I received 11 nice comments on my last post - thank you ladies, and five of you expressed an interest seeing how these blocks go together. I was not sure if I was boring you all with the details, so I will continue on with my process of putting together these blocks. I know this post took awhile to load, but its full of pictures and no way can I explain this without lots of pictures!
First, I had to relieve my Keeper of the Project Box of her security duties so that I could get to the block pieces. She takes her responsibility very seriously, jumping on the box as soon as I close the lid and sometimes before I close the lid if I don't fuss at her in time.
Once into the box, I select my wedges according to the chart I showed in the prior post and lay them out on the design board. I would never attempt this quilt without a design board (a piece of foam board covered in flannel).
I have premarked the seam lines on each wedge. I did not do this at first, and I ended up with some wonky looking stars, so I went back and marked each piece and it sure makes sewing them together easier.
I begin by sewing wedges together in pairs...starting at the outer edge of the wedge and sewing to the point where the seam lines intersect.
At least that is my goal - you can see I missed the mark a little on this seam. Guess I should have done it over, but I did not notice it until I saw this picture, and my goof in living color!
The seam is pressed to one side, and I always press to the dark wedge. It is important that you press the same for each wedge. I have my iron right beside me when sewing and press each wedge as they are sewn together and return them to the design board to keep the colors straight. If you are doing scrappy, and this is not important, then you could sew all the wedges together in twosies, and then iron them at one time.
Now you sew the twosies together, lining up the seam down the middle. I don't pin these together before sewing, but you could if you like. I find the seams lock together nicely, and pinning is not needed.
Once again - sew the seam, stopping at the point where the seam lines intersect (should be 1/4 inch from inner point of wedge). Press the seams in the same direction as the "twosies" seams were pressed and now you have half the K-Scope together.
To sew the two halves together, you want to make sure all seams are matching up correctly. I have pinned the edge of the top half back so you can see the seams.
I also place a pin in the point of each half, where the wedges meet, to make sure that I am lining them up right. This is a crucial step to making sure your points all match in the center of the star - and it can be very aggravating when they don't!
Sew across the two halves, and press the seams in the same direction that the prior seams are facing, creating a nice swirl right in the middle. which is necessary for it to lay flat.
Now the easy part...sew the corner squares to the corner wedges to make your block square. You just have to remember which are the corners! I know this from experience. After all the corners are on, you are ready to square up your block. My blocks measure 6 1/2" unfinished.
So there you have the finished blocks. Next week I will discuss sewing the blocks into rows, which is a trick in itself.
Hope you enjoyed and maybe even picked up a tip or two - its always fun to share!
Thanks for stopping by,
Teresa
19900
You know - those two words do need to always go together. Being patient with loved ones can be a challenge at times, but because we love them as much as we do, we have to practice patience. I think its very appropriate that I publish my two most recent finishes in the Gifts of Grace together - don't you? (One taken with a flash, the other without - hmmm, not sure which is better.
