What could be in the box?
Aaaaa! Darling. Baby. Chickens.
We awaited their arrival most anxiously, hoping that the weather would be good to them.
They seem lively and well. Are eating and drinking. And napping.
If a few chickens are good, more must be better. Right?!
ps–These were ordered from http://www.mypetchicken.com. We are happy with them so far.
Today is Step 4: MORE CUTTING This time it is sashing and the outer border. Before we get started, let me explain my thinking. Sometimes, when the border and sashing are made from the same materials, I like to carry the sashing pattern to the outer edge. There are a few advantages. It is easy to cut and it helps to avoid the plague of wavy borders that seems to trouble some quilters.
That said, the directions I am about to give will create a pieced border that is an extension of the sashing. If you don’t like or don’t want to try that method, wait to cut until I post final directions, very soon, and then you won’t be annoyed with me.
Otherwise, if you want to take a chance, get out your background fabric and CUT.
You need to cut 49 rectangles 4-1/2″ x 16-1/2″ and 30 4-1/2″ squares. Cut the squares from the scraps AFTER you cut the rectangles.
I originally said you would need 4-3/4 yards of background. I am sorry for that error. It is really more like 5-3/4 yards. That is because you can only really get 2 16-1/2″ rectangles from each WOF. I should have taken that into consideration. If you don’t mind piecing them, you can do the quilt with less yardage, but I like my sashing whole.
To take a look at the previous steps, they are here:
Introduction and Fabric Requirements
Step One: CUTTING
Step Two: SORTING
Step Three: BLOCKS
I am assembling my top soon. Very exciting! I love how the stars pop.
Here is a quiltalong bonus: Lucky Star Pincushion. Instead of being a very large star, like the Super Stars Quilt, it is a very small star. But, lucky you, it isn’t hard to put together. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow described stars as the “forget-me-nots of the angels.” Let an angel in your life know you haven’t forgotten them. Make them a little star-shaped remembrance giftie today.
As a double bonus, this tutorial makes two pincushions, so you will have a matched set: one to keep and one to give away.
LUCKY STAR PINCUSHION
Finished Size: 4-inches square
1/4″ quilters seam allowance throughout
MATERIALS
8 pairs of colored 2″ squares (16 pieces in all)
8 background 2″ squares
8 background 1-1/2″ squares
2 4-1/2″ squares (back of pincushion)
stuffing or filling
4 small buttons
CONSTRUCTION
1. Sort your squares. One pile should have one each of the colored squares. One pile should have one each of the colored squares and the 2″ background squares. One pile should be the 1-1/2″ background squares.
2. Create half-square triangles out of the 2″ squares. From pile one, you want to match two colored squares together. You will have four pairs. Consider a little which colors will be next to each other, but don’t worry too much. On this one, I paired warmer colors to cooler colors. From pile two, pair each colored square to a background square. You will have eight pairs. The third pile should just wait for now.
If you don’t have a favorite method for half-square triangles, consider this tutorial.
3. Square up. It is no one’s favorite thing to do, but it really makes a difference. Each half-square triangle unit should measure 1-1/2″ when you are done.
4. Lay out two faux-lemoyne star patterns. They don’t have to be the same, but will be similar.
5. Assemble. Make sure to iron your seam allowances either open or nesting, as you prefer. I use nesting.
6. Match each finished star to a 4-1/2″ backing square, right sides together. Sew around, leaving a small opening on one side. I made the opening just smaller than where the points of the stars touch the edge. It seemed to make it a bit less prone to pull apart during the turning.
7. Turn, pressing corners out. I like to iron down at this phase.
8. Stuff or fill the pincushion with your favorite substance. I used polylfil for these. Crushed walnut shells work well also. Stitch the opening using a ladder or other invisible stitch.
9. Notice, my points are not perfect. Yours very well may be. Good for you! But, since mine aren’t, and I like tufted pincushions anyway, I put a small button front and back to cover those less-than-perfect spots, and to give the pincushion some dimension.
10. Ta-dah! Finished pincushion. Really, finished pincushionS. How nice to get two for just about the same work as one. Who are you going to give your second one to?
NOTE: In retrospect, I might modify this pattern somewhat to include a 1″ sashing around the front block. That way the star points wouldn’t get lost in the curve of the filled pincushion. If you do that, your sashing would need to be 2 pieces 4-1/2″ x 1″ and two pieces 5-1/2″ x 1″. Your backing squares would be 5-1/2″. As soon as I have one finished that looks like this, I will put it up to share. Enjoy!
The twin grandbabies are turning one in a week. It is so hard not to shower them with stuff. But, I remind myself that what they really need they already have–loving parents, enough to eat and a safe place to sleep. Oh, they have much more than that, too. Our Middle Son and daughter-in-law are doing a truly great job tending to these two little blessings.
But, I did want to do something, so I made them little hats using the leftovers from their baby quilts. Such fun!
With even Sparkle Jane all grown up, it is nice to work with tiny pieces of fabric and on a small scale.
I love building same-but-different projects. I did it for Sparkle Jane and Young Son a lot when they were younger, even though they are not twins. It is even more fun for a truly matched set. Baby Boy is quite a bit larger than Baby Girl, which seems somehow appropriate, but that is the fun of building them myself. I can customize!
The hats go in the mail today, to carry our love to those babies.
The pattern is Jack and Jill by Izzy and Ivy designs. Multiple sizes. Accurate directions. Darling results. Good project.
Today was Young Son’s turn for the Big Clean. Same routine: *Gasp* at the overwhelming clutter,
Empty the room to the bare walls, usually except for the bed frame.
Be amazed that the contents of a normal sized bedroom can completely fill a living room staging area two or three times the size.
Then, every single item must be touched and either put away, given away, thrown away…
He got a new quilt for his bed, the string twist quilt I finished a couple of months ago. The kite above the bed is a special one his paternal grandmother got him years ago. It has long been a favorite.
Young Son was diligent, but kept getting distracted by all the cool stuff he had nearly forgotten he had. It is, though, done in time for him to make his Boy Scout meeting tonight: Fly fishing. Something he really is interested in, more than cleaning, for sure. On his way out that sweet boy said, “Thanks, Mom. Every year I wonder why we have to do this. And, then, when we empty the vacuum cleaner, I remember why.”
Posted in Uncategorized
Twenty Super Stars blocks planned. Twenty Super Stars blocks finished.
This is an exciting moment.
Now, for cutting and setting–coming soon as soon as I get it done.
How are yours coming? I love to see pictures.
Here are Julie’s in Australia. I really like the grey sashing!
NOTE TO SELF: Next time I really will finish the quilt BEFORE I start the quiltalong.
Posted in Quilts, Work in Progress
We have an annual tradition called the Big Clean. It should probably apply to every room in the house, but it really just applies to the children’s rooms.
But, they probably are the rooms that need it the worst.
So, sometime right after school gets out, we get serious. The room is emptied to the bare walls, usually except for the bed frame.
Then, from the living room staging area, every single item must be touched and either put away, given away, thrown away…
Sparkle Jane worked really hard. She emptied her room quickly and then started sorting. Before the day was over she filled three trash cans, three recycling cans and five bags to charity. And, the room looks so much better.
We rearrange the furniture, just to give it a fresh look.
She has dedicated sewing space.
And a peaceful, clean place to enjoy.
We went out for Italian Ice afterwards. A well-earned treat. No swimming today. Hopefully tomorrow.
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