Bird fabric blocks sound interesting, I expect I've seen it but can't remember.

Hello Nancy, where's Renata are you able to drink Limoncello while you are working

twiglet wrote: I am very lucky in so many ways with my delightful DIL. BTW, I decided to do a little bit of frogging on those blocks, skip week 4 blocks and make them my bird fabric blocks, and go on to the log cabin today. Might actually finish this quilt that way.

Congratulations!! Can't wait to see the pictures when you get them all done!

(I'm a software engineer, so I'm on my computer all day long. It's nice to take short breaks periodically to check in with my friends!)

Nancy

Yeh first star completed

Nancy you are a genius! the penny has dropped. I was thinking of the edges as rectangles with triangles sewn on them when in fact they are quater square triangles.

My block is 41/2 " finished so the square will need to be 3 1/2". I'm on a roll now and will report back.

Thanks Nancy, get back to work and stop slacking What work do you do?

Hi Wendy - If you are working on the sawtooth star, then maybe I can help with your cutting sizes. I'm going to assume that your 4 1/2" measurement is unfinished size since it would be a pretty odd finished size. I think in terms of finished size, so that's what I'll use in my explanation. You should double-check my explanation since it's just 6am here.

For the star block, you have 3 basic units: the center square, the corner squares and the flying geese. If the block finishes at 4", then the center square will be 2"x2" finished, the corner squares will by 1"x1" finished and the flying geese will be 1"x2" finished. The squares are easy, cut 1 1/2"x1 1/2" and 2 1/2" by 2 1/2" squares. For the flying geese, the larger center triangle is cut as a quarter square triangle to get the straight of grain on the outside. Since that straight edge is 2" finished, we add 1 1/4" to the finished size of the square for the seam allowances, giving us a 3 1/4" square cut into quarters for this part of the unit. The two small triangles in this unit are cut as half square triangles, again for straight of grain placement. Add 7/8" for seam allowances and that gives you 1 7/8" squares for these units.

So, the cutting for one sawtooth star block would be:
1 - 2 1/2"x2 1/2" square
4 - 1 1/2"x1 1/2" squares
1 - 3 1/4"x3 1/4" square cut into quarters
4 - 1 7/8"x1 7/8" square cut into halves

These are exact measurements and do not leave any extra for trimming down.

Hope this helps,

Nancy

PS - Wish I could join you guys, but I have to work today. But I'll be watching to see what you do!

Yes sawtooth is the one making me scratch my head. If all else fails I'll make the points for the 6" block and cut it down

Wendy, which block are you working on, the sawtooth?

Come on, Rita! You CAN DO IT! Your quilt for your parents will be ready to present on time! What a wonderful gift for your parents--please pass to them my very best wishes as they celebrate their 60 year as partners in life. You deserve your limoncello as you work on your quilt so sip away with the wonderful scent of fresh lemon engulfing your senses as you move your hands skillfully under your sewing machine (but not under the needle!).

I have two weeks of sampler to catch up on so I may very well be sewing with you on Sunday, Rita. Lois, great that you are checking in us and I hope that you will do some show and tell too!

The sun's come up, the sky is blue, the Chinese and Italian restaurants in my home have closed for business; guests just received their wake-up call; I've just had my first cappuccino on the patio looking at my hibiscus' new buds and dodging morning gnats (anybody know how to get rid of them?); in a few hours I'll be cutting fabric! Life is good!

I've been to the tip and am going to have lunch and cut the grass then join you Lois .

A question for you. Why do you cut 4 1/4" squares for the sides not 4"? I don't understand

Get that quilt done Rita and show us it sounds interesting

I am in my sewing room too today! So I will be checking on you, Wendy, Renata & Rita. I am caught up (almost) with blocks. I am still monkeying around with color choices though. I have been sewing some block settings like Nancy's from EQ. So in that respect I could consider myself a bit ahead. Still have to do my log cabins.

Renata and Wendy, I wish I could join you but I have been frantically trying to get a wall quilt done for tomorrow. It's my parents 60th wedding anniversary and I decided to make them a memento. This is my second, and last attempt. I spent all day yesterday machine blanket stitching around a tree trunk and branches and 21 leaves (there are 21 children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.) I will get back to my sampler on Sunday hopefully. In the meantime, perhaps I could just have a small shot of Limoncello(how do you spell that?) to keep my spirits up?

Every room in the house is occupied so I will have to wait until everyone gets up (and leaves) before I start. My ironing board and fabrics are currently in the guest room... I can watch the video now though and catch up with you a little later.

Morning, I've cleaned the house already, got 2 lots of washing on and fed the chooks. Ready to sew and tearing my hair out working out the cutting sizes for my 4 1/2 star bits. Grrrrr I'm going to watch the video and read the notes so I know how it works and then I'll join you in a couple of hours and it will all have become clear