Monday, June 21, 2021

Texas Monthly - Month 6!!

Again, it has been a bit of a wait, (issues with fabric supply) but I am super excited to be sharing another block for the Texas Monthly Block of the Month program!   This BOM is hosted by Stitchin' Heaven  and is so much fun!!!    And we are moving on to Month 6 today :)   

So let's get going :)  There is only 1 Block this month and we will be making 2 of them.  And the block is the Stitchin' Heaven Star Block logo, so cool and oh so much fun to make.   It takes a bit of practice to get the points just right, but they look so great when you do.    So let's get piecing!!!  


Cutting
I like to start out by pressing all of my fabrics.  Then it is time for cutting!!!  The cutting for this month is super fast as you just have to cut some triangles from squares and a few Width of Fabric (WOF) strips.    Oh, and be sure and trim the selvage edges from your strips ;)

And with all your pieces cut . . . you are ready to move on to the block.



Stitchin' Heaven Star Block

Strip Piecing Angled Units

First up, we are going to make some strip sets.  When piecing strip sets, I always like to use a slightly smaller stitch length as I will be sub-cutting the units.   Start with a Blue and and Green Strip.   Place the Blue strip on  the Green strip with right sides together, only rather than aligning the edges, place the Blue Strip in 2" as shown.   Sew a 1/4" seam along the top edge of the strip set.   Repeat to make 2 Strip sets total.  


Now it's time to press.   When pressing strip sets, I always like to press from the front.  This way I make sure I don't get any little bubbles in my seam allowance.   You will be pressing towards the Blue strip.   Use the point of your iron to really get in the seam, and I like to use my finger in front of the iron to smooth out the seam allowance before I get to it.  Press both strip sets.  


Now move to your cutting mat.   Align your strip set along a horizontal line on your cutting mat with the Blue strip on top. Place a ruler on to the right hand edge of  the strip, and align the 45 Degree line on the ruler with the bottom of the strip set.   Cut a Straight Edge that will be angled along the edge of the ruler.  


Now flip your Strip Set 180 degrees so you can align your strip set along a horizontal line on your cutting mat with the Green strip on top. Place a ruler on to the now left hand straight angled edge.  You will be aligning the 45 degree mark on the ruler with the bottom of the Strip Set and the 2" line on your ruler with the cut angled edge of the strip set.   I like to mark the corner of 45 degrees and 2" so I don't have to find it each time.   Once you are all aligned, cut a 2" wide Segment.  


Continue aligning and cutting segments until you have cut (16) 2" Segments total.   You will only need to cut a few from the second strip set and the remainder is scrap.  


Now we will repeat the same process with the Red Strips matched with a Blue Strip.   Again, Place the Blue strip on  the Red strip with right sides together, and stager align 2" as shown.   Sew a 1/4" seam along the top edge of the strip set and press towards the Blue Strip.    Repeat to make 2 Strip sets total.    

 Align your strip set with the Blue strip on top.  Align the bottom of the Strip Set with the 45 Degree line on the ruler on the right hand edge of the strip set.  Cut a Straight Edge.  Flip your Strip Set 180 degrees and align on the mat with the Red strip on top. On the now left hand straight angled edge, align the  45 degree mark on the ruler with the bottom of the Strip Set and the 2" line on your ruler with the cut angled edge of the strip set and cut a 2" wide Segment.    Cut (16) 2" Segments total.


Piecing Diamond Units

Now with your Segments all cut, you are ready to start piecing the blocks.   Layout 1 of each colored segments in a diamond formation as shown below with the green on the bottom and the red on the top.  
We will be sewing these two "rows" together, which means you will be sewing an internal angled seam.  These can be a little tricky, but the idea is to align the seams so that they match at 1/4" in from the edge. 


I find the easiest way to do this is to use the Pin Trick we have used previously to align multiple points.  The only difference is, you don't have a marking of the 1/4" in, so you have to estimate it.   I got about half perfectly estimated and about half off.   For the ones that were slightly off, I simply ripped the seams, and then I could use the holes from the just ripped seam allowance as a guide to align with the Pin Trick.    (Hint - If you find you are struggling with the estimated guess, simply use a basting stitch the first time, so it isn't so hard to unpick ;)  


Another hint is that you should have a 1/4" overhang on each side when you stitch the 1/4" seam across the pinned top.  Once you have them aligned and stitched, Press the seam Open.  These angled seams take a bit of practice. but they get easier with each one ;)  You can do it!!   You will be making 16 Diamond Units total.  


Piecing Large Triangle Units

Rather than making all of the Right Large Triangle Units and then all of the Left Large Triangle Units, I like to make both sets at the same time.   This allows me to chain stitch as well as double check my layout each time I stitch a seam.  However, I will only show 1 set in the images so it is clear and you can piece one set at a time and repeat the Large Triangle Unit steps to make 8 total, or chain stitch 8 total.  

