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.