Thread: January 1, 2013 - Whirling Star 2 direction's & discussion.

Originally Posted by Patticake59

I am just joining in, thanks for such an interesting block.

Welcome Patticake59, we are so glad you have decided to join us in all of the fun for 2013. Please be sure to post your pictures when you are finished with each of your blocks. We just "LOVE" Show & Tell!!

here's the link to see the blocks done so far.

January 1, 2013 Whirling Start 2 - Photo's.

Does anyone have an idea of how much fabric to buy? I plan to make 12 blocks with four or five colors and I bought two yards of each. I'll buy more for sashing and backing later. Do you think that's enough?

Originally Posted by CAS49OR

Does anyone have an idea of how much fabric to buy? I plan to make 12 blocks with four or five colors and I bought two yards of each. I'll buy more for sashing and backing later. Do you think that's enough?

CAS........That's a real good question & I don't have an answer for you. I too bought two yards each of the pink & purple, that I featured in my block & plan to use all floral stash for the other piece's yet to come. I know that I can always buy the pink & purple, so I feel okay with that. I hope someone else can answer your question for you, but I would suerly think you have enough fabric with a lot of leftovers. Good Luck!!

yes. that will definitely be enough for 12 blocks.
in fact, you will have enough left over to make at least 12 more.

i recommend you press the seams open.

then - unless you have a pressing need for a top - wait to see the March block.

just a hint. ;-)

Thanks Sula and Patrice. Patrice now you have me real excited and anxiously awaiting March! I was thinking if I really like it I may do two of some blocks so good to know I have enough fabric. Then again, my method of learning is to do it wrong then take it apart and do it the right way, and the fabric can only take so much torture.

Patrice, if I cut the corners as shown in your templates will I reduce bulk and will the fabric still fill in the corners well? I was scared to try it. Thanks.

yes. if you trim the pieces as shown in the templates it will all work out nicely.
the "trimmed" bits actually make it easier to line up the pieces accurately.
the seams at the Y-intersections do not run all the way to the end of any of the pieces, so there won't be gaps where the seams come together.

if you're making one block, it's worth taking the time to mark where seams should start and stop.

if you are making more than one block, you will very quickly get sick of all that tedious marking.
so, just mark the first of each piece that will intersect at a "Y".

as you sew, pay close attention and make sure to stop on the mark or just before the mark.
then put down a piece of tape or a sticky note. use that as your reference to the stopping point for all repetitions of that pair of pieces.

you will notice that i didn't worry about starting the seams on this pair set at the 1/4" mark.
that's because that is not where a Y-intersection will occur.
but i did make sure to end the seam at the mark; do either a lock stitch or a bit of back-stitching; raise the needle; move the next pair up to the needle; lower needle & foot; resume sewing.

you don't have to chain-piece.
you can certainly do one pair at a time if that works better for you.

Thank you Patrice for explaining and the nice clear pictures. I have to admit I did not attempt the set in Y seams as I don't fully understand, I just paper pieced the block. I did not cut out the fabric to match the templates. I know the theme this year is to learn something, so maybe I will try it.

Is it inset kind of like the window box method?

i don't know what the "window box method" is.

there are a few ways to do Y-seams.
one is to do a continuous seam. that involves stopping at the intersection with needle down; fiddling with the pieces to rearrange them; continuing to the end of the other "leg". i have trained myself to do it just so i can pat myself on the back for it. frankly, though, you can't tell the difference between that way and the other. in most cases i find it to be much too annoying and "fiddly" to be worth the ego boost. LOL

the other way is to do each "leg" of the inset as a separate seam. start at the outside and sew toward the intersection. make sure to NOT sew into the intersecting seam allowance. (see this old tute for close-up photos: CLASS - DEC 2 2007 - MACHINE STITCHED HEXAGONS)