Thanks all for the comments on my quilt blocks. I am really enjoying this. the hardest part, though, is getting the blocks in the right order! I turn then and twist them and turn them and twist them and still don't have them right!!!
Bonner Springs, Kansas
Phyllis, I love your fabric choices, can't wait to see the purple.. Great job on the blocks!
from TN
Phyllis I have been able to see your blocks but really haven't had the time to comment because of my life being so ultra busy right now - but I wanted you to know I love them -
I always lay out my pieces and my blocks and pick them up just as I am going to sew them...
that didn't make sense - but what I mean is
I lay them down
I take the piece on the right and fold it over to the piece on the left - this is the way it goes through the sewing machine - that edge on the right is the one you are going to sew - so if I do it this way I just pick the pieces up and transport them to be sewn exactly like this - I don't have to flip them over as you do if you take the piece on the left and fold it over on the piece to the right -
doing this it keeps me from making that mistake of getting the pieces - or blocks - twisted...
I think I showed this in a tutorial I did on the block - I hope that this Thea Tip helps you to keep from twisting in the future - it is no fun to seam rip and I seam rip too - I make mistakes but this helps me to keep the to a minimum
Very helpful, Thea. I am really tired of ripping seams, I will definitely try this on the future blocks!
As the years progress in my quilting adventure, I have found that taking those extra minutes on the front end, I am happier on the back end. I know that quilting has taught me a lot of patience. Taking your time - I do lots of setting things up - I lay all my pieces out on my rotating mat and fold them over sew them - then I take them back and open them up and make sure they are correct.
Another step that I do is make sure that I press each seam after I sew it. The only time I don't do the pressing is if I am doing my technique of using the thread in between the blocks as pins.
I find that when I press them flat as many times as you end up pressing for a block that it keeps the block squared up too. You just have to be careful not to stretch the fabric - press don't iron...
I double check seams to make sure that they are pressed flat - pressing on both sides...
Thea, when you sew these stars togther, there is a knot of fabric right in the center. How do you get red of that know? Her tutorial showed something about making them look almost like a pinwheel when they are pressed flat but I can't seem to get there!
Phyllis - I think that she snipped them a little bit to get them to lay in the pinwheel when she ironed them. I will have to go back to the tutorial again to make sure. I still have not started my stars for this quilt....soooooo much going on!
EDIT: I am not sure where I saw that about the pinwheels and the snipping a bit to make things lay flat. I've been looking at so many tutorials lately I am quite confused...sorry i cannot help.
~♥~ PEACE- LOVE- PATCHWORK ~♥~
Jackson Co. Ohio
You will be taking some stitches out in the seam allowance so you can open the center. I found I had better results pressing all the seams open rather than in one direction like I usually do on quilts.
Martha
Parker, CO
Erin:EDIT: I am not sure where I saw that about the pinwheels and the snipping a bit to make things lay flat. I've been looking at so many tutorials lately I am quite confused...sorry i cannot help.
Okay - if you go to my tutorial where I was making the Stars - you will see where on the back I showed how to press the fabrics - if you open up the seams when you sew this should not be a problem - but when you do that - you will see a couple stitches in that center part - you undo those 2 sometimes 3 stitches and open that part where all the seams are coming together and if you just smoosh it with your thumb it will naturally fall into what looks like a little four patch...
I do not press my seams open but to one side - this is suppose to give stability to the seam so that after it is quilted that those seams don't fracture and open up - or so I have been told - but there are times where I do open this seam up too - that is when I have lots of pieces in the middle - it is easier to keep that tonnage of fabric flat that way..
There is no right or wrong way and there are no quilt police - only personal preferences - so never think that anything I say is any kind of criticism against anyone - please know that I am only saying the things that I have learned over the years -
I know plenty of quilters that press all their seams open and then others that press to one side - or others that press only to the dark - like Kay Woods says - you are either a pointed person or not - I call it a persnickidy or an artsy f******( I put the little stars in myself) - teehee...
I can give you 6 reasons why to do it each way - none of them are totally right and none totally wrong... DO WHAT WORKS FOR YOU ... but quilting will teach that you have an open mind and a warm heart and lots of PATIENCE...
It has truly taught me how that I am still learning and to never sew when I am tired or in a RUSH... there is time and lots of it and no one in the end will care if you don't get it done right NOW...
Now back on topic - I stand corrected (make mistakes all the time) I showed the little 4 patch in the tutorial on potholders
http://www.quiltersclubofamerica.com/groups/christmas_all_year_long/forum/t/38380.aspx
This is the same block so when I did the stars I forgot to add this - or added it in the potholder one as I remembered there to do it...
I hope that helps you!!!
I finally finished the nine blocks for the Quilting Quickly's = Small/Large Dashing Stars. I love them and had a lot of fun making them. I can't wait to start putting it all together!
Phyllis, they look great! It's going to be beautiful when you are finished. I have not made the first one of mine yet :/ Life just keeps getting in the way.
Phyllis, how pretty! I love the colors you selected. I love it when a quilt gets to the point you can lay it out and see what it will look like.
Parker, Co
Here is my quilt top. I started quilting it, then my machine started acting up and I had to take it in for service. Now it is just sitting there waiting.
Phyllis, that's going to make a beautiful quilt. Love your choice of colors. I've only got two blocks done so far.
Beautiful quilt Martha, Your fabrics go so well together. Great job.