Morning Star, Morning Bright ~ Block 3, part 2

Well, this should really have auto-posted last Friday ... it didn't and nobody said anything so ... hmm, should I call a head count? Are you making Morning Star, Morning Bright blocks? I sure would like to know. Of course I'll continue on, but it would be nice to know that some of you out there are making the blocks.

Did you make Part 1 of Block 3? Once you've got that done, you're ready to assemble the pinwheel windmill. Sew one background rectangle to the top of each goose. Then arrange them as you see above. Sew the upper row together, then the bottom row. Finally the two halves together. You'll want to "spin" the center seam to reduce as much bulk as possible. You can find more handy pressing plans here.

But here's the Twist .. the Spin .. that tutorial you used for no waste flying geese. It made four identical flying geese. But I just needed a little more movement in this block so ... I went back to making geese with the Quick 45° "wasteful" method (for today see block 1 but I'll add that step-by-step tutorial to Teach Me @ peawink.com soon). ~ if you'd rather use the no waste method and do four identical geese for the large star, I'm fine with that. I've given you the cutting measurements below**)


In addition to your Pinwheel Windmill block you will need:

* there should also be
four squares of
the sweet little red print
in this picture *

Background: (sweet little red print)
   A  FOUR 3-1/2" squares
   B  FOUR 3-1/2" x 6-1/2" rectangles

Star:
   C  FOUR 3-1/2" squares - dark red

   D  FOUR 3-1/2" squares - light red

Center:
   E  ONE 6-1/2" Pinwheel Windmill

** If you want to use the no-waste method for the large geese, then cut the following:

Background: (sweet little red print)
   A  FOUR 3-1/2" squares
   B  ONE  x 6-1/2" square


Star:
   C/D  EIGHT 3-1/2" squares - any red

So, now you're basically going to construct this block the same way we did block number 2.

One thing that's difference is the geese ... look closely ... see? The geese have different backgrounds. Half are dark red, half are light red. The trick to this is putting all the dark red squares on the same end of the geese shapes.

Then put the light red triangles on the other end. Sorry, I really thought I had a picture of this ... but ... yeh I don't.

Do you get mad when I do this?

Should I remake & retake or are you doing ok?

Please DO LET ME KNOW?

The construction of this block is then the same as all the other blocks in the series, but if you have questions, please please don't hesitate.

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Morning Star, Morning Bright ~ Block 3, part 1

I've spent the last two days trying to write the instructions for making this block. It's not hard. It shouldn't be. But I've been in a real muddle and nothing is coming out clear. We're going to take this in steps. I hope you don't mind.

Because it's the third block of the Morning Star, Morning Bright Quilt Along  I wanted to share another method for making flying geese - four at a time with NO waste.

Are you ready for this?

I've got some great news.

I've officially launched

That's the new hangout for all my block and skills based tutorials. I didn't want them to get lost here on my "main" blog so they're here.

So today, we're going to make the Pinwheel Windmill in the middle of star.

Tomorrow I'll come back and we'll put the Pinwheel Windmill inside the big Morning Star Block.

Ready? Here we go ... this Windmill Pinwheel is a 6" finished block that will go in the middle of the 12" Morning Star  so you'll need to cut:

Background:
    Four 2-3/8" squares*

    Four 2" x 3-1/2" rectangles (you'll need these after you make the geese)


Windmill / Geese:
    One 4-1/4" square*

Now, grab these* pieces and hop on over to Teach Me @ peawink.com to check out the step by step tutorial for making Flying Geese ~ Four at a Time with No Waste.

If this is your first time using this method, I do recommend practicing it on scraps first. If you're not happy with the results you can always resort to the "wasteful" method.

In that case you'll need the following:

Background (my white)
    Four 2" x 3-1/2" rectangles
    Four 2" squares

Windmill (my red)
    Four 2" x 3-1/2" rectangles

So ... come back tomorrow and I'll give you the rest of the cutting and construction info for this Star with a Spin.

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BLOCK TWO of Morning Star, Morning Bright

Finally ... block two! I am so sorry it has taken me months to post this. First I had to find the blocks I had already finished. I couldn't find them anywhere. How does someone lose five huge 12-1/2" blocks? I finally had to enlist my {tall} husband to help ... we spent an hour searching through my studio. When he took a break to play with the dog I grabbed a stepladder and looked on a shelf I hadn't searched yet. Yep - there they were. Pretty much his eye level but under something. Whah - I could have been sewing!


