Happy New Year everyone!! I’m so thrilled to be hosting a fabulously fun sew-along in our Facebook Group. Plus there are give-aways here on the blog and in our group. Come join us!!
Here’s the FREE quilt that I’m teaching … Bright Stars (thanks to Jill McL for the name suggestion). The quilt as presented finishes at 64″ x 80″.
A scrappy version …
… and a two-colour version.
This is a Sew-Along … which means I’m sewing WITH you … and writing up the tutorial as we go along.
Fabric Requirements
You’ll need approximately 3.5 yards of BOTH light and dark fabrics to complete the top as shown above. If I decide to add borders, I’ll share that info later. Backing, batting and binding will be added later.
You can use scraps (or charms), fat quarters or yardage. IF you have an Easy Angle or Easy Star and Geese Ruler, you can use jelly rolls. If you don’t have these speciality rulers, you can’t use jelly rolls for the half-square triangles.
Let’s get started!
Important note: In my tutorial diagrams, the black units represent the background fabric.
WAIT! Before you cut, read the next step and additional notes.
Additional Notes: Instead of cutting individual squares, you may wish to use 2.5″ strips, sew the strips together, one background, one print, and then sub-cut those strip sets into the 2-patch units.
Important UPDATE: If you have not started your first batch of four-patches (i.e. Steps 1 to 3) … I strongly recommend that you shorten your stitch length a bit and instead of pressing to the background fabric, press your seams open. This will make future steps a little easier. However, like many of you, I’ve already done a good bit of my four-patches, so I’ll make it work having already pressed them in the direction indicated. It’s not a HUGE deal, we just can’t nest the seams for this quilt top as well as I thought we would be able to.
Spiral the Seams: If you’ve done any of my other quilt patterns, you’ll know how much I love spiralled seams for 4-patch units. By doing this, you distribute the bulk evenly. If this is a new term to you, watch this video:
Time for some more cutting….
Now it’s time to cut the fabric to make a total of 320 half-square triangle (HST) units.
I have given you the cutting instructions for two options of making the HST units. The first is the Square Method, where you’ll start with large squares, draw a diagonal line, stitch on both sides of the line, cut apart to yield two HST units and TRIM the HST units to the correct size. The second method is for using one of the Speciality Rulers, such as the Easy Star & Geese or Easy Angle rulers.
See this Tutorial: Creating Triangle and Flying Geese Units
Remember those squares you cut in Step 4, now it’s time to combine them with the HST units you’ve completed in Step 6.
Almost at the finish line, with Step 8 … press your new four-patches by spiralling the seams or pressing open. It’s really up to you. They won’t nest nicely when we join the blocks no matter what you choose.
Now take the two sets of 160 four-patches and create, yet another four-patch .. we’re getting bigger. Layout each individual block, so that you are 100% sure that you have the orientation correct. This is the completed block and measures 8.5″ square.
Let’s put the top together …
Give-Aways
This sew-along has come together very quickly, but I did manage to get some free PDF patterns from friends to use as give-aways. Some of the patterns are being given away in our Facebook Group. However, I wanted to make it fair to everyone in all time zones, so you can enter on this blog post too!
To enter: Simply leave a comment below answering the following: “Have you made any New Year’s Resolutions? If so, what are they?” I’ll choose the winners randomly, next Monday, January 5, 2015.
Thanks so much to the generosity of friends and sponsors that have donated .. at the last minute! Here are the prizes:
My dear friend, Pat Sloan, has donated THREE copies of her Let’s GO Sew pattern.
The three winners chosen from our Facebook Group are:
- Peggy McC.
- Deborah D.
- Amy D.
Our friends at the Fat Quarter Shop have donated THREE of their It’s Sew Emma PDF patterns (max. value of $9.00).
The three winners chosen from our Facebook Group are:
- Linda G.
- Connie G.
- Barb C.
Quilting buddy, Amy from Butterfly Angels Quilting has donated six copies of her pattern. Winners can choose between:
Cross Cross Apple Sauce:
Cajun Cathedral Windows:
The six winners chosen from our Facebook Group are:
- Maggie F.
- Diana F.
- Kay M.
- Susan J.
- Liz G.
- Danielle W.
I donated three copies of my latest pattern, Little Gems Mug Rugs.
The three winners chosen from our Facebook Group are:
- Lucy W.
- Roberta J.
- Susan N. W.
Michele, I keep looking at the picture and of the scrappy one and all I see is 80 of the 4 patches made with the 2 background fabrics. Really interested to see we’re the other 80 come in.
Sharon, it’s correct … promise! :) It’ll make sense in a few more steps.
This is the first quilt I’ve ever done in a group and I’m discovering I have real control issues! The fact that I can’t see the “next steps” is giving me fits. So new year’s resolution is to trust – do what I’m told and stop trying to figure it out
My New Year’s resolution is to finish at LEAST two of my ufos!!! ;) and to actually use my exercise bike!!
I haven’t even gotten used to the fact that Christmas is over, much less that New Year’s is…. TOMORROW?? Everything went way too fast this year. Maybe my New Year’s resolution should be to ask the world to slow down!
To read my Bible more.
My resolution is to complete one UFO a month and one quilt a month. Bring on 2015!
My New Year resolution is to try and finish more of my UFO’s
I want to finish my UFO’s.
I don’t do resolutions, but I started doing the “word of the year” a few years ago. Last year it was create. I did a lot of that. Sew for the new year my word is Finish. Finish what I start. Sew I have a lot of 2014 creations to Finish in 2015.
thanks Michele, for being part of my creativity, and finishing!!
i am sewing hst. woo hoo
this is a great pattern to do, especially while trying to watch hockey! Having a nap now due to my insomnia and I know I will be wide awake at 2am and will sew until at least 7am…….the joys of working shift work!
