I was on vacation this week. Actually a staycation.. but none the less anytime at home, without the commute and headaches of work is definitely a VACATION. So I did quite a bit of sewing (of course - duh!) and some entertaining and some general relaxing. In fact, right now I am sitting on the deck with a bottle, I mean a glass - LOL, of wine. My last hurrah before work and reality hits tomorrow. It is a gorgeous late summer day here.
One of the projects I worked on and finished this week was a table runner from the Liberated Star blocks I have been making. I grabbed 5 blocks, sewed them together and added a piano key type border to each of the long sides.
I machine quilted around each block and then big-stitch hand quilted in black cotton around each star and in the center. I love the colors and motion that all these fabrics create when they come together.
A couple of people have asked about these blocks... so here we go - a quick (I hope) tutorial on how they are made.
My blocks are 9" finished. So to start, I need to cut 8) 3 1/2" squares for my background (the blue fabric pictured here), and 4) 4" squares, cut in half to make 8 triangles (the red print fabric). I also need 1) 3 1/2" square out of the red fabric for the star center.
Now, here is the fun and liberating part. Put that triangle at an angle across one of the background fabric squares. Sew with a 1/4" seam allowance from the edge of the triangle.
Trim away the excess fabric from the corner of the square. Press the triangle toward the seam allowance.
Add the second triangle on the opposite side of the background square, again using a 1/4" seam allowance. No matching seams, no right or wrong angle or placement. Liberating! I usually string piece these and do the blocks "assembly line style".
Star production line! It goes really fast.
Again, trim and press.
Now I need to trim my blocks down to 3 1/2" square.
With the blocks trimmed, I can now start sewing them into rows with the other 3 1/2" square blocks that I originally cut.
The rows go together easily using a 1/4" seam allowance. Next, I sew the rows together!
My Liberated Star block is complete! See how the points of the star vary.
Before I know it, my star block is joined by the other star blocks I was working on! It's a small constellation! LOL Can you imagine how fun these would be in pastels or brights for a baby?
You can vary the size - as you can see with the 6" stars I did just for fun!
These were done with 2 1/2" background squares and 3" squares cut diagonally into triangles.
They are addictive!! Right now I am up to 48 blocks!! I think I need a quilters intervention!
Happy Stitching!
Deb
