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Barn Stars Sew Along Part 6

Welcome to Part 6 of the Barn Stars Sew Along!

The Federal Star block is the simplest block in the quilt thus far. It combines the most basic elements and uses just a touch of applique. Watch the video for tips on pressing, trimming, and assembly. 

A few tips:

  • There are no seams that intersect from unit to unit – which makes for super easy pressing and assembly.
  • Following the pressing instructions will give you nesting seams when assembling the rows in the block.
  • Remember to place the fabric you are pressing TOWARD facing up. Being consistent helps keep things going as planned.
  • When preparing the applique star for fusing, cut out the center of the fusible web, leaving about 1/2″ around the inside of the shape. This will prevent the fusible web from making the block feel stiff.
  • Use a blanket stitch or small zig-zag to secure the raw edges of the star to the background square.

Join us in my Sewing with Celine FaceBook group where you can share your progress and ask questions!

If you still need the pattern, you can find it here.

Barn Stars Sew Along Part 5

Welcome to Part 5 of the Barn Stars Sew Along!

Double flying geese create this fabulous blazing star in the center of the block. Using traditional elements, you will love how easy the assembly is.
Watch the video for tips on pressing, trimming, and assembly. 

A few tips:

  • When making flying geese using the stitch-and-flip method, be sure to fold the wing-square back to make sure it lines up with the corner before you trim!
  • Have you ever spun the seams in a four-patch? The video shows you how to do it.
  • When seams just can’t be arranged so they nest (this block is a good example), pressing seams open is a great option to reduce bulk where they meet.

Join us in my Sewing with Celine FaceBook group where you can share your progress and ask questions!

If you still need the pattern, you can find it here.

Some of you may be busy with Easter preparations, so next week is Catch Up week!

Barn Stars Sew Along Part 4

Welcome to Part 4 of the Barn Stars Sew Along!

I chose to make the Sawtooth Star a two-color block. I love, love, love two-color quilts! Red and white are my favorite, followed closely by blue and white.
Watch the video for tips on pressing, trimming, and assembly. 

A few tips:

  • There are two Sawtooth Star blocks in the quilt.
  • I recommend using spray sizing or starch on all fabric before cutting. It helps stabilize the fabric and improves accuracy with cutting.
  • All of the seams are pressed to one side in this block, however, if you prefer pressing them open, that will work too!
  • The Pinwheel in the center is intended to be “floating”.

Join us in my Sewing with Celine FaceBook group where you can share your progress and ask questions!

If you still need the pattern, you can find it here.

Barns Stars Sew Along Part 3

Welcome to Part 3 of the Barn Stars Sew Along!

The Corner Star block is made up of basic units that create a simple secondary pattern within the block. Watch the video for tips on pressing, trimming, and assembly. 

A few tips:

  • Even though the Corner Star block is made of simple units, I encourage you to carefully read the instructions for each part. Use the illustrations in the pattern to position your units before sewing. It’s really easy for the units to get turned around.
  • Unit A is not oversized, cut carefully. The 1/8″ cuts for Unit A are REALLY important. 
  • The block units have lots of bias edges. I strongly suggest that you use sizing or starch BEFORE you cut anything. It will make the fabric more stable and your cutting will be more accurate.
  • A note about cutting the Dark fabric – you may only need one strip if your fabric is 42″ wide. I generally assume 40″ of useable width when I write cutting instructions, but there are many times that the fabric is wider. So, cut one strip and see what you can get out of it before cutting a second strip. 
  • Use the leftover scraps from your previous blocks, especially if you are using the same background fabric throughout the whole quilt.

Join us in my Sewing with Celine FaceBook group where you can share your progress and ask questions!

If you still need the pattern, you can find it here.

Barn Stars Sew Along Part 1

Welcome to the Sew Along!

The first part in the Barn Stars quilt is an Ohio Star. It’s a variation that has a diamond or square on-point in the center. The block is one of the most traditional and is seen in many early quilts. It’s also known as the Variable Star.

I would love to see the fabrics you have collected and what fabric you will use for this block. Post in Sewing with Celine on Facebook. #BarnStarsSewAlong

A few tips for getting organized:

  • If you are not using the fabric colors as noted in the pattern, make a fabric key to help you remember what you are using for your Light, Medium, Dark, and Accent fabrics. This is a pretty simple fabric plan, so it isn’t critical.
  • The cutting is listed for each individual block. You may be able to use scraps from one block for the next one. 
  • Put your pattern pages in plastic sleeves in a folder or three-ring notebook for easy access.

