Hive 5 May Tutorial -Wonky Star block

 Happy June!

This is a block that I've been wanting to make for a while.  I think it'll be an amazing quilt!

There are many tutorials out there, but the tutorial that I chose to use is from Scissortail Quilting. (This link will take you directly to the pdf tutorial.)

Background Colors: I would like deep blues.  Think royal blue to dark blue, with minimal secondary colors. I would prefer no novelty fabrics.

Star colors: Bright yellows/golds, with minimal secondary colors.  I would prefer no novelty fabrics.

Directions:  I envision my final quilt having different size star blocks.  For the Stash Bee, we'll use the 12" finished block dimensions (If you'd prefer to make a larger one for me, feel free!).

You'll need: 

    6- 4.5" blue squares

    1- 4.5" yellow square

    scraps of yellow for the star points

First, we'll make the star points.  Sew one of the yellow scraps at an angle from the center of one side, to an adjacent side, right sides together.  Trim the excess blue background fabric (on the right side), then press the yellow star point open.

Next,  trim the excess yellow fabric, then trim to make the unit a 4.5" square again.

Take a yellow scrap and place it on the other side of the unit to make the other point for that unit.  Trim the blue background, press open the yellow star point, then trim the unit again to make it 4.5".

Repeat with 3 other blue background squares to make a total of 4 star point blocks.

Arrange the 4 star points,  4 remaining blue squares and the 1 yellow center square to form a star and then sew together!  The block should end up 12.5", but mine ended up being 12.25", so don't worry if yours if off it bit! No big deal!  I'll make it work!

Let me know if you have any questions.  Thanks everyone and happy sewing!

-Michelle

    

WIPs

I'm working on several projects at once....

1.  Tried paper piecing for the first time ever yesterday using Carolyn Friedlander's Shirts pattern... Not bad for my first time.  practice makes perfect...

2.  Finished the first 5 blocks of Oh fransson's Tokyo subway quilt.  I'm using the 2 inch gridded fusible webbing for this project.  I don't have the patience to piece the blocks individually 😉.  I have blocks 6-10 fused and waiting to be stitched.

3.  Started cutting pieces for a Night Sky quilt by Jaybird quilts.  I'm making a lap size quilt for my friend for her 40th birthday in May.  She likes celestial things, so I'm keeping to blues and yellows.

Long time, no post...

Spent much of the day sewing.  Worked on my first ever paper piecing.. Had a hard time understanding the written directions, so I tried to figure it out on my own. FAIL.... missed some of the white background.  The one on the left is my first attempt.  The second was much better, except for the white piece on the bottom right.  I sewed it in the wrong direction! 

Kona Card Giveaway!!!

Gen X Quilters has a giveaway for a Kona Color card!!  I've wanted one of these cards for the longest time!!!

January's Free Motion Quilt Challenge

Here is my final sample for SewCalGal's quilt challenge for January!

Looking at it now, I really don't like the path I took.  That's something I want to practice more!

Close up

I just posted my link on her website as my entry.. I'm entry # 291.. I can't believe that many people have done this.. That's awesome!

Fooling Around With Free Motion Quilting

So I signed on to participate in a free motion challenge for the year with SewCalGal.  There is a monthly challenge consisting of a video demonstration.. You practice at home then post a picture of your quilting on your blog or Flickr.  Then there's a drawing.

This month's quilting technique was leaves.  I have to say that as a beginner, the leaf design actually isn't too difficult.  Here's some pictures of my practice:

The black thread is my first attempt.  My stitch length is uneven, but I do like most of the shapes.  I had issues with the bottom, so I tried a different thread.  As you can see, I did worse with the pink thread.

Whiskers I found when I looked at the bottom of the quilting.  I adjusted the top tension and didn't see improvement.

I messed with the tension and got this mess with the pink thread

While attending a Philly Modern Quilt Guild sewing night, I tried a 3rd time using Aurifil thread.  My first attempt wasn't great, but after adjusting the tension once, I had a great result!

Awesome Giveaway!

There's a great giveaway going on at Such a Sew and Sew!  In fact, she's had a giveaway everyday this week!