Star Sampler Quilt Along–Block 9

The Sunrise Star is an awesome block.  It looks complicated, but is really pretty easy. 

CUTTING AND FABRIC

Fabric 1 – Background – (4) 4 in. squares and (1) 6 1/4 in square cut twice diagonally

Fabric 2 – Center Square – (1) 5 1/2 in. square

Fabric 3 – Dotted Print – (4) 2 in. squares and (1) 3 1/2 in. square cut twice diagonally

Fabric 4 – Yellow Floral – (4) 4 3/8 in. squares cut once diagonally

STEP 1

Draw a diagonal line across Fabric 3 – 2 in. squares.

STEP 2

Lay those 2 in. squares on the corner of the center square as shown above.  Sew along drawn line on all four blocks.

Trim corners 1/4 in. from sewn line.

Press open.

STEP 3

Take your Fabric 4 rectangles.  Measure over 4 3/8 in. then trim off the excess corner.

STEP 4

Line up four triangles from step 3 with the 4 background triangles and sew together.  (For some reason I flipped the fabric upside down for this picture.  I think I was coloring with my toddler the same time I was taking pictures.  Oops.)

STEP 5

Line up the remaining four triangles with Fabric 3 triangles and sew together. Trim and press.

You should now have four sets of pieces that look like this.  .

STEP 6

Sew together making sure to match seams.

STEP 7

Sew background squares to each side of two of the Step 6 blocks.

STEP 8

Sew the two remaining Step 6 squares to each side of the center block.

Sew three strips together making sure to pin together seams.

Told you it was easy!

Stormy

Morning Rainbow

This morning I was up at 5:30 with my three year old.  She just wasn’t tired anymore.  And, I don’t like mornings.  So, by 7:30am, after driving my 12 year old to school, my 14 year old to seminary and getting my two grade schoolers off to the bus, I was already feeling kinda tired. I walked out back to do a little yard pickup and wow!  Up in the sky was this….

A big beautiful double rainbow!  In the morning sky!  (Of course, the picture does not do it justice.)  I don’t remember seeing an early morning rainbow before.  And I could see so much of it too.  Suddenly, I was thrilled with my three year old for waking me up early.  If she hadn’t, I wouldn’t have been up and awake enough to be outside seeing this.  Isn’t it funny how something that only lasted a few minutes could change the outlook of my entire day?  I definitely need to find more joy in how beautiful the world is in the morning.  It might help me the next time I’m having a hard time dragging myself out of bed.

Stormy

Star Sampler Quilt Along–Block 8

Block 8  is called Frolic Variation.  I’m also very lucky to get it posted today.  This week has been a doozy.  Already, I’ve had to rename my picture files three times because I’m so tired I keep messing up and numbering/naming everything wrong.  So, if you spy anything awry in this post let me know…. But now, back to this week’s quilt block.

CUTTING AND FABRIC

(Note – Initially, I chose not to use the solid cream for the background fabric, as shown above, but I thought it was too busy.  So, I changed out the rectangle and triangle on the top row for the solid.)

Fabric 1 – Background – (4) 2 1/2 x 4 1/2 in rectangles and (1) 5 1/4 in square cut diagonally twice

Fabric 2 – Cream Print – (1) 4 1/2 in square

Fabric 3 – Dot – (4) 2 1/2 x 4 1/2 in rectangles and (4) 2 1/2 in squares

Fabric 4 – Blue Floral – (2) 4 7/8 in squares cut diagonally once

Fabric 5 – Orange Geometric – (1) 5 1/4 in square cut diagonally twice and (8) 2 1/2 in squares

STEP 1

Draw a diagonal line on the Fabric 2 and Fabric 4 -  2 1/2 in squares.  Place the Fabric 2 square on the Background 2 1/2 x 4 1/2 in rectangle and the Fabric 4 square on the the Fabric 2 – 2  1/2 x 4 1/2 in rectangle.  Sew along the drawn line.

STEP 2

Trim 1/4 in away from the sewn line.

Press open.

Sew the two units together as shown above. Press. Trim to 4 1/2 in. Make three more.

STEP 3

Line up the Fabric 4 –2 1/2in square with the Fabric 3 triangle.  Sew along doted line.

STEP 4

Trim 1/4 in away from drawn line.

Press open.  Make four of these units.

