** NOTE - This post is part of a series of posts for the Starstruck Quilt Along. If you would like to join (and have a chance to win one of three $75.00 Gift Certificates from Fat Quarter Shop ) you can find a list of the post links here :) Here is the schedule
October 2nd - Baby Piecing (That's Today!!!)
October 9th - Lap Piecing
October 16th - Picnic Piecing
October 23rd - Queen/King Piecing
November 13th - Star Struck Parade and Grand Prize Winners
Now, first off for this week, we need to pick a winner for the Wall Hanging Assignment. And you all did such a great job with the piecing!! It is so fun to get to see all of the centers of your quilts!!!
And if you are just finding this QAL, it's never to late to join in the fun :)
The cutting assignment winner who gets a copy of my Irish Chain Quilts book and any 3 PDF Quilt Patterns, or any 2 Hard Copy Quilt Patterns from Happy Quilting is
#16 - Susan!!! - Congrats :)
And now that you have last week done, this week will be super simple as it just repeating the same units and blocks from the Wall Hanging section and adding in a same block just in a different size. So with that in mind, the instructions this week will be a little more condensed, but if you find you want more explanation on the process of each unit and block, don't hesitate to look back to the Wall Hanging Section instructions. So with that, let's get piecing!!!
THIS WEEKS ASSIGNMENT - BABY SECTION
And just like last week, we will piece all our Units, and then build the Blocks, and finally put it all together into the Baby Section. And remember if you are making the Fat Quarter Friendly layout to use the same prints in each unit and to note the FQ# referred to in each piecing instruction. And for either layout, be sure that all the pieces you gather are labeled Baby pieces. So let's get started with the Units. First up . . .
FLYING GEESE UNITS
Gather (1) 5 1/4" x 5 1/4" Background Square and (4) 2 7/8" x 2 7/8" Print (FQ5) Squares. Draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of all 4 of your print squares as shown.
Now place two Print Squares onto the Background square as shown below. Pin the squares and then Stitch a 1/4" seam on either side of the drawn line of the unit. Cut on the drawn line and press the seam allowances upwards towards the Print Triangles.
Then place your remaining 2 Print Squares onto your two Units as shown below. Pin the squares and then Chain Stitch a 1/4" seam on either side of the drawn line on both Units. Cut on the drawn line and press the seam allowances upwards towards the Print Triangles. Trim the dog ears.
And you are done!!! 4 beautiful and perfectly precise Flying Geese Units, that should measure 2 1/2" x 4 1/2". And you don't need to trim the units, but if you do, leave your 1/4" overlap at the top of the units!!!
Oh, and on a Side Note - If you are liking this
No Waste Flying Geese method, I wrote a previous tutorial on
No Waste Flying Geese that also goes over the math of making them so you can make any size Flying Geese you like. Thought you might like it :)
You can now set your Flying Geese units aside and we will move on to the . . .
MEDIUM SIZED HALF SQUARE TRIANGLE UNITS
Start by gathering (4) 4" x 4" Background Squares and (4) 4" x 4" Print (FQ6) Squares. Draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of all 4 of your print squares as shown.
Align and pin 4 sets of a Background square and a marked Print square with rights sides together. Chain Stitch all 4 sets with a 1/4"seam on BOTH sides of the drawn line, the black lines represent your stitching lines. Cut on the drawn line and press the seam allowances towards the Print Triangles.
Using the diagonal line on your square ruler aligned with the seam allowance, trim all 8 of your units to 3 1/2" x 3 1/2" square.
And now you have 8 Medium Sized Half Square Triangle units that all measure 3 1/2" x 3 1/2".
You can now set your Medium Half Square Triangle units aside and we will move on to the . . .
SMALL SIZED HALF SQUARE TRIANGLE UNITS
And this is the exact same process as the Medium Sized, we will just be increasing the quantity and decreasing the size.
Start by gathering (8) 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" Background Squares and (8) 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" Print (FQ4) Squares. Draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of all 8 of your print squares as shown.
Align and pin 8 sets of a Background square and a marked Print square with rights sides together. Chain Stitch all 8 sets with a 1/4"seam on BOTH sides of the drawn line, the black lines represent your stitching lines. Cut on the drawn line and press the seam allowances towards the Print Triangles.
Using the diagonal line on your square ruler aligned with the seam allowance, trim all 16 of your units to 2" x 2" square.
And now you have 16 Small Sized Half Square Triangle units that all measure 2" x 2".
You can now set your Small Half Square Triangle units aside and we will move on to the . . .
STITCH AND FLIP UNITS
Gather (4) 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" Print (FQ5) Squares and (8) 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" Background Squares. Draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of all 8 of your Background squares as shown.
