Wednesday, January 25, 2023

Calico Garden Sew Along - Calico Star Flower Block Tutorial!!


Hello quilty friends:)

I'm sew happy that the 
Calico Garden Sew Along 
will begin on Monday!
If you need all the info
on this sew along
to read my Bee Prepared Blog Post:)

I've been prepping like crazy 
and have been cutting cutting cutting
 and working a few weeks ahead of you.

I have sewn 13 of the 
Calico Star Flower Blocks so far...
and I thought that I would surprise 
you all and post the tutorial 
for these blocks five days early!


There are 23 total of the 
Calico Star Flower Blocks 
and they all go in the border 
of the quilt along with a few 
appliquéd flower blocks in-between.

The 23 Calico Star Flower Blocks
 are all rotary cut and machine pieced
 with the addition of an 
applique circle in the center.


I have been enjoying each step 
of the preparation and I am
 sew loving each print of 
 CALICO 
while preparing each of the blocks:)

A big thank you for all
of your kind words
and excitement about this collection...
you certainly know how to make
my designing heart happy!




Of course you will find the cutting
 for these blocks inside the
 Calico Garden Sew Along Guide
if you still need to download


I had made 6 of these blocks 
back in November so that I could
 show you during the filming of my 
and so that left 17 more 
blocks for me to make.

Here they are...when they were
 all cut and ready to sew.

I also cut and traced 
17 more circles for the centers 
using the O-6 Sew Simple Shape
from the Calico Garden Set.

I used the red number stickers 
from my Sew Handy Stickers set to
 keep track of which blocks I have cut.


Just so that you know 
how I numbered the blocks...
I started with number 1 on the 
top row left (green block) 
and going clockwise...
I continued all around the quilt 
ending on the top of the left side border
 with that gray block being number 23.



This is Calico Star Flower Block 15 
and you can see in the quilt photo 
that it's place in the bottom border 
exactly in the center.

Each block measures 
8 1/2" x 8 1/2"(UNFINISHED) 
and all are sewn the same way.
 I'm going to take you step by step
while I make this block
so that you can see how I do it!


Here are all the fabric cuts for 
Block 15 on my design board.
All cutting is in the guide but 
I'll break it down for ONE block here:
From Background -
(A) Cut 12 - 2" x 2"
(B) Cut 8 - 1 1/2" x 1 1/2"
(C) Cut 1 - 2 1/2" x 2 1/2"
Top Print -
Cut 4 - 2 1/2" x 3 1/2"
Bottom Print -
Cut 4 - 2" x 3 1/2"
Cut 4 - 2" x 2"


Start with the four 2" squares and
 4 of the (A) background squares.


Sew them together like this.
Make sure that you are using an 
accurate 1/4" seam allowance 
throughout sewing this entire block.

 Press your seams open.


Now add the rectangles 
from the same print 
onto the right side like this.

Make sure that the background square
 in your previously sewn segments
 are on the bottom...


Like this:)



Press these seam allowances
 towards the rectangle.


Now it's time to add the 
Easy Corner Triangles
using the remaining
 (A) 2" background squares.


Place onto the right side corner 
(lining everything up evenly) like this
 and sew from corner to corner.

Use the center line on the 
Seams Sew Easy Guide 
or mark a line from corner to corner.


Now do the exact same thing
 on the opposite side...


So it looks like this.


Trim off the excess leaving 
an approximate 1/4" seam allowance.


Press toward the Easy Corner Triangles
 that you have just added.
Your four segments should look like this
 and should each measure 
3 1/2" x 3 1/2"


Now you are going to add 
Easy Corner Triangles onto the top
 of these remaining 4 rectangles using the
 (B) 1 1/2" background squares.


Sew one side first...


 trim away excess...


And press towards the 
Easy Corner Triangles.


Now you will be able to sew
 the second Easy Corner Triangle
 onto the other side...


Like this.
Press these in the same way.


Now all of the segments are complete...
you can lay your block out onto your
 Design Board for sewing together.

Sew together like you would
 sew together a 9 Patch...
which is first into 3 horizontal rows.
 