Start by laying out 2 Diamond Units in a mirror image as shown below.   Place a Big White Triangle on the outer sides of the Diamond Units as shown.  (stack up 8 sets on top of each piece if you are Chain Stitching the Large Triangle Units)  


Place the Big White Triangles onto the Diamond Units with Right sides together, aligning the pieces so there is a 1/4" overlap at the top and bottom of each seam.   Stitch a 1/4" seam along both sides. 


Press the seam allowances towards the Big White Triangle.    Now, place 2 Small White Triangles on the inside of the Diamond Units as shown.    


Place the Small White Triangles onto the Diamond Units with Right sides together, aligning the pieces so there is a 1/4" overlap at the bottom of the seam and all of the Excess (about 1/2") is overlapped at the top of the seam.   Stitch a 1/4" seam along both sides. 


Press the seam allowances towards the Small White Triangle.    You should now have 8 Sets of Mirror Triangles total.  And I like to trim at the end, so just hold off on those uneven top seams for the moment.  


Piecing Quarter Blocks and Blocks

Place the mirror image Large Triangle sets with right sides together.   Align and pin the seams. Stitch a 1/4" seam along the pinned side.   Press the seam open.   Repeat or chain stitch to make 8 Quarter Blocks total.   


Now Layout 4 Quarter Block Units as shown below.   At this point, I like to trim all of the little dog ears so they don't get in the way, especially at the center point.  We will be sewing the quarters into halves on the diagonal.  



Place the Top Unit on to the Left Hand Unit with Right sides together.  Align and Pin the Seams and stitch a 1/4" seam along the pinned edge.   Repeat for the Bottom Unit and Right Hand Unit.   Press the seam allowances of each diagonal half Open.  


One last seam . . . Place the Top Left Hand Unit onto the Bottom Right Hand unit with Right sides together.  Align and Pin the Seams and stitch a 1/4" seam along the pinned edge.   Press the seam allowance Open.  Repeat the last 3 instructions to make 2 Blocks total.  


And all that is left is to trim the blocks nice and even.   Align the 1/4" mark on your ruler with the star points on the side of the block.  Trim the edge even.   Repeat for all of the sides of both blocks.  


And just like that . . . you have 2 beautiful Stitchin' Heaven Star Blocks!!  They should measure 14 1/2" square,  but if yours are a little big (mine were 15") you can ease them in.  Don't trim them anymore then you have as you need the 1/4" to make the star points.   



And now all your blocks are made!!!!  All that is left for this month is to take those blocks and sew them into into Sections!!  So for 

Section 1

Layout a Stitchin' Heaven Star Block and the Bluebonnet Flower block from Month 2 as shown below.  


Place the Flower Block onto the Star Block with right sides together.   Align and pin the edge.  (you can see I had a little easing in to do, but it all worked out great.)    Stitch a 1/4" seam along the pinned edge taking care to stitch through the thread X and at the bottom of the Fabric V for perfect points.  Press the seam open.  


And Section 1 is complete!!!  Super easy :)  


So onto . . . 
Section 2


Layout the other Stitchin' Heaven Star Block and the Texas Thistle block from Month 2 as shown below.


Place the Flower Block onto the Star Block with right sides together.   Align and pin the edge.   Stitch a 1/4" seam along the pinned edge taking care to stitch through the thread X and at the bottom of the Fabric V for perfect points.  Press the seam open.  


And Section 2 is complete!!!  Super easy :)  


And now, we get to put a big chunk of the quilt together!!!

Section from Month 4, 5, and 6

Layout your Month 4, Month 5, and Month 6 blocks as shown below.   They should already be stitched together in these six sections, and we will be making 2 columns from these sections.  


Place the Top Block in each column onto the Middle Blocks in each column with right sides together.   Align and pin the edges.   Stitch a 1/4" seam along the pinned edge taking care to stitch through any thread X's and at the bottom of the Fabric V's for perfect points. 


Place the Bottom Blocks in each column onto the Middle Blocks in each column with right sides together.   Align and pin the edges.   Stitch a 1/4" seam along the pinned edge taking care to stitch through any thread X's and at the bottom of the Fabric V's for perfect points. 


And your Two Section 4/5/6 are complete!!!  Way to go :)  


Wasn't  Texas Monthly Month 6 just so fun!!!  I know I sure liked it and it is so exciting to see it starting to come together :)

If you have any questions on this tutorial, please don't hesitate to email me at happyquiltingmelissa@gmail.com or leave a comment.  

Hope y'all enjoy making this month's blocks! 

 Looking forward to Next Month and from what I hear, it should be soon!

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2 comments:

Thank you so much for your sweet comments. I just love hearing from you!!
Have a Happy Quilting Day :)

Melissa