First off, sorry it's been so long. Any mamas of little ones out there know how days can turn into weeks into months, not to mention time to myself is a rarity. Throw in a crashing computer and many lost photos and that's enough to discourage me for a while.
Anyway, down to business, I've been working on a quilt for do.Good Stitches charity quilting bee and I picked the Starburst quilt over at Film in Fridge. She has a tutorial but some gals have still had a difficult time with it and asked if I could share my process and any tips. Not really sure that I'm going to share anything new here but this is what I do...
My goal is a 12.5 inch block. I will be making two blocks 12.5 inches by 6.5 inches, when sewn together will make a 12.5 inch block.
I use my mat to help match up pieces that will fill up a space that's about 13 inches wide and 7 inches high. I will keep the center of my point (not the tips) at 6.5 inches on the mat. I generally aim for my first piece to be 7 inches wide and however tall you want.
Match up your second piece. Here my second piece has to fill up that corner so it needs to be longer than some of my other pieces. I like to start off with both pieces having straight edges that match, later on this doesn't matter as much.
Right sides together, sew 1/4 inch in.
Open and press seams open. It's helpful to press seams open to keep your point from getting too bulky. By the fourth piece or so it's easier to press the seam to the side. This is just something I've discovered after making a few of these.
Now keep in mind this bottom is going to be sewn to the other half of the block so you need to have 1/4 inch allowance. The center of my point is at 6.5 inches, 1/4 inch up.
Match up your third piece. From here on out, it's helpful that the piece you're adding (my mustard flower piece) has a straight edge but the one you're adding it to (my green piece) doesn't have to be.
Flip third piece over so right sides are together, pin at the top and IN the point.
I am putting the pin IN my point, 1/4 inch in from the edge. This way I know EXACTLY where I need to sew.
See!
Open and press seams open.
Match up your fourth piece, make sure it's long enough to reach the top edge/corner of your block, flip so right sides are together...
Pin IN the point, 1/4 inch from the edge of your piece that you're adding (this is why having a straight edge is helpful).
I have it pinned at the top so I know where to start and pinned in my point so I know where it is. See how I have extra of the mustard flower piece? No big deal, it'll get cut off in a bit. Now sew down the edge of your piece, 1/4 inch in.
Cut off the extra.
Open and press seams open if you can, otherwise press them to the side.
Match up your last piece. You can add as many pieces as you want. I like to stay somewhere between 5 and 7 pieces. Once you get to 8 or more, your point gets really bulky and it just starts to become more work than fun.
Flip so right sides are facing, pin at the top and in the point. Sew.
Cut off extra.
Open and press seams to the side.
Trim the bottom edge. Remember you need 1/4 inch allowance from where the point is.
Now you can trim the sides and the top if you want or make the other half, sew them together and then trim the whole thing.
I like to trim the sides so it measures 12.5 inches and the top so it measures 6.75 inches. Once sewn together then I trim the other two edges so it measures 12.5 inches.
Remember when you're trimming to keep your point centered at 6.25 inches!
Now, when you go to sew the other half of your block together, match your point together and pin on each side of it so it doesnt move. And pin at each end of the edge that you're sewing. Sew 1/4 inch in, careful as you sew through your point. You may have to help pull the fabric through from behind.
Hopefully that helps! I apologize for not fabulous photos. I would love to have beautiful photos and little arrows and labels but I truely don't have the time. I snapped these with my iphone and popped them on here and that was the best I could do for now.
If there's something confusing or especially helpful please let me know. Oh and if you sucessfully completed one I'd love to see it, so please share!
WOW! thanks so much for taking the time to do this!
the pin in the point is a great tip- off to try it out!
Thanks again your blocks are GREAT!
Posted by: Ann-Marie | July 27, 2011 at 07:02 PM
Awesome tutorial! Thank you!
Posted by: Faith | August 02, 2011 at 10:59 PM