So ... to make things quick and simple I stuck with the Quick 45° Angle Method for making this block. I promise to show you another method soon but I thought this was best to get us back in the groove. A little refresher. Don't forget you'll be able to use a bunch of those leftover triangles later - I promise!

Yep, no pic of the finished block yet ... sorry. I'd thought I'd give everyone a little more time to win that chocolate. As soon as the drawing is closed, I'll replace this pic with the real one! The winner was announced here.  But never fear I'll do it again, Belgium will not run out of chocolate any time soon ... and next time I'll give you more warning and put a deadline for leaving a comment.

These cutting instructions make a 12" Double Morning Star block.

You'll Need:

Big Star Background:
   A  FOUR 3-1/2" squares
   B  FOUR 3-1/2" x 6-1/2" rectangles

Big Star Points:
   C  EIGHT 3-1/2" squares

Little Star Background:
   D  FOUR 2" squares
   E  FOUR 2" x 3-1/2" rectangles

Little Star Points:
   F  EIGHT 2" squares

Little Star Center:
   G  ONE 3-1/2" square - you might want to play around and try different options.

Use pieces B & C and pieces E & F to make FOUR flying geese units using the Quick 45° Angle Method.  Then you're ready to assemble your block - after you decide what to put in the middle of that little square.

If you need a refresher for the Quick 45° Angle Method just pop back to BLOCK ONE and grab the handout. Mark a diagonal line from corner to corner on the back of each "background" square. I lay a piece of fine sandpaper on my table to keep the fabric from sliding and use a standard mechanical pencil.



For the small flying geese (2" x 3-1/2") I trimmed my seams to 3/8" (it's marked on a standard 1x12" omnigrid ruler). A tad less bulk but ample seam allowance for these smaller units.



I have pics of the block - including how I pressed the back. I'll post them as soon as the chocolate drawing is over.

In the meantime you can piece at least the little star ... I pressed it just like Block One.

So ... Teri Leigh won the chocolate - congratulations!

I thought I'd pop back to reveal my finished block  and show you how I pressed this it ... yes, it got a little weird ... but only a tad ... you know how I don't like pressing seams open.

So I did my little twisty thing again like I did with block one. Worked like a charm. Everything is flat and smooth.

First I made the little star and pressed it just like Block One. Then I added the geese to the left and right (see below). I pressed away from the little star in at the edges but the point of the goose toward the star in the middle.

Then to add the geese I did this ... it seems weird at first but it did work. And it meant that my seams match and the points of the geese don't go all weird.

Here's a bit of an angled close up so you can see how it all worked out.

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Chocolate ~ up for grabs ~

Look!

Block Two of Morning Star, Morning Bright!

It's coming!

I just finished sewing it together.

It's a cutie.

OK, if you're still wondering what this has to do with chocolate, keep reading!

Don't you think?

Wondering what's with that question mark? 

Well I couldn't decide so decide an audition was in order ...

So, whatya think? 

Which one would you choose? 

Which one did I choose? 

Oh, and Why?

Tell us all about it in your comments - I'd love to know what you think!

How 'bout this ... you leave a comment and if a random number picker chooses your number .. I'll mail you some Belgian chocolates!

I'm off to write up the directions and make another skirt or two for my vacation ... and to test to see if I can "schedule" a post to show up later.

I've tried before but it didn't work.

If I can and it does, well then ... maybe just maybe you won't even notice when I leave?

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{Tutorial} Morning Star Block 1

This is a picture heavy post .. lots of pictures showing you 

how I pieced and pressed this block.

I know I promised to have this to you last week but those taxes HAD to be done ... I finally finished them last night ... phase one at least. There's another filing due but I'm rewarding myself this week and do "my thing" and will take the next batch next week - fair enough right?

So here it is ... my step by step for sewing the first block of Morning Star, Morning Bright - the basic "Morning Star."

You'll start with cutting all your pieces:


Background:
   A  FOUR 3-1/2" squares
   B  FOUR 3-1/2" x 6-1/2" rectangles

Star:
   C  EIGHT 3-1/2" squares

Center:
   D  ONE 6-1/2" square



On the wrong side of all C squares, draw a line diagonally from corner to corner. I use a regular sharp or mechanical pencil. One good tip is to lay the square on a piece of fine sand paper so things don't scootch around. To preserve the markings on your ruler, apply one layer of clear packing tape and then trim around the ruler. Replace as necessary.