With right sides together, lay a marked background square onto the corner of the Print square as shown. Pin adjacent to that drawn line on all 4 units. And you will notice, you should have an extra 4 marked background squares. We will get to those in a bit.
We will be stitching directly on the drawn line (the black lines represent your stitching lines) but again, to save time and thread, we will chain stitch these.
Align and pin 4 sets of a marked Background square on the corner of the Print square with rights sides together as shown. Chain Stitch all 4 sets with a seam directly on the drawn line, the black line represent your stitching line. Cut a 1/4" over the drawn/stitched line on all 4 units and press towards the Background triangle.
And now, it's the same process, just on the other side. Place the remaining 4 Background squares with right sides together on the adjoining corner of each of the 4 units as shown below. Pin and Chain Stitch directly on the drawn line. Cut a 1/4" over the drawn/stitched line on all 4 units and press towards the Background triangle.
And you are done!!! You should have 4 Stitch and Flip Units total that will measure 4 1/2" x 4 1/2". And you don't need to trim the units, but if you do, leave your 1/4" overlap at the top of the units!!!
And that means you have finished piecing all your units and we can now use those to make your 3 sets of blocks. We will start with the . . .
MEDIUM SIZED ARROW BLOCKS
Layout 4 sets of a 3 1/2" x 3 1/2" Print (FQ6) Square, a 3 1/2" x 3 1/2" Background Square, and 2 Medium Half Square Triangle Units as shown below.
Place the right hand Units onto the left hand units in each of the two row with right sides together. Align and chain stitch a 1/4" seam for both rows in all 4 sets. Press the seam allowances in opposite directions towards the squares as shown. Place the Top Row onto the Bottom Row with right sides together. Align and Pin the center seam of all 4 sets. Chain stitch a 1/4" seam along the pinned edge of all 4 units. Press the seam allowance open.
And your Medium Sized Arrow Blocks are done. They should measure 6 1/2" x 6 1/2" but again, no need to square them up, and if you do, be sure and leave your 1/4" seam allowance at the points.
And you can set your 4 Medium Arrow Blocks aside and move on to the . . .
SMALL SIZED ARROW BLOCKS
Layout 8 sets of a 2" x 2" Print (FQ4) Square, a 2" x 2" Background Square, and 2 Small Half Square Triangle Units as shown below.
Place the right hand Units onto the left hand units in each of the two row with right sides together. Align and chain stitch a 1/4" seam for both rows in all 8 sets. Press the seam allowances in opposite directions towards the squares as shown. Place the Top Row onto the Bottom Row with right sides together. Align and Pin the center seam of all 8 sets. Chain stitch a 1/4" seam along the pinned edge of all 4 units. Press the seam allowance open.
And your Small Sized Arrow Blocks are done. They should measure 3 1/2" x 3 1/2" but again, no need to square them up, and if you do, be sure and leave your 1/4" seam allowance at the points.
And you can set your 4 Small Arrow Blocks aside and move on to the . . .
POINTER BLOCKS
Layout 4 Sets of a Flying Geese (FQ5) Unit, and a Stitch and Flip Unit (FQ5) as shown below. Place the Flying Geese Unit onto the Stitch and Flip Unit with right sides together and pin. Chain Stitch a 1/4" seam along the pinned edges of all 4 sets. Be sure and stitch directly through the center of the thread X. Press the seam allowances towards the Stitch and Flip Unit.
And your Pointer Blocks are done. They should measure 4 1/2" x 6 1/2" but again, no need to square them up, and if you do, be sure and leave your 1/4" seam allowance at the bottom point and keep your top points centered.
And with all of your Blocks made you are now ready to move on to the final step.
SEWING THE BABY SECTION
And we will start by adding a little Sashed border around the Small Arrow Blocks. We will be making 2 different layouts that are mirror images, so just watch you don't flip things (I had to do some unpicking ;)
Layout 4 Left Hand Sets of a Small Arrow Block and (2) 2" x 3 1/2" Background rectangles as shown below on the left. Layout 4 Right Hand Sets of a Small Arrow Block and (2) 2" x 3 1/2" Background rectangles as shown below on the right. Place the Background rectangles on the top and bottom of each of the Small Arrow Blocks and chain stitch a 1/4" seam along the edge.
If you stitch from the back, you can be sure and sew through your thread X and at the point of your fabric V's for perfect points. Press the seam allowances on all 8 sets outwards towards the Background rectangles.
