STARGAZER
Combine sharp diamonds, contemporary curves and EPP to create this modern star design stitched up in cool Christmas hues
Combine sharp diamonds, contemporary curves and EPP to create a modern Christmas star design
NOTES
Q Seam allowances are ¼in, unless
otherwise noted.
Q EPP = English Paper Piecing.
Q WOF = width of fabric.
Q EPP templates do not include
seam allowances.
Q For templates, see p89.
Q Louisa used Mary Ellen’s Best Press
fabric starch and a Sewline glue pen.
FABRICS USED
Q Prints are from the 3 Wishes collection
from Craft Cotton Co.
Q Background fabric is from the
Ramblings range by P&B Textiles.
Q Fabric supplied by Sewmotion
(sewmotion.com)
PREPARATION AND CUTTING OUT
1
Choose two prints for the crescent shapes. These fabrics will preferably be small-scale or blender prints, as the inner circles are smaller shapes. You will prepare thirty (30) crescents from one print and twenty four (24) from the second print, as outlined later in steps 8–9.
2
Choose one print for your centre star. You will prepare six (6) curved kite shapes from this, as outlined in steps 5–7.
3
From each of the four remaining prints you will prepare twelve (12) curved kite shapes, as in steps 5–7.
4
From the print fat quarters cut a total of: Q Ten (10) 2½in x 22in strips for the pieced binding.
BASTING THE CURVED KITES
5
Lightly glue a Curved Kite template onto the wrong side one of your fabrics. Trim around the shape with a ¼in seam allowance (Fig A).
6
Snip into the seam allowance of the curved edge, stopping just before the edge of the paper template. Lightly glue along the curved edge of the paper and gently fold the fabric over onto the paper to create a smooth curve (Fig B). Hold it in place for the glue to adhere.
7
Lightly glue along the two short straight edges and then fold the fabric over onto the paper template. Do the same with the two longer straight edges (Fig C). Repeat this process until all your curved kite templates are basted.
INTRODUCE PRINTS FROM YOUR EPP STARS TO MAKE SCRAPPY BINDING FOR YOUR QUILT
BASTING THE CRESCENTS
8
Lightly glue a Crescent Template onto the wrong side of one of your fabrics. Trim around the shape with a in seam allowance. Snip into the inner curved edge and lightly glue along the paper, folding the fabric seam allowance down into place, creating a smooth curve (Fig D).
9
Lightly glue along the seam allowance of both straight edges and then fold the fabric onto the paper template to stick them in place.
10
With the outer curved edge, apply glue to the paper and gently fold the fabric over. Pushing the fabric away from you will help you get a nice smooth curve without any sharp points (Fig E).
11
Repeat steps 8–10 with all fifty four of your crescent templates.
JOINING THE STAR POINTS
12
Take one curved kite shape and one adjacent crescent shape. Place both right side down with the curved edges together. With a knotted thread, pick up a couple of threads of fabric from each of the seam allowances and sew a couple of flat whip stitches to secure (Fig F). Knot off the thread and snip. 13
Begin stitching the two shapes together from the other end of the seam (Fig G). Keep the pieces flat, continuing to sew flat whip stitches along the seam, catching a few threads from each seam allowance. You may need to gently pull the crescent shape towards you to ease in any excess fabric. Knot off the thread when you reach the basting stitch from step 12. You now have one complete star point (Fig H).
14
Repeat steps 12–13 to make a total of fifty four star points.
JOINING THE STARS
15
Take two identical sewn units and join at the bottom points with a couple of basting stitches across their seam allowances. Do not break the thread (Fig I).
16
Knot a second length of thread and sew across the seam allowances at the mid-way point where the edges of the
curved kites meet (Fig J). Sew a flat whip stitch up to the top of the seam, making sure the edges of the kites meet. Knot the thread and snip. Then return to the first thread and continue to sew up to the mid-way point of the seam.
17
Sew the star points into sets of three, then sew these two halves together to create a full star (Fig K). Continue to sew your kite points to make nine full stars.
18
Spray each star with a gentle starch and press with a dry, hot iron, paying particular attention to those nice sharp outside edges. Carefully remove the papers and press again.
ASSEMBLING THE QUILT TOP
19
Fold your background fabric lengthwise and gently press. Open out and repeat, folding the fabric widthwise to mark the exact centre point.
20
Place the centre star on top, using the creases to position it (Fig L) directly in the middle. Pin it and then thread baste it into place using large stitches in a contrasting thread (Fig M).
21
Starting along the inner edge, appliqué the centre star to the background fabric using a tiny slip stitch (Fig N). Then appliqué the outer edge. Make sure you tuck any dog ears underneath the star as you sew.
22
Use the star points and the vertical crease mark on the background fabric to line up the next two stars (Fig O), baste and sew these into place. Continue to sew the remaining stars to the background fabric to create a large diamond shape, referring to the photos for placement.
QUILTING AND FINISHING
23
Gently press the quilt top. Make a quilt sandwich by placing the backing fabric right side down, the batting on top, then the top centrally and right side up. Baste the three layers together using your preferred method.
24
Quilt as desired. Louisa quilted wavy lines spaced roughly ¼in – ½in apart across the front of the quilt, using a coordinating white thread. She used her walking foot to do so, sometimes echoing the preceding line and other times mirroring it. Trim off the excess batting and backing fabric and square up the quilt to measure 39½in x 53½in. 25
Sew your binding strips together end-to-end using diagonal seams. Press the seams open and trim away the dog ears.
26
Fold in half lengthwise, wrong sides together, and press. Sew the binding to the right side of the quilt top, folding a neat mitre at each corner. Fold the binding over to the back and hand stitch in place to finish.