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.
My desire for this year is to bring organization to my chaos and work on my potential. Also sewing a straight line would be helpful.
My resolution is to quilt. I am new at sewing, began with Christmas gifts to get started. I will quilt in 2015, I will quilt in 2015. I did make a small quilt out of my grandfathers PJ’s, which my sister gave to me after he died. She took care of him lots and used to get him in his pajamas often. The pillow case, quilted and using French seams turned out wonderful. My sister was speechless. I love quilting.
My resolution is to get my new longarm quilting machine and frame up and running and have my first project quilted by March first!
My resolution is to have a better 2015, last year was filled with a lot of heart breaking events. The second is to finish quilting the 5 tops I have done and finish the 4 I have started (including this one)
I vow to spend more time creating and just being happy. Because I am happy when I’m creating ;)
My New Years resolution is to be a more sensitive to the needs of others and to be a better person all the way around . I have some friends that are very sick and would like to be there for them more .
My New Year’s resolution is to finish my UFO’S.
No resolutions that way I don’t break them!
No New Years resolutions for me — I never follow through and then feel like a failure. This way if I don’t have any, I don’t have anything to feel bad about.
My resolutions this year are to manage my time better, be more productive in my spare time (which includes doing more quilting!), and getting healthier via diet and exercise. Thanks for the chance at the giveaways:). Happy New Year!
My resolution for this year is to finally get organized and settled into my new home so I can do more sewing and less searching through piles of boxes of fabrics to find the right fabric for my new projects. I want to finish those UFO’s from many years ago so I can make more. I pledge to do some sewing every day to relieve the stress of life.
I just started quilting in the fall, 2014. I’ve had a couple of small but gratifying successes and a few epic failures. In 2015 I vow to stay calm, focused and learn how to bind corners that don’t look like I had my eyes closed when I made them.
My resolution is to learn FMQ on my Jenome. Can’t afford to send out every quilt to a longarm quilter.
Like the “modern” look of Melissa’s pattern! What fun to throw scrappy into the mix and really spice that one up!
Letting myself get past those little pet-peaves that just make me mad on a daily basis. I want to find a way, without buying a new machine, to get my seams 1/4″ and a scant 1/4″
My intent is to quilt more! And to clean out my sewing room! The first will be fun; the second, well, we’ll see…
I will only use my considerable stash in 2015. No buying new fabric. The New Year sew-along should make a small dent.
My resolution is to get at least half of my quilt tops quilted! I need to learn a few more background patterns and try a panto or 2 on my long arm!
Is there a print button?
I plan to spend more money (on quilt activities) and save less. Hey I can keep this resolution in 2015.
I don’t make resolutions, but I do have some goals to accomplish some things. One of them is to do more quilting.
I’m in the process of rearranging my sewing room so I can easily locate all my UFOs and get them done this year. I plan to make 5 new tops, bind two that are quilted and quilt one. Not bad for 12 months and allowing for loafing time also.
I don’t usually do New Years resolutions but I would say I want to work on creating more beautiful things
I slept instead of sewing because we are having a cold spell here in Idaho. it is 9:30 and still -4′. But will get going here pretty soon. Love the look of this pattern and have a lot of scraps that I can use. It will be very scrappy.
My New Year’s resolution for 2015 is to sew/quilt more and to keep my sewing room organized sew I can just walk in and do the stitching at my leisure. Relax and enjoy….my new motto. Thanks for the chance to win.
I don’t make resolutions; they’re too easy to break and breaking them makes me sad, so here’s to no resolutions! :)
2015 goal is to get better work-life balance as I often work 12 hour days!
My goal is to see how many projects I can start! LOL!
My resolution is to organize my sewing room so I spend more time sewing then looking for what I want to sew.
One of my resolutions is to continue to improve my health. I have been slowly been making good choices and changes over the last three years and it’s done wonders for me.
A sewing resolutions is to finish two WIPS before starting a new project. Sooner or later I’ll be all caught up. QA’s are my weakness! Thanks for another tempting pattern to use up my scraps.
My New Years Resolution is less work and more play! My goal is to sew a quilt that I keep for myself. I have given away every quilt I have made.
My resolution is to do a better job at quality time with my family. Especially with my daughters that live away from home. Make more time to become closer to them.
2015…I will be making more quilts and cloths for my family there is nothing no better than a homemade quilt from mama and nana… Happy sesewing!!!!
My New Year resolution, finish all the quilt pieces I need to quilt before I start a new quilt…I know its hard to do.
I want to finnish up all my ufo’s. I had knee surgery a year ago and got depressed and haven’t sewen in some time. So back to work on my sewing.
I decided that if god tarries, this year I will work on the four quilts I need to get done.This should use up a fair bit of my stash, then I start using scraps and avoid buying any more fabric.
Happy New Year
Not good at resolutions, but hoping to get some UFOs done
This year my plan is to finish what I have started. My dream is to learn to applique and master boarders and binding. I am NSW to this and find myself getting frustrated with these two.
I didn’t mean to use lower case for God. That will teach me to read and then read again before hitting submit
New
Just got my new sewing room organized. Want to do more quilting this year .
Loose weight! Wish me luck! Maybe if I sew more I will eat less?? LOL
My biggest new years resolution is to learn how to use my new long arm quilter and finish up my ufo’s.
My resolution this year is to make a quilting room in my basement. I have out grown my little sewing nook, and need something bigger.
My New Year’s resolution is to take a day each week to do personal quilting projects. I have several that have needed to be done for several years.
Scrappy? I do not know all the quilter’s lingo…does this mean using up bits & pieces? If so here we go!!
My resolution is to not overschedule myself…take time with my kids and grandkids…and do what makes me happy.
No resolutions for me…just being the best I can.
My goal this year is to put the ideas in my head into finished projects!
I have resolved to clean out and simplify.