We are so happy to have our friend, Debby Kratovil stopping by today to share a great tutorial for us featuring the Peyton collection by Nancy Gere.
This is a FAT QUARTER FRIENDLY quilt! For the 19" center star, I used one fat quarter of:
-- Red
-- Green
-- Khaki
-- Large scale floral print
So, how did I make that 28" x 28" Lone Star quilt from just fat quarters? I'm glad you asked!
I am using my GO-TO Lone Star pattern, which makes a 19" (approximately) block. That means I need 8 squares of background fabric: four 7" x 7" and four 4" x 4". I actually had to think before cutting willy-nilly.
I first decided which fat quarter would be the Lone Star background. I used the larger scale print with the red and green flowers. You can get all 8 squares from the fat quarter (18" x 22"). I staggered them this way just in case you don't have a full 22". You can scoot that last 7" square up into the empty space above it if need be. All I can say is: Measure twice, cut once.
Each square was cut in half for two triangles each. You will see them cut later.
My Lone Star is made of eight Four Patch Diamonds. I cut 4 strips 2-1/2" x wof (22") of the red and 2 strips each of the khaki print and the green print. Using the 45 degree line on your ruler, slice off the left side of the 2-1/2" green strip (see below).
Now add the red strip to the top and sew with 1/4" seam. Press toward the red fabric:
Repeat for the red strip and the khaki strip. Again, press seam toward the red fabric:
Now you trim the red strip at the same angle as show below. Notice that the 45 degree line on your ruler runs along the seam line.
Now make cuts every 2-1/2", working along the CUT edge and your ruler. DO NOT - I REPEAT - DO NOT USE LINES ON YOUR CUTTING MAT. Why do I say this? Because too many quilters use those lines by habit and I've seen an entire quilt destroyed by a student who made this cut using the 2-1/2" line on her mat. Very sad indeed! Always use your ruler to measure!
Cut until you run out of fabric. You will have to make two strip sets of each color group.
VERY IMPORTANT NOTE: It is crucial that you get an accurate 1/4" seam. We are working with bias edges. We are working with an Eight Pointed Star grid. You cannot afford to get wobbly seams, have irregular seams, or press too heavy with your iron. If in doubt, practice your 1/4" seam and make a sample unit or two with scrap fabric.
You need eight units of the khaki and red; eight units of the green and red. One of each are placed together to make one Four Patch Diamond. Notice the placement of the colors. It DOES make a difference. The green and khaki diamonds have to be on the ends as shown:
Now stitch them together and make a total of 8 Four Patch Diamonds. Press this seam OPEN. The sides of this unit have to be completely even. If you are not getting smooth, aligned sides, you will have to mark a 1/4" seam on one of the long edges in order to get these ACCURATE.
Make 8 of these four patch diamonds.
Now it's time to add the background half-square triangles you cut from the 7" and 4" squares. The inner triangles were cut from the 4" squares. The outer triangles were cut from the 7" squares. It is important to AUDITION these as shown. It is very easy to pick up the wrong triangle or turn the right triangle in the wrong direction, and then we know what happens then (out pops Jack the Seam Ripper!)
Flip the small triangle over top of the Four Patch diamond, aligning them as shown below. These background triangles are cut OVERSIZED and then trimmed later:
Align triangles with tips and sides of the Four Patch Diamonds.
Stitch and press TOWARD the background fabric:
Now add the larger triangles. You are now able to use the top and side straight edges of the unit to align this triangle:
Stitch and press toward the background print:
Stitched and pressed. 1/4" seam at top tips of Four Patch Diamonds. They will NOT need to be trimmed.
Time to trim the oversized background triangles, using the sides of the Four Patch Diamonds. You may have to trim the sides of the small triangles, again using the long sides of the Four Patch Diamonds as your guide.
Again, use the 45 degree line on your ruler to help you get a straight cut.
Do this for all 8 of your units. Make these two by two as shown in the "AUDITION" picture above.
Time to sew them into the four block units. We are NOT stitching them as we auditioned them for the triangles. We are making SQUARES and not large triangles. Sew two units together along the sides where the large background fabric triangles are. Yes, you can see the seam (as opposed to a traditional Lone Star, but I'm out to feel successful and not stressed. And when it's quilted, you won't even be able to tell.
Sew two units together as shown. Repeat 3 more times.
Press this long seam open:
Sew the four units into the center star:
OK. I'm running out of steam. Let's finish up so I can go take a nap!
I made Nine Patch units for the border. I cut 16 squares 2" x 2" from the small floral print; 16 squares 2" x 2" of the red blender print; and 4 squares 2" x 2" from the left over khaki scraps. I made 4 Nine Patch units.
I had to get creative for the triple borders, so here is what I cut. Measure your star and use that to cut the following (mine was 19-3/4" square, unfinished:
Four green 2" x 19-3/4" strips
Four small scale floral 2" x 19-3/4" strips
Four dark red 2" x 19-3/4" strips
Stitch as shown. Attach to quilt sides; press. Trim last two sets of borders even with the center, add a Nine Patch block to each of the short sides of the borders, press, and sew to complete the quilt top.
Thanks so much, Debby!! If you try Debby's tutorial, please be sure to share it on our Windham Wall!!
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