** NOTE - This post is part of a series of posts for the Star Light Star Bright Quilt-A-Long. If you would like to join (and have a chance to win one of 4 of the $75.00 Gift Certificate grand prizes sponsored by The Intrepid Thread and Fat Quarter Shop ) you can find a list of the post links here :) Here is the schedule
Mar 12 - Piecing Top and Grand Prize Linky
April 2- Star Light Star Bright Parade and Grand Prize Winners
Okay, I am so super excited for this week!! But first, let's pick a winner for the Block Corners assignment!!! The winner who gets their choice of 3 of my Happy Quilting Patterns is . . . . #41
- Bri!!! - Congrats :)
Alright, this is the week we have been building up towards!!! The last week's assignment. Now this assignment is a little larger but you have lots of time to do it!! And it means, we get to see all of those wonderful project tops come together!!! So, So, So Exciting!!!! I just can't wait to see them all :)
Oh, one last note, be sure to read to the end of today's post as it has all of the details on the Grand Prize Linky and the Parade :)
LAST ASSIGNMENT - PIECING PROJECT TOP!!!
So this final assignment will be done in two steps, Piecing the Block, and then Piecing the Project. So let's start with piecing those blocks together!
PIECING THE BLOCK
Grab your Star Center, your 4 Block Sides and your 4 Block Corners for your first block (or only block) and lay them out as follows. Just like piecing the units, you can choose to build one block at a time or chain stitch all your blocks. Just remember, that it helps to lay out all your blocks in one large stack if you are chain stitching ;)
We are going to start by making rows. To do this, place the pieces on the right and left onto the center pieces with right sides together. Take care to line up each seam and pin them in place. Sew a 1/4" seam along each of the pinned edges. (If you are chain stitching, it is easiest if you do all of the left hand side first for all of your pieces and then repeat for all of the right hand side pieces :)
And remember, When stitching your seams, you want to use those same tricks you learned when making the block units. We want lots of happy perfect points. So at each pinned seam, take care to sew your seam directly at the bottom of the little V created in the seam allowance ;)
Once your seams are stitched, clip your threads and press the seams open to avoid bulk. You will now have 3 rows that look something like this ;)
And now, the last 2 seams for the block!! Lay your top and bottom row onto the center row with right sides together. Once again, take care to align and pin each seam in place. If you find you are having a little bubble from aligning your seams, simply smooth the bubble down and place a horizontal pin there to keep it down. Stitch a 1/4" seam along the pinned edges, remembering your perfect point tricks ;) Press the seams open.
And Ta Da!!! You have a stunning Star Light Star Bright Block!! If you were chain stitching enjoy all of your blocks!!! If you were working on one block at a time, just repeat the process for each of the blocks in your project ;)
PIECING THE PROJECT
And now that your blocks are all made you can move onto the next step of piecing your project top together I am going to use digital pictures from here on out to make it a little easier to work with each layout and honestly, I can't get back far enough in my sewing room to get a picture with all of the blocks in it ;) Start by laying your blocks out in your chosen layout. Mine is 3 x 3. Play with the placement of the blocks until you get a color layout that is pleasing to the eye.
When you have a layout you like you are ready to add the sashing. Now you don't have to add the sashing if you don't want to. As you can see from above, it creates a whole new design without sashing that is pretty fun. It's your quilt, you make it as you like ;)
Let's address one block layouts first. If you are doing a 1 Block Layout and you want to add the sashing it is just like adding a border. Layout the sashing strips as shown with the short strips on the sides and the long sides along the top and bottom. Sew the short strips onto the side using a 1/4" seam. Press towards the sashing. Sew the long strips onto the top and bottom using a 1/4" seam. Press towards the sashing. And your 1 Block Project Top is Complete!!!
Now, if you are doing any other layout, your sashing is a little different. I will show the examples for a 3 x 3 layout but it is the same process if you are doing the 2 x 2 layout or the 4 x 4 layout. Place short sashing strips at the beginning of each row, at the end of each row, and in between each block in every row.
