osewme

Recently I asked for help to enlarge a 4 1/2" Nordic Star block. Thanks to all who replied with suggestions. Barb in Louisiana sent me results from her EQ7 which were very helpful. I decided to try to paper piece the block instructions she sent & this is my results. It is just short of being 12 1/2" unfinished (short by about 1/4" all around) so now I need to know what to do to increase it just a tad more so it will finish out at 12 1/2". Paper piecing is very, very difficult for me but I decided to try to tackle it. It took me about 4 hours to make this block. I had to re-do a couple of sections because I had the wrong color of fabric in the wrong place & had to rip out some where my fabric pieces were not large enough. I tried to enlarge the pattern but could not figure out how my printer could do that. Does anyone think I could just make the center sashings just a tad wider? If so, how would I do that? Any new suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Also, notice that the focal fabric has butterflies in it. I couldn't seem get them to be a part of the block. Everything about PPing is so backwards to me that I just can't wrap my mind around that technique. I won't be using a fabric that needs to by fussy cut in my final block....thank goodness!

jcrow

I’ve never made one so I can’t be any help but your block is so pretty. I want to make one. Stars are my favorite blocks.

Jingle

I don't do PP but yours looks great to me.

osewme

I keep re-thinking this block & now I'm wondering how it would look without the middle sashing. That would make the block smaller & then I could just add sashing strips around each outside & then trim to 12 1/2" unfinished. I really like the center sashing but eliminating it might be my solution. Any thoughts on this.

jcrow, stars are my favorite also. I love any quilt with stars!

Jingle, I don't do PP either but am determined to keep trying until I'm comfortable with it because I love the look of it.

GingerK

It is the middle sashing that throws off all the other measurements. For an easy fix, just increase the sashing width to make the block come out to size.

hobbykat1955

Yes you can add the extra 1/4 to the 4 middle strips which is one way
...I always cut my outside pieces larger abt 1/2 inch over on the outside all around until sq'd up.
This way when you sq up each block you'll have slightly larger block that you can then cut to your exact size. You'd have the exact 1/4 inch your missing then. As you can see on the bottom right once you sew that to another block or sashing your going to lose your point. At least that's how it looks in the photo you don't have 1/4 inch seam on that one...
So when you sq each of those 4 blocks each should be 6 1/2 sq and when you sew them together will measure 12 1/2.
Regarding getting a certain subject in a section...again you have to cut pieces larger center the subject and you'll have the extra fabric to trim away to the 1/4 inch if it's a center piece...If an outside piece just remember to leave more then the 1/4 until sq'ing up. Hope this makes sense and helps...

Gay

You can simply add 1/2" to the width of the centre strips (& block) to make it larger.

Or - to retry - Trim each HST to 3 1/4" - cut 1 1/2" strips for the centre pieces, and the corner unit. The square for the corner unit is cut at 2 1/4". This unit should also be trimmed to 3 1/4".

Barb in Louisiana

Glad I was able to help. I reprinted the foundation as a 12.25 finished block. See if this gets you where you want to be.

osewme

Thank you so much, Barb! I'm going to try that one today. Would it be to much to ask of you to calculate one for a 10" finished block also? That way I could add a small border around it & trim it off to be a 12 1/2" unfinished block? I do a lot of my 12 1/2" blocks that way since it's hard for me to get good, accurate 12 1/2" blocks the right size. It must be my seams or something but this time I want to make PP'd blocks. One of these days I hope to get PPing down without so much concentration. It's a real brain drag on me but I'm still trying. Thanks again!

feline fanatic

I have successfully blocked blocks that measured 12 1/4 as opposed to 12 1/2. It will keep the shape and size once dry and once in the quilt, as long as it is stableized sufficently with quilting it should be fine. You may chop a point once assembled but it won't be noticable unless in a show and being judged and then only the judge or other quilters may or may not notice. However, I am wondering why you chose to Paper piece this block? It is made up of HST which can easily be made without PP. I usually reserve PP for odd angles like Mariner's Compass or NYB blocks where the points end up very narrow and need to be pointy for the full effect of the pattern.