I have a hard time with New Year’s resolutions–making them and if I do, then keeping them. I am starting a Dear Jane quilt this year and hope to complete it in this year’s time, while I make quilts for my two stepdaughters and daughter and daughter in law. That may not sound like a lot for some of you but for me with my UFOs that I also want to finish, that is quite an undertaking. May 2015 be a year to get things accomplished!!
I gave up on making New Years resolutions waaaay back before I found out I have AAD-never was able to follow through- so I just pick a project and work it up another step. Eventually it gets done!
Beautiful quilt. I don’t make resolutions, but I have a whole list of things I need to do! LOL
I don’t make a resolutions list but internally I usually think of a few things that I would like to improve on. And I am always aware of the things that I failed to meet.
While I don’t usually do New Years Resolutions I am this year. My resolution is to use from my stash or to repurpose fabric as much as possible. I started this fall and still have plenty to work with
Wow what great prizes! Thank you for a chance to win. I don’t usually make New Years resolutions. Since I was looking through my UFOs today, and discovered I have 18! I guess in 2015, I need to work on busting those UFOs. I then looked at what I finished in 2014 and I am happy to report I finished 20 projects.
Read my bible more,and enjoy my family and friendsore often
To finish 3-4 of the quilts I started in the last 6 months
To finish cleaning and organizing my sewing room
My resolution is to not have as many UFO’s when 2016 begins.
My resolutions are to finish more of my UFOs (one a month) and learn to machine applique. Thanks.
My resolution is to finish ORGANIZING all my kits, fabric bundles, bolts, ufos so that i can more easily see what I have. Hopefully, this will make it easier to accomplish something specific!
My New Years resolution is to work on completing the UFO’s I have started. this includes making 3 new quilts for 2 friends and a new grandbaby due in July. I have 3 paper piece projects and a t-shirt quilt to finish as well.
Organizing my scraps and healthy eating
Finish purging my stash and making at least two existing projects before starting a new one!
My quilting resolution is to finish some UFO’s. However don’t want to tie myself down to a specific number. lol
Iam having so much fun with this quilt along! First of all my color choices – purple, not at all me! Part of my NYR, step out of my comfort zone! Thank you so much for taking your precious time to host this party! Give Milo a hug and get some rest! Happy New Year!
My New Years resolution is to get back on “healthy me” track and finished the 6 or 7 ufo’s along with a large customer order, but I’m a quilter with a shirt attention span so I work on several projects at so time :-)
This is great, Michele. Thank you for doing this quilt along.
Resolution to get out of my head and into fabric and thread.
This has been a fun day. Checking posts every so often, and looking at what everyone is doing in the group. I even finally got to get some sewing done on the ‘Gems’. I love all the happy banter back and forth. If I could just make up my mind on what to do with Bright Stars I’d start cutting fabric tonight. Well maybe the New Year’s baby will bring me clarity overnight. Hope everyone is safe and happy. Thank you all for making my NYED so much fun. Also Thank you to those that have so generously provided the patterns for the give a ways. God Bless.
Great job hosting this quilt along. Happy new year
Don’t buy any more fabric until my birthday! Some exceptions, like if I have an immediate need for a project that can’t be satisfied by my stash, miss kate, daysail, rainy days and mondays, and a reasonable purchase from 2 local quilt shops I haven’t gone to yet.
In 2015 I would like to continue to (mostly) follow my fall fabric diet/budget, refinish my grandfather’s drafting table (as a cutting table), sew something every week (twice would be great!), purge and use or give away stashed material that I’m not going to use (my cousin _wants_ my bin of thrifted denim, and the jeans quilt will never make it out of the imagining stage)
Finally, figure out how to make more trips to Ottawa – both to spend time with family and to turn more UFO tops into quilts on the longarm.
My resolution is to purge the clutter!!!
In 2015 I hope to be able learn new things and to improve my sewing a little each day. To finish what I start and end with less UFO’s then I have now.
To really start serious sewing this summer.
My New Year’s resolutions are to design 4 new wall hanging patterns to go with the 4 patterns I have already designed. Eventually combine them into a book. I have already started a new one, I finished the drawing, tomorrow I will start sewing on it. Also I plan to work hard to loose weight and be healthier, I have some health issues to consider. Happy New Year’s every one. I’m excited to start the new Bright Stars pattern. It is beautiful.
My New Year resolution is finish at least 2 quilts this year :)
Thanks for the QAL. Love the quilt :)
I don’t usually make New Years resolutions but this year I want to buy a keyboard and learn to play a little bit of music. I’m getting old and I’d like to play something before I leave this earth.
I intend to work hard at finishing up a few of my WOP and spending time with my Granddaughter.
Would like to work on my UFO cupboard. Seem like another project always gets in the way.
” to do more” as I had 2 operations last year I was unable to do a lot of stuff so this year I just want to do more than I did last year, sew more, quilt more, walk more, see new places more, save more, cook more. Everyday just do a little more.
Im all set for srappy with dark blue scrappy as the background! Can’t wait!
My only resolution is to quilt more. I think the quilt along will keep me motivated. I love the scrappy version!
I need to stick to my NO BUY resolution (except for batting and backing), I did well last year, but need to do even better this year! I really have WAY to much fabric, I also need to practice the 10 minutes a day plan to chip away at UFOs
I love this quilt! And the prizes are incredibly generous. :) Absolutely beautiful patterns, every one.
Im at work today delivering babies as well as tomorrow. But I’m off Saturday, Sunday, and Monday! I’ll be seeing like crazy on those days!