Seymoore has picked our March star, and it’s a beauty. Can’t wait to see what everyone does with this. The star is the Alaska Star from the Heavens to Betsy quilt published by Quilter’s Newsletter in June 2005. In the link to the pattern, there are three stars. The Alaska Star, our March BOM Star, is the first pattern. Hope everyone enjoys making this one. It is gorgeous. Seymoore tells me that although the star looks hard to make, it really isn’t.

The download is here:

http://www.quiltersnewsletter.com/we...feature152.pdf

Seymoore has started the thread for pictures and has posted her star so you can see it. It's beautiful.

http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-107747-1.htm

Good morning, first thing I did today was to look for our new BOM. Looks like fun, as I'm starting to really like PP. I've printed off the block and have a dumb question. Do you cut the paper apart on the heavy dark line and piece the 2 sections and then join them when your done? Thats what common sence is telling me to do. If that is correct then you'd end up with a 10 inch block. Okay, help please.

Make sure you cut on the outside line of the pattern so you have a 1/4" seam allowance. Then stitch the blocks together using the inside line. I haven't printed this pattern yet, so am not sure what size it is. Although, after looking at Seymoore's star, I see she has a border around it, so it is probably a 10" block when finished. If you want to enlarage it to a 12" block, if your printer will do scalling, you can print it at 120% and it should be a 12" block when finished.

I just printed out 1 copy of the pattern. Looking at it, I think we need 4 copies cut on the dark line. Do we make 8 triangles sections and then piece 2 together to make each of the four sides???

Good question, I'll be waiting for someone to help us out.

Also, my pattern printed 6 1/2 inches, is this right too?

I bet Seymoore will be along to give us all some instructions since she has made the star.

Just printed mine and it is 6 1/2 as well, so I think we make 4 and sew them together with the thick line "X" running threw the middle
David

The block is in 4 sections, and then sewn together. I work during the day, so will be back this evening to answer questions and try to be more thorough. Have fun!!

Mine printed out at 6-1/2" also.

What I see when I look at this block is that you need to cut it apart on the diagonal line and work with it in two sections and make four of each section. I'm not sure why they didn't make this pattern in two sections that way. You need to make sure that you add a 1/4" seam allowance to the diagonal line. I cut mine apart and glued it to another piece of paper. I added the 1/4" seam allowance to the diagonal and will scan it and print four copies. I have marked one as Section A and one as Section B so I'll be able to sew them together correctly. I think that should do it. I have to add the seam allowance to the pattern or I'll forget to make that side a little bigger to allow for the seam and I'll have a messed up piece. I'll try to get mine done today to make sure my thoughts are correct.

One other thing I would suggest is to mark the colors you are using on the pattern. I was just working away and mixed up what I refer to as my background color (the white in the picture) with my star color and had to start over. I have now marked each section with what it is (Dk Background - the dark blue; Star - the lighter blue; background - white). Hopefully that will stop that mistake from happening again.

This star is from Carol Doak's 50 Fabulous Paper Pieced Stars. If you have that book the pattern is easier to copy.

Something tells me it's not a good idea to post copies of Carol's book here, even if it is in another magazine. The magazine copy is different. Maybe it's just me.

We didn't post a copy of Carol's book. The link is to a design that is online at Quilter's Newsletter Magazine.

Another member did.

Hi Judy!!
Judy, take a close look at sermors block, I could be wrong but to me it looks like the block are made just the way it is printed then sewn together, see how it looks like only four points in the center?
Like I said I could be wrong but I think I am gonna just pp the way it printed no cutting it apart
David

LOL Nevermind, now I took an even CLOSER look and there are 8 seams, I think you're right Judy!
David
ps.to my wifee...see I ca admit when Im wrong!

Your wife will be happy you can admit you're wrong. Let me tell you, its very, very seldom I can get my hubby to admit he's wrong.

Anyway, thank you David. I did put together one block splitting the pattern in half on the diagonal and adding a 1/4" seam to that cut line on both halves, and I ended up with a perfect 6-1/2" block. Now I need three more, but they will have to wait. DGS has a birthday in three weeks and I have to get his quilt finished.

