Star Chain Border

I tore my sewing space apart to get ready for last weekend's retreat.  When I got home, I left my things packed up, while I rearranged the sewing room.  As a result, I went 6 days without quilting!  Tonight I finally got to quilt the border.  All that's left to do is trim, bind and label this quilt.  And of course, to reflect on lessons learned along the way. :)

Star Chain Update

Had hoped to get this quilt quilted on retreat, but didn't get that far.  The interior is quilted in hearts, and the interior border is stitched in the ditch.  I drew out several different outer borders, using invisible ink.  One thing I learned is that piecing works well at retreats.  Most people don't do their quilting there because you cannot set up a table to your left to support the weight of the quilt.  Even with a smaller quilt, this was problematic.  Now that I'm back home, I should be able to finish it soon.  :)

In the Home Stretch!

Three down, one to go.  Looks like I'll be basting it soon.  :)

Star Chain Outer Border

Here's a funny thing: The directions for the border say to cut all your strips into 4 1/2" rectangular pieces and then piece them together one by one.  I thought the whole idea was to sew long strips together and then cut it sideways into rows.  I did the latter and came up with almost enough to complete the entire border. 

Another funny thing: Last night the doorbell rang four times, the phone rang countless times and I was dog-sitting, so the two beasts were racing through the house like holy terrors.  Put them outside and they lay down in the grass.  Let them back in and they start zooming around again!  Each time the doorbell rang they went bonkers.  Its a wonder I got any sewing done at all.  :)

Star Chain with Inner Border

Here's the block I reworked, using a tone-on-tone remnant from my stash.  It ties together the other blues in the quilt - and the hearts are a nice feminine touch.

I'm quite happy with this inner border - my sole (quilt-related) accomplishment today.  I'm at a good place to start the week.  It should be fun to start sewing the strips together to make the border.  That's something I can do a little at a time during the work week.  

Gotta think about how to label this quilt.  I wonder if I pasted a photo of it into Word, how would it look?  May have to experiment a bit! 

Star Chain Interior Complete

All the blocks are complete and joined!  Hooray!

Contemplating an inner border.  Reason number one: this little quilt is busy, with a capital B!  A soft pink inner border would give the eye a place to rest.  Reason number two: After lining up all the squares and points, I don't want to go through the same process all the way around the quilt.  With an inner border, minor deviations won't be noticable. 

I think I just talked myself into it!  :)

Star Chain & Corner Stones

This has been fun to put together, even if the stars were a little tricky.  The blue star on the left may need modification...and two of the green stars are a bit wimpy.  Not enough contrast between the stars and the background.  Hmmmm...what Judy Martin do?   

She says "Scrap quilts are the best way I know to grow in your art and your use of color.  If you allow yourself to employ some randomness, even controlled randomness (where you have veto power) in your scrap placement, you will stretch yourself.  You may find a whole new direction for your fabric combinations."

Hmmmm..maybe I should raid my stash?  I think I gotta think on that!  :)

Star Chain, With Stars

The star blocks aren't coming together easily as the chain blocks.  There has to be some trick for working with triangles I've yet to discover.  One that would keep the fabric from stretching and distorting when sewing.  I've cheated in the past by cutting pieces larger than necessary.  Then trimming them down.  But this was to be an "easy" jelly roll project, so I cut my pieces accordingly. 

My LQS offers a class called "No Fear Triangles,"  I think I'm gonna take that class!  :)

Star Chain on Design Wall

All these squares are starting to look like something!  Now to get started on the star blocks.  My only star block is out on loan, pending approval by Emma - the matriarch of this fine family. 
 

Emma is so fired up about her future great-grandbaby, she crocheted a beautiful hat, bootie and sweater set.  In fact, she made two sweaters.  Same pattern, in two sizes.  She's now crocheting a baby blanket.  What a dynamo! :)

Star Chain Sample Blocks, Revisited

Despite yesterday's disappointments, I cut all the pieces for the interior of this baby quilt.  The instructions say to go ahead and cut up the remaining fabric for the piano key border.  I'm not that brave.  Want to make sure I have enough for all the blocks first.

Though I'm still perturbed about the Janome 1/4" foot, I thought I'd try piecing it the old fashioned way, judging my own 1/4" seam.  Didn't do too bad.  The star block is a hair larger than it should be, but the chain block is perfect!

Janome won't be getting the new 1/4" foot out to all their customers for at least another month.  I can't wait that long.  Glad to see I still can eyeball it pretty well!

Star Chain Sample Blocks

I put together two sample blocks for my next project.  I love the colors and fabrics, but the blocks are unsatisfactory for a couple reasons: 

1.  The Janome 1/4" foot is defective and will soon be replaced.  This is (at least in part) why my blocks are coming up short.  I tore my hair out over my last (queen sized) project.  Would have been nice to know sooner!  And I need that new foot NOW.

2.  What is a Side A Triangle, or a Side B Triangle?  The cutting instructions in this book might as well be in Greek.  Buying the book is not enough, Ms. Einmo wants me to ALSO buy her Simpli-EZ Jelly Roll Ruler.  I checked the local quilt shops and fabric stores.  No one carries it - besides, I'm opposed to it on principle.

I had hoped to get one full day of sewing in this weekend. Between the 1/4" foot thats not really 1/4" and Ms. Einmo's proprietory instructions, it just ain't gonna happen. 

I guess I'll be forced to goof off!  :)

From Chaos...

...shall come order.  This baby quilt is being made for a great-grandmother to give to her future great granddaughter.  The baby is due in December.  I have trillions of triangles to cut, but hope to have a couple sample squares to show you soon! :) 

1930s Star Chain

I finally tracked down the quilt I'd seen at:  http://quilting.kimberlyeinmo.com/?p=2722.  It comes from Jelly Roll Quilts and More, by Kimberly Einmo.  GOTTA get that book! 

Couldn't resist the temptation to work it up (partially) in EQ6 with the 1930s look.  Einmo makes it with a strippy border - which I love.  It never occured to me to use a jelly roll - probably because I never have!  Usually when I try something new it takes extra time - but a jelly roll could be a big time saver.  Anybody know where I could find Einmo's book, or where I might find some 1930s jelly rolls?

My inner child is having fun thinking about the next project.  My inner adult keeps muttering, "Must finish rose bud quilt...Must finish rose bud quilt...Geez, just FINISH the dang quilt already!" 

Inner adults are no fun!  :)