If you still need the pattern, you can find it here.

Barn Stars Supplies and Fabric Selection

 

 Welcome to the Barn Stars Sew Along!

Today is a quick intro to fabric selection (see the video) and basic supplies. You have about 2 weeks to gather fabric. 

Be sure to join the Sewing with Celine group on FaceBook (answering the questions is required!)

This is a super simple quilt, it does not require any special rulers, just the basics.

The sew-along is free, you just need a pattern (if you want to make the quilt). Early Bird pricing is good through February 25th, when we start.

Click here to buy the pattern.

I will be sharing tips and tricks as we go along each week.

New content will be published every Thursday – hopefully, we won’t have any more technology glitches (that’s my story and I’m sticking to it 😉 !)

 

 

Barn Stars Yardage list

Frosty Friends #9 ~ Putting the Quilt Together!

 

You did it ~ you made it to the end!

Thank you for joining me!

A couple of tips for putting the top together ~

  • Have you ever made a quilt with vertical rows? This is how Frosty Friends is assembled. Two of the rows begin and end with those half blocks that you made. That’s how the Snowmen are a half step down from each other.
  • Some of the seams will nest, some will not. Many of the seams are pressed open to reduce bulk where they meet another block. There are suggested pressing directions in the pattern on the lay out page. Follow the arrows, or if something else works for you, go for it!

Accent and Float Borders

  • After the center of the top is sewn together, then it’s time for the Float Border (use your background fabric). These strips are cut WOF (width of fabric) and pieced with a diagonal seam.
  • Be sure to measure your quilt top before you add the borders.

  • I recommend pinning each side before you sew. If you take the time to do it this way, your borders will fit your quilt and it will lay flat.
  • I always sew the side borders on first. Just my preference, I like the top and bottom borders to be longer than the center of the quilt.

  • Next is the Accent Border. These strips are also cut WOF and pieced diagonally.
  • This quilt has cornerstones, so you need to cut the borders for BOTH the top and bottom, AND the sides before sewing any of the borders to the top.
  • Add the cornerstones to the top and bottom border strips, press toward the border.
  • Sew the side borders on first, then the top and bottom.

Outer Border

  • Repeat: Be sure to measure your quilt top before you add the borders. I recommend pinning each side before you sew. If you take the time to do it this way, your borders will fit your quilt and it will lay flat.
  • The outer border is cut on the Length of the Fabric. I cut these 6″ wide, but really, it’s personal preference. Cut them narrower if you like them that way.
  • There is enough to cut the binding on the length as well. You’ll need to piece these strips diagonally also.

Quick Links…

If you need to work at your own pace, no worries! I would love to see your progress! Please post in the Sewing with Celine group on Facebook!

Frosty Friends #8

We are on the home stretch now!
Next week will cover assembling all of the blocks!

Introducing Beanie Hat Snowman!

  • Background: Be sure to press the seams open! You will avoid any issues with blocks that are neighbors, it will make pressing the top much easier when you get to the quilt assembly steps. The background is bigger than the finished block. Appliqué the snowman first, then trim the block to size. This accomodates any shrinking from the appliqué process.
  • Template making Video: Here is a quick video on how I make cardstock templates using freezer paper and file folders. Click HERE.
  • Fusing the Applique Shapes:
    • Use an applique pressing sheet or parchment paper to build and fuse your snowman. Then fuse the entire snowman with hat and scarf to the background fabric. The hats are all different heights and will affect the vertical placement of the snowmen on the background block.
    • Fuse the Hat pieces togther lightly where they overlap, then fuse the Hat to the Snowman.
    • Fuse the scarf pieces together lightly where they overlap, then fuse to Snowman.
    • Mark the button and eye placement lightly with a pencil before fusing to the background.
    • Note where FABRIC #1 is positioned before you fuse. 
    • Finger press the vertical centers of the snowman body and place on the background; align with center vertical seam.
  • Machine Applique: I waited until all of my Snowmen were fused before I did the decorative stitching. That way you can set your machine up, get your tension, thread and needle size right and go for it. See the video below.

