I had an idea last night for another use for my quarter pineapple graph paper which I designed 4 years ago this month and I just couldn't resist the temptation. So I now have made a star block using my method for the star points and Edyta's for the rest of it. I had the opposite problem of some of the rest of you. The center is flat but the outside edges are rippled. Not so much that I couldn't ease it in though. I think I know what I did wrong so maybe it will turn out better next time. Something to do with sewing directly on the line making a full 1/4" seam which shrunk the block slightly.



My pineapple graph paper has 1/4" measurements going horizontally and diagonally in both directions so it was easy to draw the block size and 1/4" sewing lines. Of course I drew it going the wrong direction, needing a mirror image instead to get the seams going in the right direction so I was doing everything backwards. That was an easy fix though after taking the pictures. I just flipped them horizontally so now they are going in the right direction. This method was inspired by the HST exchange. For this block you would cut 2 fabric strips 6" x 11", layer them with a template and sew on the black dashed lines, cut on the solid black lines and press open. You get 4 bonus HST's.



I kept the paper on to assemble the pairs of star points by sewing on the red dashed lines. It might help to remove some of the paper at the center first so it doesn't get caught in the seams. I removed all of the paper before adding the triangles and squares. The exact finished measurement for the corner squares is actually 3-3/16" if you measure the sides of the star points on the graph paper, so I added an extra 1/16" to Edyta's measurement.

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I hope to someday make some templates for this block in different sizes using my Sew-On-The-Line method. And I will do a better tutorial at a later date. For now it's time to get ready for Christmas and finish the final details on our new home.

kathyst2 wrote:
I "arn'd the snot out of it" and bedarned it worked. I have also made two more blocks with increasing then decreasing degrees of success. I am playing with Christmas Fabrics of different values, so I am working on improving construction techniques, playing with values, and making Christmas presents all at the same time. If I wait until my technique is absolutely perfect I'll never be able to make a gift for anyone. I can honestly say these blocks are constructed as very best I can do today. The folks who are getting these gifts are by no means the "quilt police" and will not be able to tell they could have been done better. Besides by the time I quilt, then wash these table runners they might look half descent.

Margo, I had studied those videos a while ago and remembered those ideas myself. Even without reviewing them I used a combination of starch and steam and was amazed by how flat I was able to get those C cups. The blocks are not ready for Houston but they are good enough to bring some enjoyment to some folks on my Christmas list. I am hoping by the time I get to the bottom of the list I will have worked the bugs out of my technique.

You might find these videos by Sharon Schamber helpful for stretching and/or compressing a block into shape:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6aplw_tVZc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIjZqABo2NY

Lois, a quilt teacher who came to our guild a long time ago, called this a "c-cup". She had a few examples to show us, too . I hope the caveman pressing works for your block. As Ricky says , "arn the snot out of it".

Kathy

loise98 wrote: I find if I let the starchy fabric dry first, it is less likely to gunk the iron up too

Margo wrote:
I think the fabric was too wet with starch when I pressed it. I need to be patient and let it dry first. Thanks!

Lois, when I starch my fabric (which is most of the time!) I saturate a hunk of fabric (larger than the finished piece I need to cut) by laying it on an old towel and spraying with my home-made mixture of 1/2 water and 1/2 liquid starch (I use Sta-Flo brand) then just leave the fabric to air dry...often overnight...then when I press it with a steam iron it becomes very flat and stiff and easy for me to make accurate cuts. Hope that helps.

Your block may have turned into a beret, Lois, but I love the fabrics you chose--I'm seeing a pretty holiday table runner!

That is a very pretty hat, Lois hope you get it under control for christmas

Lovely star, Lois. You're a riot!

I didn't touch the block with an iron during the construction process. I am talking about pressing the fabric after I starched it and before I cut it.

Lois, As tempting as it was, and it was Very hard to resist, I didn't touch that block with an iron until it was all done...no steam, hot iron, up and down motion. I just tried to follow the written instructions exactly. Your block is pretty!

Just in case what they say is true about "misery loving company", Rita, here's my hat.



I think my problem is inaccurately cut diamonds. I starched my fabric and then when I pressed it I believe I distorted the fabric. Any hints on how to press starched fabric without distorting it. I am tempted to try some caveman pressing techniques on this one to try and get it flat. And then as Lola Jenkins might say, I'll just quilt the hell out of it. LOL

Wow Annis, 3"? 6"? Incredible. I really don't know how you do it. Love the new profile photo with those lovely children.