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.
What a fun site! My resolution is to finally forge on with machine quilting 4 quilts I’ve pieced. I’ve had to practice machine quilting first and, while I’m not great at it, I’m thinking perfection is boring anyway.
Complete my UFOs and my first commissioned quilt!
It WAS “fewer quilts started, more quilts finished” -til I saw this quilt! Love it!
Love this site!!! Would love to win something….but also just wanted you to know that I am a late comer to the sew along and am sooo glad I found it. My New Year’s resolution is to remember to put 2015 on all of my correspondence. :-)
Mine is to finish the multitude of quilts I’ve gotten fabric for, each new quilt completed is another technique or lesson learned.
I want to better organize my fabric scraps! Thanks for the fun QAL!
Happy New Year everyone. My only resolution is to be a better person. What I plan is to learn to do my EQ7, and anything else to do with quilting using up the fabric I have in my own designs. Your site looks like fun
I want to finish up a few UFO’s and use my stash before buying too much more. I don’t have much more room for material.
I am very excited about this year and hope to double my quilts that I did last year.
I always fail with my new year’s resolutions no more fabric I just cannot help myself when I see new material. Try and finish my UFO”S from years & years ago.
My resolutions? Get organized, work on the projects that I have already purchased the fabric to do – before I forget what the fabric is for!
My resolution this year is not to make any…coz I never stick to them anyway, so didn’t see the point….I do however, hope to achieve success at sewing through some of my fabric collection and to somehow try and organize all my craft stuff so I have room, and everyone doesn’t keep having a go at me about it all the time….they obviously don’t ‘get’ that if there’s ever a shortage of craft supplies, then, for the most part, I’ll be safe till things return to normal lol
Thanks for the sew a long, I’m hoping to join in, even if I am a little late starting….I might not get the whole quilt made, but even if I do a few blocks that will help, and I should be able to finish it a little later in the year when all the start of the year madness if over.
Hugs
Naomi
Awesome giveaways! My only resolution is to sew more and finish up some of my UFOs. Going to try real hard to keep this one, hehe.
Thank you for a super giveaway and a chance to win.
usairdoll(at)gmail(dot)com
I have not made any new year resolutions. Although I have a goal of organizing as much as possible throughout my house, including my sewing area.
Just saw this. Wish I’d known about the quilt along earlier but I just foud out about you from Pat Sloan’s site. So glad she had a link to you! I’m new to quilting but am going to join your group on fb. My New Year’s resolution (one of) is to manage my time better.
1. I have so many UFO’s and a stack of “I want to make” ideas. These are on my resolution list. 2. Another resolution is to use the crock pot more often so I don’t worry about getting dinner ready. 3rd is to make sure I spend plan some time away from my sewing to do fun things with my family and friends.
You are going to put this up as a pdf later, aren’t you? I want to make it with scraps in between work on my UFOs this year.
I’ve put my list of pending tasks up on my web page. There are too many to expect to finish this year! I wonder what others will find their way to my list by this time next year?
Happy 2015 to all!!
My 2015 Resolution is to make a quilt using my scraps! But it is fun buying that new material. :-)
My resolution is to make a list of projects and mark them off as they are completed. Hopefully this will help me keep on track and accomplish more things.
My “resolution” is to join a local quild, take a class ot two, and enter one or more of my quilts in a show. I’ve been quilting for 25 years and not had any formal training other than recent online classes.
I promise to find more time for my sewing passion! :)
I have a full year of quilting experience now and one thing I have seen is to be organized. My goal this year is to do pointed stars with “y” seam and to finish the BOM from the Guild. Happy NewYear 2015.
Never have been one to make resolutions! Can’t think of a reason to begin now!
I resolve to make no resolutions! I will do what I can, when I can to the best of my abilities and avoid the self-imposed guilt of failed resolutions!
What an awesome pattern I love it (scrappy is my thing) Thank you Misha for doing a sew a long! My NY Resolution is to use those scrappies and participate in these fun quilts.
My resolution is to quit collecting patterns and MAKE A QUILT!
My NYR is cook more at home and finish more quilts. Love the quilting community. Thanks for the op to win.
This year I am working on getting healthier and using Pat Sloans 10 mins a day sewing idea. Gonna give it a try and maybe get some projects done!!
My resolution is to try and finish some of my UFOs. Also, I would like to use up some of of my stash fabric. I figure it would be easier to use my stash than to organize.
Such a beautiful quilt you are making today. My New Year’s resolution is to use up some of my stash so I can buy more, which brings be such excitement to start another quilt.
I have not made any resolutions because when I don’t keep them, I get depressed. It seems to me to just try and live every day to the best of my ability, and hopefully I’ll be happy and I just might make someone else happy too. What do ya think? Works for me!
Yes, quilt more eat less and get moving in between!
My resolution is to accept the use of my friend’s longarm machine and quilt some of quilt tops–no fear, just do it!
My first and foremost resolution is to focus on my health as this is what will make it possible for me to complete all of my sewing projects. I have joined several swaps so that I will continue to make sewing and quilting friends all over the world. This takes me to my second resolution, sew for at least 30 minutes a day. (My fav). Happy New Years!!!!!
New year resolution for this year is to finish what I’ve started. Including projects from past years.
My resolution is to rid myself of all of the negative around me. I’m just going to avoid negative people and concentrate on positive. :)
My new year resolution is to start Christmas sewing early so I am able to give a homemade gift to all my family and friends!
I am working hard on UFO’s and progressing well.I made 3 quilts for Christmas gifts for family…..I know they will be pleased to receive them a little late but completed and labeled also
Hi
Happy New Year !!
My resolutions for now are to catch up with the rest of you because I did not know about this new years get together until 9 pm. So here I go to the sew machine to give it a good honest try.
ooopppssss it is 8:30 not 9 pm. See I cannot even tell time let alone sew a quilt!!!
To finish quilting all my tops. Make some baby quilts make a color wheel and maybe a snails trail. Cheers to production!
My resolution is to finish the quilt tops I have so I can give them away. Also get started on my Christmas gifts now so I can have most done by then. Whew. I guess I’ll find time for work somewhere in there!
My resolution this year is to try to keep up on dishes and housework a bit better…I’m horribly lazy, and once I get started on a sewing project (or crochet or knitting) everything but my kids well-being gets pushed to the side.
My resolution is to find the bottom of my paper pile on my kitchen table and keep it empty. Once I have that accomplished — I want to work on some unfinished projects — both quilting and knitting.
Fun! Added it to my social sewing calendar: http://swoodsonsays.com/sew-a-long-calendar/
My resolution this year is to try to quilt on my regular sewing machine. I have ordered classes to help with this but have yet watched them! Maybe that should be my 2nd resolution!
My resolution this year is to try to quilt on my regular sewing machine.
My resolution this year is to finish a bed-size quilt on my machine. Eek…better get started and stay with the project! (Too many UFOs lurking around).
I am doing it Michele loved the pattern so much hope it turns out ok. Using scrappy scrappy Jenni
MNR. Is to stay organised and finish all projects that I have started.