STEP 5

Sew Background triangle and Fabric 4 triangle together as shown above.  Press. Make 4 units.

STEP 6

Sew Step 4 and Step 5 units together to make a square press and trim to 4 1/2inches.

STEP 7

Lay out blocks as shown above.  Sew into rows then sew rows together, making sure to pin the corners.  You are finished with Block 8!  The Frolic Variation.

Stormy

Star Sampler Quilt Along – Block 7

I’m excited for block seven.  This is the first time I have made it and I really like it.  It’s called the Four Patch Star.

 CUTTING AND FABRIC

Fabric 1 – Background – (4) 2 1/2 in. x 4 1/2 rectangles and (12) 2 1/2 in squares

Fabric 2 – Light Blue – (4) 2 1/2 in squares

Fabric 3 – Dark Blue Dot – (4) 2 1/2 in x 4 1/2 in squares

Fabric 4 – Stripe – (4) 2 1/2 in x 6 1/2 squares

STEP 1

On eight of the 2 1/2 in. background squares draw a diagonal line. 

STEP 2

Lay your marked squares on Fabric 2 and Fabric 3 rectangles.  Sew along the lines.

STEP 3

Trim and press open.

STEP 4

Sew remaining four Background squares to Fabric one squares. Press open.

STEP 5

Sew the two patch to the Background rectangle.  Press.

STEP 6

Now, sew the Fabric 2 rectangle onto the Step 6 block.  Pres.

STEP 7

Lastly, sew your 2 1/2 in x 6 1/2 in. block to your Step 6 rectangle. Press.  Make three more of these blocks and sew together to finish your Four Patch Star Block.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this one!

Stormy

Crochet season

I LOVE the fall season.  So very very much.  Unfortunately, because I live in the Southwest desert, my fall is a little less spectacular than other places.  But, I try my best to pretend that its getting cooler than 85 degrees outside.  And, I wear my sweaters for five or six weeks every winter!

Anyway, after looking at all the beautiful Pinterest posts on crocheting, I decided to start a project myself. 

It’s not recognizable yet, but it will become my first crochet shawl.  (I had to add my new crochet pack in the picture because they are as exciting to me as new school supplies were when I was a kid.)  I’m using the Red Heart 'Romantic Lacy Shawl' pattern.  I tried a different pattern, but even though I have been crocheting since I was five, I could not figure out the beginner pattern!  This one on the other hand is fairly easy.   Hopefully, this will be the first of many crochet projects this Fall/Winter.

Stormy

Star Sampler Quilt Along - Block 6

The sixth block in our quilt a long is called the Variable Star.  It’s a fun one!

Cutting and Fabric

Fabric 1 – Background – (4) 3 in. squares and (4) 3 3/4 in. squares and (4) 5 1/2 x 2 1/2 in. rectangles.

Fabric 2 – Zig Zag – (4) 3 in. squares

Fabric 3 – Beach Cruiser print – (4) 3 3/4 in. squares and (1) 2 1/2 in. square

Step 1

Draw a diagonal line across your 3 3/4 in. background squares.

Step 2

Lay those background squares RST with fabric 2 squares.  Sew 1/4 in. along the right side of your line.  Then turn and sew another 1/4 in. seam along the other side.

Step 3

Cut your square diagonally, right along the drawn line.

Step 4

Cut in half again to form two more triangle units.

Step 5

Press open with seam towards your print fabric. You should now have 16 triangle units.  Lay the triangle units out like the above picture, eight in each stack.

Step 6

With RST match up center seam of the triangle units and pin.

Sew the two triangle units together.

Press open and trim to 3 inches. Repeat to make the other seven squares.

Step 7

Lay out your blocks in the Variable Star arrangement.

Sew the corner squares into  four patch blocks. Then, sew remaining pieces together row by row, just like a 9 patch.  And, you are finished with block six!  Yeah we are halfway there!

Stormy

Oasis Quilt

I bought two charm packs and a little yardage of the ‘Oasis’ line by 3 sisters when it first came out, but I didn’t know what I was going to do with it.  I just really liked it.  I also really like half square triangle quilts. At the beginning of summer, I decided I needed a new quilt to hang on my sewing room wall. This was it.  It took a little longer to finish than I thought, but oh how I love it!

I especially love the grays and blues together.

I’ve been sitting and staring at it all morning. 

Stormy