Log Cabin Star 08

Now inset seams have been mastered join the units in the same way unstitching as you go. Note the centre star points will be unstitched too and you will circle your seams in the same direction.

Join two tumbling block units and press to one side.
Unpick any stitches in the centre seam allowances.

As before place third unit on the unpressed unit, pin and sew. Unpick.

Wrong side up and the final open seam away from you, bring
seams two and three towards you so that the centre TB unit is
folded up between the side units.

Pin, sew and unstitch.

Now you have three gaps and three obtuse units to insert.

Place obtuse diamond on the unpressed side . . .

Pin and sew past the edge, then unpick and turn wrong side up with unsewn seam away from you
and fold, pin and stitch as before.

All done

Log Cabin Star 07

Three diamonds

Cut in half evenly
from the side;
using two rulers helps.

Two pieces with
acute centre diamond
points; two with obtuse.

Sharp acute point units
 in the centre

Obtuse units ranged in the gaps to form a hexagon shape.

A tumbling block unit - you will make three

First join the acute units using thread you can see (seam 1).
press gently to one side. Place an obtuse unit on the unpressed piece so that it covers it exactly. sew from the outside edge
all the way crossing the raw edge slightly (seam 2).

Turn over and unpick the stitches in the seam allowance.
Use the back of your unpicker so you don't cut the stitches.

Like this

Now with the unit wrong side up and the unsewn seam 3 away
from you, pull seams 1 and 2 together so the first diamond folds up inside and piece 1 and 3 are on top of each  other .
Sew the seam and again unpick the stitches in the seam allowance.
You should now have a lovely tumbling block unit as above
and minimal bulk where seams meet.


This is an extension of the way four patches are sometimes sewn which also involves unpicking stitches in the seam as described
here. I had never seen it applied to diamonds and hexagons till I saw the wonderful Gyleen Fitzgerald introduce her invention of it on The Quilt Show no. 1403. I took a class with her and was so impressed with the accuracy of this method. Check out her pdf here and her website here.

I'll post more pictures as I sew.

Log Cabin Star 05

Patchworkers cut up fabric, sew it together and often cut it and sew yet again as here. Once you have sewn your three diamonds (see here  - posts on 7th November) you are going to cut them up and resew them back together in a different arrangement.
1. Cut each diamond into quarters through the centre segmenting the central diamond. Using two rulers helps wih making an even division.
2.  In two quarters the centre diamond will have an obtuse angle on the outer edge and in two an acute, sharp angle.
3. Arrange with the six sharp angles meeting in the centre and the six others in the spaces created on the outer edge.

Three diamonds

Each diamond is quartered through the sides.

The top two have acute angles the bottom two, obtuse.

Rearrange as shown

Making strides

Stepping Stones

Border Quilting

I finished a second card trick block for my Siblings Together November stint and I received two for my October collection from Colette but my major news is finishing our Bonnies quilt from last year, a major project and a delight. It is a Jackie Taylor pattern which I redrafted so we could use templates and I alo added a flying geese border. Maggie Breakspear longarm quilted it with a different design on the border which I love. I have always wanted to make a quilt with a courthouse steps setting and  these continue the background fabric of each of the four adjacent pieced blocks.

Block 2

Block 1

Block 1

Lovely blocks from Colette

Detling Show

Yesterday was the Detling Show. I went with friends and met up with more and had a lovely day though, inspired by friends, did more shopping than I expected but am very happy with it all.  The  quilts on display, selected by the organisers, were excellent too though some I had seen before.

Superb work in silk by Jane Rollison

Detail

 I am a great fan of Carolyn Forster's  work and always very impressed by how many quilts she can show on any one topic, here hexagons.

Carolyn's Star Rose, A one patch design

And this one uses the same shape

When I got home I completed the machining on our current "Bonnie" project and finished the hand sewing in the evening watching the last two episodes of "Innocent" recorded some time ago - excellent except a bit rushed toward the end. I would do it differently IF I did it again - fusible wadding, stiffer interfacing - but I'm glad I used nice fabrics. I try to avoid 3D but the pattern was well written and there was an explanatory photo on her site for the hard to explain bit. it's Beth Studley's  project basket pattern. 

 It turned out bigger than I expected but all the more useful - it will contain scraps
deicated for a workshop next year.

The inside fabric toned in well.

Log Cabin Star 04: three diamonds all done

The third round of strips were cut 1.25" and the fabric was less than a fat quarter and I cut 10 strips. 
For the final round I wondered whether a fat quarter would be enough but of course it was. It was 21" wide so I know I could cut twelve 1.5" strips 1.5 x 18/19" .  Note I cut down from the 21" side not along it. Lots of wastage but enough!
What next? All will be revealed after the next U3A class on Monday 19th.

Log Cabin Star 03: Second round of strips

Can you see the two seams at the starting edge

You will know where to add the next strip when you see the ends of TWO seams at the edge. That is where you start and then continue in the same direction as before, following the same pattern of covering the two seam ends.
These strips were cut 1.5" x 20"; of course WOF (width of fabric) of fabric strips would be more economical but I am using fat quarters - so far.

I used a separate strip for each diamond.

I found I need 7 strips for this fabric round.

All done.

Log Cabin Star 02: adding the first set of strips

The first round of strips was pieced from five 1" strips

The first set of strips was cut 1" wide from a fat quarter so 20" long. I found I needed 5 strips: this project is very greedy!

Sewing the 3 diamonds to the first strip.

And press towards the strip fabric.

Now trim in line with your diamond.
Note at the sharp acute end you will need extra fabric to accommodate the angle.

And trim again at the obtuse wide angle.

To aid economical cutting I only sewed two to the next strip as it left a longer piece to use later.
Try to consider this when cutting.

Continue adding strips either clockwise or anti-clockwise consistently  till you have completed the first round.

Log Cabin Star U3A project 01

My Log cabin star Christmas cushion

This is a project that appeared in Popular Patchworth Nov/Dec 1993 and was designed by Rowena Strittmatter though I learnt it in a workshop for Quay Quilters taught by member Doreen Nicholson. This is is second one I have made and in the spirit of passing forward I'm doing it with the U3A measuring my strips and recreating it. Anything goes as far as size of the initial diamond and number and width of strips is concerned as long as you make three log cabin diamonds all the same. 

The 3.25" strip

 I chose to to start with 3.25" diamonds so cut a 3.25" strip.

Then I used the 60 line on my ruler and inch makings to cut the 3 diamonds.

60 degree line aligned with top
of fabric

And cut!

Now use the 3.25 to cut an equal sided diamond.

I've indicated the lines  help you.

And cut! Repeat twice more.

Oast Quilters UFO day

I spent a happy day sewing on Saturday and on my new machine which I am liking more and more. I made the November Siblings Together block, card trick, all very neat till I had to unstitch units and seams as I didn't put it together correctly. I'll do an extra one as now it is not so neat.
The other thing was a sample for the U3A log cabin star.

Siblings together blocks round up

My month to receive blocks is over though I think more will appear later. I shall add more myself too. They are all beautifully sewn and just what I requested.