Now, you are ready to sew the Sashing Strips and Blocks into rows. To do this, I like to first sew the sashing strips to the sides of the blocks using a 1/4" seam. Press towards the sashing strips.
Now sew the Sashed Blocks into your rows, adding one block at a time until the row is complete. Always use a 1/4" seam and press towards the sashing.
And now with your rows made, you are ready to add the long sashing. Place long sashing strips (You will most likely have needed to piece these together first) at the top of your project, the bottom of your project, and in between each row of your project.
And now you can sew them all together. This is just like sewing the blocks into rows only on a much longer scale. Once again, start by sewing the Sashing Strips to the sewn Rows using a 1/4" seam and pressing towards the sashing strips.
Now sew each of the Sashed Rows together, adding one row at a time until your quilt top is complete!!!
And now, you can just sit back and enjoy your beautiful Star Light Star Bright Project top!!!
But don't forget, while you are enjoying it, to be sure to link your project top up to the
Happy Quilting Quilt-A-Long Flickr group!!! We all want to enjoy it ;)
And with your Project Top complete, you are ready to link up to the Grand Prize Linky!!!!
GRAND PRIZE LINK UP
The Grand Prizes that you are hoping to be picked for is . .
A $75.00 Gift Certificate that you can spend as you like!! There will be
4 lucky Grand Prize winners, 2 winners will receive a Gift Certificate to
The Intrepid Thread and 2 winners will receive a Gift Certificate to
Fat Quarter Shop. Talk about some fun Shopping Sprees!!!
In order to be eligible to win the Grand Prize you need to Link Up your completed project top (not quilted yet, just the project top) at the end of this post!!! You have until the early, early morning of April 2nd to get your project top sewn together and linked to be entered :) But remember, You have to have a link at the end of this post to be entered to win one of the Grand Prizes.
STAR LIGHT STAR BRIGHT QUILT-A-LONG PARADE
Now, as just mentioned, you only have to have your project top done to enter into the grand prize link up . . . However, I wanted to encourage you to finish these projects and not set them in a pile of "to be quilted" so I am planning a Parade for the 2nd of April :) The parade will show off all quilted and bound Star Light Star Bright Projects!!
So, how do you finish up those projects???
Baste It, Quilt It, and Bind It!! I know, I make it sound all so simple. If you are new to quilting, and need some help with these last few steps, you can see my Video Tutorials that go over the basics of how to do this ;) Also, there are some helpful free motion quilting tutorials if you are stuck on how you want to quilt your project ;)
Once you have your project Basted, Quilted, and Bound it is ready to be showcased it in the Parade. In order to have it in the parade, I need you to please send me an email (happyquiltingmelissa@gmail.com) with your favorite finished Star Light Star Bright Project picture attached as well as the name you would like your photo listed with, where you are from, and a blog or flickr photostream link if applicable. You can email me anytime from now until the evening of April 1st and I will get you added to the Parade!!!
I am so looking forward to seeing everyone's finishes!!! You can decide if you would like to add your finish picture to the Flickr group now or wait until after the parade to keep it a secret :) Grand Prize winners will be announced on April 2nd along with the amazing parade filled with all of your beautiful quilts, pillows, table runners, ect.!!! I can't wait!!! I know this is just going to be an awesome parade!!
So, in summary, Link up your finished project top (not quilted) at the end of this post by April 2nd to be entered for the grand prize linky :) Email me a picture of your finished project (quilted and bound) with your name, where you are from, and a place to link your picture by April 1st to be part of the parade :)
Alright, I know that was a lot. If you have any questions at all, please do not hesitate to email me at happyquiltingmelissa@gmail.com, I don't want any one to miss out on the grand prizes or parades because of confusion ;)
I can't wait to see your finished projects!!! Thank you so much for quilting-a-long with me!!!! Now, off you go to finish up :) Have a Happy Quilting Day!!!