Now we will add the two sides. Layout 8 sets of Sashed Small Arrow blocks (both left and right) and (2) 5" x 6 1/2" Background rectangles as shown below. Place the Sashed small Arrow block on the Background rectangle on the left and chain stitch a 1/4" seam along the edge of all 8 sets taking care to sew through the center of the thread X or the point of the fabric V. Then repeat on the right hand side, chain stitching all 8 sets. Press the seam allowances outwards towards the Background rectangles.
And now you are ready to make the sides of the Baby section. To do this, layout 4 sets of a Left Hand Side Bordered Small Arrow block, a Pointer Block, and a Right Hand Side Bordered Small Arrow block as shown below. Place the Pointer block on the Left Hand Side Unit and chain stitch a 1/4" seam along the edge of all 4 sets. Then place the Right Hand Side Unit onto the Pointer Block and Chain Stitch all 4 sets. Press the seam allowances outwards towards the Bordered Small Arrow Blocks. And your Baby Section Sides are done!!
And now it is like making a Giant 9 patch!!! Layout the Wall Hanging Section, 4 Baby Section Sides, and 4 Medium Sized Arrow Blocks as shown below.
Place the Outside Units in each column onto the Center Column units with right sides together. Align, Pin, and Chain Stitch a 1/4" seam along each of the 3 rows on either side of the center units. Again, take care to stitch right through the center of the thread X's and at the point of the Fabric V's that are indicated below by arrows.
Now press your seams in the top and bottom rows inwards and press the seams in the center row open. This just makes everything lie flat.
Now place the Top and Bottom rows onto the Center rows with right sides together. Align and Pin the seams. Stitch a 1/4" seam along the two pinned edges, once again, ensuring that you stitch directly through the center of the thread X's and at the point of the Fabric V's that are indicated below by arrows. Press the seams open.
And all that is left is to add a border to your Baby Section. Start by sewing 3 of your 2 1/2" x WOF strips together end to end to make one long strip. Cut (2) 2 1/2" x 44 1/2" strips from your long strip. Trim the 2 remaining 2 1/2" x WOF strips to each measure 2 1/2" x 40 1/2".
And a little note here. I prefer to leave my strips a little long and trim the excess. This is a personal preference and you can do the same or cut your strips to the exact measurement. The measurements listed above and in the picture are the exact size, But you will note my strips are a bit longer. Do whatever your prefer.
Layout the Pieced Baby Center and (2) 2 1/2" x 40 1/2" Background rectangles and (2) 2 1/2" x 44 1/2" Background rectangles as shown below.
Place the two side rectangles onto the Baby Center with right sides together. Pin and stitch a 1/4" seam along both edges. Again, I like to stitch from the back to ensure perfect points ;) Trim the excess if you choose to make your strips a little longer.
Press the seam allowances outwards towards the Background rectangles. Then place the Top and Bottom rectangles onto the Baby Center with right sides together. Pin and stitch a 1/4" seam along both edges. Again, stitching from the back though the thread X's and at the point of the Fabric V's will ensure perfect points. And then Trim the excess if needed.
And finally, Press the seam allowances outwards towards the background rectangles. At your Baby Section is done and should measure appx. 44 1/2" x 44 1/2". Wasn't that sew easy!!!!
So Now It's your Turn :)
Get your Baby Section sewn together and your assignment is complete!!! And then you can enter to win the weekly prize :) And again, if you have any questions at all please don't hesitate to ask in a comment or email me at happyquiltingmelissa@gmail.com :)
The Weekly Prize is being sponsored by
Shabby Fabrics this week and a huge Thanks goes to them for their support a the
Starstruck Quilt-Along.
This weeks prize is a
$30.00 Gift Certificate to Shabby Fabrics!!! Oh, so fun that one lucky winner gets to pick out something special just for them!!!
So what do you have to do for a chance to win this Gift Certificate? Simple . . . Just link up your Baby Section all sewn up :) You can link to a blog post, flickr picture, Instagram, Facebook . . . or whatever. Just make sure to link up by the end of the day on October 8th as I will be announcing a winner at the beginning of the next post :) And on the link up where it asks for a Caption, add your name as well, so I know who you are ;)
If you don't get your Baby Section done by October 8th you can still link it up :) (just not in time for the prize :) The linky will remain open until the end of the Quilt-A-Long. So if your out of town, or just had a busy week, no worries!!! Just link up when you can :)
And Don't forget to add your beautiful Baby Sections to the
Happy Quilting Quilt-A-Long Flickr group and to post it on social media with using
#starstruckquiltalong. I am so excited to see the Baby section all sewn up, it is just so great to see these grow!!!
So let's get stitching!!! And if you have questions, don't hesitate to email me at happyquiltingmelissa@gmail.com. Have a Happy Quilting Day!!