  • Trimming the blocks:  The background block that the snowmen are fused to is oversized. When you are finished machine stitching the fused applique shapes, trim the block to size as directed in the pattern. Use the vertical and horizontal seam lines to give you landmarks for the center of the block. A 12-1/2″ ruler is helpful to get this job done!

 

Pieced Block #8 ~ Long Pinwheel 

The Part 8 block is a Long Pinwheel block; you will make three of these.

  • There are lots of half-square triangles in this block but the assembly is simple. Follow the diagrams and lay the pieces out before you sew them together.
  • The seams in this block are all pressed open. This makes it sooo much easier for it to be a good neighbor when sewn into the quilt.

Quick Links…

I’ll be posting every week on Thursday and we will be on track to finish in early April. If you need to work at your own pace, no worries! 

Frosty Friends #7

Introducing Baseball Hat Snowman!

  • Background: Be sure to press the seams open! You will avoid any issues with blocks that are neighbors, it will make pressing the top much easier when you get to the quilt assembly steps. The background is bigger than the finished block. Appliqué the snowman first, then trim the block to size. This accomodates any shrinking from the appliqué process.
  • Fusing the Applique Shapes:
    • Use an applique pressing sheet or parchment paper to build and fuse your snowman. Then fuse the entire snowman with hat and scarf to the background fabric. The hats are all different heights and will affect the vertical placement of the snowmen on the background block.
    • Fuse the Hat Brim to the Hat first, then fuse Hat to the Snowman.
    • Fuse the scarf pieces together lightly where they overlap, then fuse to Snowman.
    • Mark the button and eye placement lightly with a pencil before fusing to the background.
    • Note where FABRIC #1 is positioned before you fuse. 
    • Finger press the vertical centers of the snowman body and place on the background; align with center vertical seam.
  • Machine Applique: I waited until all of my Snowmen were fused before I did the decorative stitching. That way you can set your machine up, get your tension, thread and needle size right and go for it. More on that later.
  • Template making Video: Here is a quick video on how I make cardstock templates using freezer paper and file folders. Click HERE.

Pieced Block #7~ Pinwheel Star

The Part 7 block is a Pinwheel Star block; you will make two of these.

  • This is a traditionally pieced block, triangles are cut then sewn ~ mind the bias! You will be pleasantly surprised at how easy the block goes together.
  • Be sure to pay attention to the pressing directions! Some are pressed open and some are pressed to one side.

Quick Links…

I’ll be posting every week on Thursday and we will be on track to finish in early April. If you need to work at your own pace, no worries! 

 

Frosty Friends #6

 

Introducing Bomber Hat Snowman!

  • Background: Be sure to press the seams open! You will avoid any issues with blocks that are neighbors, it will make pressing the top much easier when you get to the quilt assembly steps. The background is bigger than the finished block. Appliqué the snowman first, then trim the block to size. This accomodates any shrinking from the appliqué process.
  • Fusing the Applique Shapes:
    • Use an applique pressing sheet or parchment paper to build and fuse your snowman. Then fuse the entire snowman with hat and scarf to the background fabric.
    • Fuse the Hat together first, then fuse Hat to the Snowman.
    • Fuse the scarf pieces together lightly where they overlap, then fuse to Snowman.
    • Mark the button and eye placement lightly with a pencil before fusing to the background.
    • Note where FABRIC #1 is positioned before you fuse – this snowman background is rotated. 
    • Finger press the vertical centers of the snowman body and place on the background; align with center vertical seam.
    • Wait until you have the hat on to fuse to the background. The hats are all different heights and will affect the vertical placement of the snowmen on the background block.
  • Machine Applique: I waited until all of my Snowmen were fused before I did the decorative stitching. That way you can set your machine up, get your tension, thread and needle size right and go for it. More on that later.
  • Template making Video: Here is a quick video on how I make cardstock templates using freezer paper and file folders. Click HERE.

Pieced Block #6~ Double Sawtooth Star

The Part 6 block is a double Sawtooth Star block; you will make two of these.

  • This is a fun block made from Flying Geese units and squares. It’s all in how they are arranged.
  • Be sure to pay attention to the pressing directions! The seams will nest like magic.

Quick Links…

I’ll be posting every week on Thursday and we will be on track to finish in early April. If you need to work at your own pace, no worries!