Now you're ready to make the flying geese units for the block - you'll need four using pieces B and C.


Referring to the handout provided with the block directions (click here) you'll place one C square even with three edges of a B rectangle and sew directly on the drawn line. Press and check before trimming - be sure to allow that 1/4" seam allowance.

Your seam allowance will be pressed toward the corner of the flying goose (see illustration on the left) and if you sew those "waste" triangles together you won't lose them because we can use them later. Repeat with the opposite corner ... and you'll have a flying goose plus two "wasteful" half-square triangle units.

If you make a bunch of blocks you can end up with a pile of half-square triangle units. Some might accidentally be even just a tad funny.

Ok, I'm getting just a tad distracted here ...

Once you have your flying geese units, you are ready to sew the block together in rows.

Press all seam allowances away from the geese.

Then you can sew those rows together into a complete block.

Wait! 

Are you wondering 

how I pressed those "they were too bulky" and now they're "funny looking" seams?

Here's a closeup. 

First I work on the back side as I open and twist the seam at the same time and press just that corner with the iron.

I try to keep the "open" part of the seam as short as possible because I really AM . NOT . A . FAN of pressing seems open. 

Then I flip the block over and press the rest of the seam from the right side. And yes, I always press from the right side so that I am sure my seams are completely pressed to the side.

So there you have it. A completed Morning Star block. Did I miss anything? Don't hesitate to tell me and I'll do my best to explain it further. In the meantime I'm off to get block two ready for you!

Happy sewing one and all and to all a wonderful flight! xox J

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Make Mine a Double Please!

Oh, it will feel so good to get caught up. There are some very niggling niggling things on my list that are driving me crazy ... but when you take off as much time as I did and just "hang out on the sofa" (doctor's orders) well, then some things are just likely to slide, right?



Well one thing I got right last week was to get my block designed, sewn and the instructions written for Konda's Fat Quarter Star Quilt Along which debuted today at Moose on the Porch. And guess what? Yep, it works perfectly with our very own Morning Star, Morning Bright Block of the Month. So you really should scoot on over there and check it out. You might not be ready to make the block but you can print out the pattern and put it in your Morning Star, Morning Bright BOM folder.



Oh, and while you're there check out Block One designed by Konda herself ... it fits right into our theme too!





I did work very hard today on getting the tutorial done for Block One of Morning Star, Morning Bright but not quite hard enough to meet the deadline (ie. my hubby coming home and wanting dinner ... me too - I'm starving!)  But I did take a bunch of pictures, so here's a sneak peak and I promise to give you all the details tomorrow.



 So I'm off to the kitchen ... fresh salmon and sautéed brussel sprouts with cashew nuts tonight - I'm on a serious fish kick right now!  Yummmmeeeee!!!
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BLOCK ONE of Morning Star, Morning Bright

We're going to start off basic ... it's a simple 12" Morning Star block.

Every block we make in this quilt is based on this basic Morning Star which includes Flying Geese units. For this block I'm going to suggest the Quick 45° Angle Method (a handout is below) because you'll be able to use the leftover triangles later ... think of it as being one step ahead of the game.

You'll Need:

Background:
   A  FOUR 3-1/2" squares
   B  FOUR 3-1/2" x 6-1/2" rectangles

Star:
   C  EIGHT 3-1/2" squares

Center:
   D  ONE 6-1/2" square

Use pieces B and C and the Quick 45° Angle Method hand-out below to make FOUR flying geese units.  Then you're ready to assemble your block.

I know some of you are very proficient in your quilting and others need a bit of help. I'm running out of time today but absolutely wanted to post this ... so on Monday I'll post a tutorial of the block ... with a picture of the back of my block so you can see how I press my seams.

You can see a step-by-step tutorial of this block here.

Tomorrow we're off to the Netherlands to the Quiltgebeuren to share my GOT DOTS quilt! I am so excited ... the owner asked for my permission to have a group of ladies meet up in her shop to work on my quilt together and a bunch of them are coming too. I am sure it will be a day full of chatter, show and tell and lots inspiration. I promise to take pics and will tell you all about it on Monday! Pin It Now!