One suggestion: if you are concerned about your block not being quite large enough, just extend the dark blue pieces on the outer edges a bit which will give you a little leeway for sizing up your block.

Jerri, where did you get your print out from? mine is just the template and they are not separated like yours there in the post.??

****Not to worry, I copied and pasted the cutting instructions out :) Thanks Jerrie This helps a lot..

Sharon

Hmmm mine only printed out a tad over 6".

I am thinking if I cut the pattern on the line and add the 1/4" to seam allowance, will bring it up to 6 1/2" completed....

Wow, PP haven for both BOMs :mrgreen:
I just finished my February star, I am going to do the barn first and then tackle this one....looks pretty.

Wow this is exciting..cant wait to get started on this star. Its awesome thanks for picking it for us :thumbup:

Thank you Judy for your import and suggestions. Looking forward to this challenge. My mantra: Stay calm, stay calm, stay calm.

I love this block -have not seen it before -can not wait to try it!!!

Hope I get the right size on this block. Pretty interesting block as was last months block but that was a fun block so will see what this months brings.

Now that I am putting my completed sections wondered if people are pressing all seams open? There is quite a bulky area where points meet but I'm pounding them down!

Mine was really bulky too, I didn't know how to correct it. I kind of snipped the seams so they could fray a bit and then ironed it flat. It still sticks up though. LOL :-)

Mine does too. I read somewhere that with blocks that have bulk, you can press them open. Was that here?

I would at least press open all the seams that meet in the middle, for instance the diagonal seams in each block, and the center seams. That should help quite a bit.

Thanks, but where will I find the directions?

You download the pattern (The link to quiltersnewsletter.com) and paperpiece it following the numbers on the pattern. Please make sure to read through this thread regarding some things than need to be done (cut the pattern on the diagonal, add a seam allowance there). If you are not familiar with paperpiecing, please go to quilterscache.com. They have a tutorial there on how to paperpiece. That tutorial is here:
http://www.quilterscache.com/StartQu...tingthree.html

It will be very helpful to you.

Other than that, paperpieced designs don't have a lot of instructions. You just start with #1, then add #2, #3, and so on until your block is finished. Trim it, and sew it together with the other pieces you made.

Thank you so much! :lol:

So glad Judy has been helping! She explains things so well! Life is crazy right now, will check back whenever I get a free moment. Keep having fun with this block, it's meant to be fun - not stress you out. ;-)

I keep selecting my colors and changing my mind. I need to make a decision and get going on this. It looks like it may take some time to finish. So far all of your completed blocks are beautiful.

I often find this is the hardest part of project. Be patient with yourself and you color scheme will come to you.

Printed mine out today. I hope to work on it Sunday, I am very excited to see if I can do this. PP has been fun to learn but they look sooo intimidating. I appreciate all the advice posted.

For those who have worked on the other two blocks that came with this star, did you also cut the templates on the diagonal and add a 1/4 inch? Thanks!
Tulip

Yes, Tulip, you would have to do that with all the patterns.

I just finished mine (see picture thread), and on the very last quarter of it, I found a neat trick to make the process a little faster.

On parts 1-11 on a single eight section, since you are waking away from the middle one either side - if you're careful you can do two pieces at once before going to press them open.

If that makes any sense at all...it's hard to describe, but it kept me from having to walk back and forth from living room (sewing machine) to kitchen (iron) as much.

Thank you Judy for the info!

I finished my March Star BOM last night and I'm so mad I could just spit. All of my star quarters and eighths went together with a modicum of fuss. Points were dead on, seams met and played nice, seams straight and spot-on 1/4". Even to the halfway point, everything was going well. Got to the final center seam and one half of my block is A HALF-INCH bigger than the other!! I haven't figured out how I managed to do this. I put it aside last night and vowed to leave it the way it is for all eternity but thought better of it this morning. I'm going to take it back to 4 quarter-blocks and re-stitch it.

Did I say a modicum of fuss? Well, I may have to eat those words.

Help I am unable to download March Star BOM. Is this one no longer available?