Originally Posted by Prism99
I think you need to start with a theoretically perfect template and then see if you can block each piece to fit that. I'm not sure averaging all the existing pieces will work..... This is because the *angle* of each piece needs to be accurate in order for all the pieces to fit together.
That's actually Jan Krenz's method. I've done a few and it worked well.
I drew the size I wanted on muslin, marking the rows, then pinned the diamond along the outline. And starched the hell of it - gently, of course. The key is to let it dry completely before you remove the pins.
The other idea, about using coping strips, is also very doable - and much, much easier. I've used that method to. I would sew on bigger strips, however, and then cut them done to size (instead of trying to figure out the exact amounts). That way can make them all 15x15, for example. And I don't think the small differences in the width of the coping strips will noticeable. You can use the dark green fabric if you have it, or more of the light. I guess it would depend on what your background wil be.
The blue strips below aren't really the same size. You can't tell.
French Lone Star
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