Press these seams open like this.


And now sew these three rows together.


I like to use my 
Double Pretty Pins 
like this... to match the seams
 that need to line up.


Press these two seams open as well.
The seam roller and clappers both
 really help to get your seams open flat...


like this:)
I think it's really important to have 
any pieced block lie as flat as possible...
not only for accuracy but also especially
 when you are going to applique 
on top like you will be on these.


Now it's time to 
glue baste the center circle...
but first let me show you
 how I sewed the circles
and we will get back to this:)


I simply place each traced circle 
onto a fabric square...both with 
right sides up and sew directly 
onto my traced circle line...


Trim leaving an approximate 
1/4" seam allowance...
cut an "X" in the interfacing...
turn...shape and press.

If you have never done my 
Sew Simple Shapes Applique
 method before now...
save this part until you watch my
 week one video in a few days:)


All of my circles are now ready to go!!


Okay...back to this:)

Your block needs to be on a Design Board
 as you will be pinning directly into it.

Place a few dots of Sue Glue
 onto the back of your circle.

Use a ruler to center your circle onto
 the block and pin it into place....


Like this:)


After it dries for a few minutes...
remove the pins and place an 
8 1/2" Trim-It Ruler onto your block.

This accomplishes two things:
One is to make sure that 
the circle is centered...and if not
 you can gently pull it off...
adjust it and re-glue.
Two is to make sure that your
 pieced block measures 8 1/2" square 
and if it's not ...trim it to 8 1/2" 


And here you go!!
It's so cute!!!
Just hand applique or machine applique
with matching thread before
sewing your blocks into the quilt.


I kept sewing mine until I had 10 left...
I'll work on these here and there
 over the next few weeks
 and get them all sewn!


Here's my 13 blocks again...I love them!

I hope that you do too 
and that you can relax and have fun
while cutting and  sewing your 
Calico Star Flower Blocks together.

Remember that it's not a race
 and this sew along will last 19 weeks! 
Hopefully that will give you time 
to get them all sewn by the end:)
 

I will meet you right back here on 
Monday, January 30th
for Week One of the
Calico Garden Sew Along!
xx
Lori

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thank you for the sew a longs ! Getting started today !!!

Unknown said...

I’ve been busy cutting all the material out. I’m not going to start these stars until finished. I really want to but am really trying to be a little more organized. Than you so much for the generous amount of material I’m this quilt.

Anonymous said...

I am so excited to start this project. Got my kit today from Fat Quarter Shop. Hopefully over the weekend I will be able to start. Still working on Prairie Meadow too.🤷🤦🥰

Joy from Days Filled With Joy said...

I'm so excited for this quilt! Still waiting for my kit to arrive....xx

Anonymous said...

Can’t wait for my kit to arrive. It has been shipped. 🥰

Rosalee Jarman said...

Can’t wait for my kit to arrive🥰

Anonymous said...

Can’t wait to start sewing tomorrow. I’ve done lots of cutting today but not even close to finishing. Will work on cutting the rest of the week. The kit is so organized. Love it.

Madge Buus-Frank said...

The cutting guide was so helpful and organized and BRILLIANT to have a snapshot of each of the fabrics. Without this I might have given up as the number of fabrics was a bit overwhelming.

I just finished cutting out all of the Calico star blocks and pieced the blue one (#17) to get the hang of it. The instructions and photographs were simply EXCEPTIONAL!

Hoping I will get a bit more efficient - and so very grateful for the pace and instruction in this quilt along. Thank you Lori and team!

Madge Buus-Frank

Madge Buus-Frank said...

Question:

Does the brown circle center for the starblock flower get stitched down?

THX in advance for your guidance.

Madge Buus-Frank

Margot said...

I am delighted with your work! too beautiful!

Anonymous said...

Hi Lori busy cutting & sewing star blocks.I’m half way through the star blocks. Can’t wait to start the flower block I’m kinda behind. However, seeing your tutorials keeps me motivated , I look forward to watching them all. I really appreciate the fact that when I have a questions u r always there to answer & guide me along my quilting path! Thx so much, CFong

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