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 :)
