Scoopie wrote:
Thank you, Dawn! I'm pretty new at quilting, and yes, just joined today when my dear friend & quilting mentor Joyce mentioned she'd posted questions here on my behalf.

PosyP wrote:
Rosemary/Posy -- thank you! That does make sense. Will definitely cut the next bits together like that, hadn't thought of cutting them at the same time as 2 layers. Way less tedious than cutting all the turquoise, then flipping the template and cutting all the yellow.

Joyce/She Sews did send me the corrected drawing (thanks again, all of you!!, for the help!) and I'm ready to trace and cut and sew another fan section to see what happens this time. Wish me luck!

SuperJudy wrote:
That is exactly what I saw! But I think it is just the way the person drew it. The pattern pieces appear to be the same size, though.

Oh, and Learning, I just saw that you just joined today! Welcome!!!!!


Dawn
In beautiful Northwest Montana

Hello and welcome 'friend in question',
it sounds as if you have found the probable culprit to this attempt. For this pattern you will need to be able to cut reverse or 'pairs' of shapes and an easy way to do this would be to put your 2 fabrics right sides together and then cut the 2 layers as one, that way you will create a 'pair'.

To help you get your head around the idea of pairs, consider your hands, you have a right hand and a left hand, together they make a pair of hands not two hands. Two hands could refer to 2 right hands, 2 left hands or one of each. I learnt this the hard way in dressmaking that you always require a pair of sleeves not two sleeves for a jacket or blouse

Good luck, have fun, you know where to find us now, and remember the only dumb question is the one that isn't asked!

Rosemary

Oh my goodness -- your kindness in helping has given us a new international member!

Thanks to the super instructions ... I got the block drawn!! Every time I use EQ, I learn a bit more. Thank you!! I'm hoping it traveled safely across the miles electronically and can help.

We'll keep you posted! She really is an amazing quilter... learning just via email. I'm glad now she can access all the TQS info & your brains to keep learning.

Hi all! I'm the friend in question -- to answer a few questions, the 2 size rays are meant to be different sizes per the pattern instructions/drawing. So, those are accurate.

The template didn't originally have seam allowances in it, so reducing by 50% ought not mess that up, since I'd be adding the seam allowances when i cut anyway.

The outside edge bit I *did* draw/cut smaller than 1/2 size at first, which I think is the main problem. Hooray for Joyce helping me fix it! The outside edge bit should be symmetrical (the beige pieces) so no idea on reversing those....the rays, no, but the edge bit, yes.

Problems most likely stem from error on my part, as I'm quite the newbie, taught only via email from afar and as my name suggests, Learning as I go! Will happily await Joyce's EQ drawing before I attempt this on my own again. Luckily I massively over-bought all the various fabrics for the quilt I'm doing (diary quilt, so each block is different) so have plenty of each to keep trying this until I get it right!

many thanks to all of you who are helping Joyce help me!! So appreciative! (and, hey, if anyone knows an easier sun type block than this one, maybe that's a thought as well.....????)

Signed, Heather, not afraid to bite off more than she can chew

If the photo is accurate, the rays on the center motif are not the same size. It almost appears that
one side was cut with seam allowances and the reverse without. If the rays were made equal, the outside
framing pieces might very well fit.

she-quilts wrote:
I don't think that that can be 'quilted out' but I would also go back and check that the original pattern pieces went together as planned, and double check their locations to the pattern.

Rosemary

I love the Kansas City Star quilt patterns. Your pattern, The Sunbeam Block, was published on July 31, 1929. Considering the fact that it is almost 82 years old it is in great shape. I collect these patterns and have almost all of the 1000+ patterns they published. The one thing I have found out is they are not always drawn so that they will really work! I make several copies of the pattern, then cut out all the pieces and see if they fit together like they should! Once I have tinkered with them, if they need it, I redraw them with the 1/4 inch seam allowance and go to town. I'm starting to get really jealous of you gals with the EQ. Maybe it could be my next expensive toy!

Brilliant tutorial, Annis! Thanks!

Betty Ann I hadn't even thought about that!! GOOD POINT!

Just a quick statement on reducing with a printer or copier. Remember you are also reducing the seam allowance when you use that method. So mark one quarter inch inside the original template, then reduce, then again add on the quarter inch seam allowance from the line you made. I learned this the hard way long ago. Betty Ann

ajclapp wrote:
Oh my goodness, you are amazing!!! Thank you!!! HOORAY!!

Annis, you are amazing!!!

Assuming the templates are drawn without seam allowances, I was able to determine that the trapezoids were 3" on the long side and 7/8" high. I wasn't sure about the center square but estimated it to be 1 1/2". That size can easily be changed if you have a different measurement as those are the last lines to draw.

Drawing Board Setup: 6" square - Snap Grid 48 - Graph Paper 48

Divide into 8 triangles (like a pinwheel - horizontal, vertical and diagonal lines through center). Add to sketchbook after each step.

Draw a line 7/8" from outside edge on all sides.

Draw 45 degree angles from center of each side to 7/8" line (2 1/8" from side). You will be drawing 2 lines on each side to finish the trapezoids.

Draw lines from 7/8" line at 2 1/8" point where previous lines stopped to center of block.

Draw center square. I drew mine at 1 1/2" (3/4" from center on all 4 sides).

Add to sketchbook. Delete all extra lines then add to sketchbook again.

Just take it one step at a time. These are all 45 degree angles so it isn't that hard as long as you have some of the starting measurements.



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