out a Half Log Cabin Block


Here is a Half Log Cabin block to use as the center.

You start with a square of bright fabric, I used 2 ½” square. Add a piece to one side. I am using 1 ½” strips of fabric to go around.

         Log Cabin Blocks can be made any size you want. This Half Log Cabin Block has a larger center and smaller strips on the sides. It adds a little character. And I can regulate size easier.
Made with 2 inch corner block surrounded by strips made from 1.5 inch strips till block equaled 6.5 inches

You keep adding strips around until the measures what you are looking for.
 Making sure to press between each addition. Press away from the center to make less bulk. See how the block is growing. 
       
There are several different uses for Log Cabin Blocks, Half Log Cabin Blocks or variations of Log Cabin Blocks.
       
  Just keep adding strips until your block is as large as you want it.  
     

You trim, use the diagonal line through the intersections on the diagonal to keep the block square.


When the block gets to your chosen size; finish the star block off by adding the star points.




The other quick block… A Snow Ball Block, which I will be using for all my I Spy Blocks is very easy and it allows you to see much more of the printed fabric. You can also put words on some of the blocks and have the kids match them.

FOCUS FABRIC = 6.5 inch CENTER  patch and flippy corners made from 2.5 inch squares 


Working toward a 6” finished block (6 ½” measurements)


You start with a 6 ½” square of the print fabric; next you take (4) squares of background fabric that are 2 ½” square. Unless you are making one huge snowball, 2 ½” is a good corner square. Mark One Diagonal line on the back of these blocks. Place on two opposite corners of your print square. Sew just inside this marked line; this allows for the width of your thread and the fold of the fabric when you press it back.



 
Sew on flippy corners on all corners, trim the corners then proceed with assembly


Set the remaining squares and sew. Press all corners to make sure they cover well.


Trim corners to reduce bulk


 And you have a Snowball Block to be put in the star points to make a full star block for the I Spy quilt.


I hope that everyone is having a good time doing this blocks. 

I hope everyone is going to donate a block or 2 or more so we can have at least 2 quilts to finish for each challenge. Leslie’s, Anne’s and the main guild challenge.


Thanks
CHARLIE                                      (cc. Anna)


Here are some more pictures of different types of centers made by Charlie for inspiration.


FOUR PATCH




POSITIVE NINE PATCH CENTER



NEGATIVE NINE PATCH





NOTE:  Charlie recommends that you make the NINE PATCH block over size for the disappearing 9 patch block.  She made hers 7.5 inches.  ( I made mine 8 inches then trimmed down)  Charlie's block measured 6.5 inches after sewing the sliced 9 patch.  Mine was a little larger and I just trimmed it to size.


You can find more ideas on this blog. Just click on the pictures of the star and a new window will open up to directions.

https://thoughtandfound.wordpress.com/oh-my-stars/


ALL STARS QUILT ALONG - PATTERNS  





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