Lone Star
07-02-2017, 09:30 AM
#12
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Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: NY
Posts: 2,497
I think it looks great! So what if a few of the points don't line up exactly. Are you being graded on this? In my eyes, it's great! Sometimes I cheat if my seams aren't perfect and use markers to make it appear they're better than what they really are...
07-03-2017, 06:36 AM
#17
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: East TN
Posts: 2,724
Thanks for your comments, folks. Looking at the quilt in the light of day it doesn't seem as bad as it did when I posted. If I can figure out a way to disguise how not straight the sides will be, I think I will leave it as is. I was dreading taking out that center seam because the only diamonds that don't line up are the center pink ones. If I get them and the outside lined up I think all the others will be out of alignment and it will look even worse. My takeaway here is that those background triangles need to be oversized, and if I can get the diamonds to line up, I will let the star float in background.
To those who say they'd like to try a Lone Star, the tutorial I used is here: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nDxMYdT1H-Q . It is easy to follow and she explains both the hows and whys. That fits my style of learning because it helps me remember what I've learned. She used 3" diamonds, but I reduced mine to 2". In hindsight, 3" might have given me a bit more fiddle room, but I wasn't really thinking that way when I started cutting.
I appreciate the encouragement you all have provided and the constructive ideas for correcting the star. I will post more pics later in the process.
Susie -
I haven't posted any new pics of her in a while. After this is posted I will check my pics and see if there is anything I could add to the Emmaline thread. Thanks for asking about her. She is visiting her cousins in FL and my wife is in TX helping her brother at MD Anderson. I am really missing them both.
Darren
To those who say they'd like to try a Lone Star, the tutorial I used is here: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nDxMYdT1H-Q . It is easy to follow and she explains both the hows and whys. That fits my style of learning because it helps me remember what I've learned. She used 3" diamonds, but I reduced mine to 2". In hindsight, 3" might have given me a bit more fiddle room, but I wasn't really thinking that way when I started cutting.
I appreciate the encouragement you all have provided and the constructive ideas for correcting the star. I will post more pics later in the process.
Susie -
I haven't posted any new pics of her in a while. After this is posted I will check my pics and see if there is anything I could add to the Emmaline thread. Thanks for asking about her. She is visiting her cousins in FL and my wife is in TX helping her brother at MD Anderson. I am really missing them both.
Darren
07-03-2017, 06:54 AM
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: PA
Posts: 675
Love the colors you picked. You did good. Lone Stars are very hard to get the points all perfect. Many seasoned quilters wouldn't even think of tackling a Lone Star. So give yourself a big pat on the back 
.
It looks like it lays flat, not easy to do with a Lone Star, but it's just off a bit. I've done several Lone Stars. The most important thing is to keep all your seams exactly 1/4 inch or it will throw off the points. Once you get off it keeps going. Looking at the back the diamonds will seem different in size due to the seams being pressed over. There are many bias cut seams to work with, which isn't easy. I spend more time pinning & pinning & pinning than sewing when making a Lone Star. You did good.
I tend to be picky, so I'd rip it in half & sew the center seam again. That would make it line up better to the edges.
If you aren't picky, then just open up the center red diamond seam. I'd go about half way. Place a dot 1/4 inch in each center seam (L&R sections). Match up the dots & pin, pin, pin. Then sew again, easing it in. Then you need to un-sew the seams that all join the points in the center, back to the main 1/4 inch seam. Just a few stitches on each point. Then press them flat in a swirl. That should make it lay flat.
The outside edge is off quite a bit. If you don't want to rip the center seam out & do it over you can try to square it up. From the front measure from the center seam across to the edges & see how far it's off. If it's not too much I'd lay a long ruler across from corner to corner. If you can keep enough seam allowance at each star point & just trim off the rest. Make sure you measure twice, mark well, measure again & cut once.
When you go to add the borders, fold them in half, mark & pin from the center seam out to the edges.
Again you did good.
.It looks like it lays flat, not easy to do with a Lone Star, but it's just off a bit. I've done several Lone Stars. The most important thing is to keep all your seams exactly 1/4 inch or it will throw off the points. Once you get off it keeps going. Looking at the back the diamonds will seem different in size due to the seams being pressed over. There are many bias cut seams to work with, which isn't easy. I spend more time pinning & pinning & pinning than sewing when making a Lone Star. You did good
.I tend to be picky, so I'd rip it in half & sew the center seam again. That would make it line up better to the edges.
If you aren't picky, then just open up the center red diamond seam. I'd go about half way. Place a dot 1/4 inch in each center seam (L&R sections). Match up the dots & pin, pin, pin. Then sew again, easing it in. Then you need to un-sew the seams that all join the points in the center, back to the main 1/4 inch seam. Just a few stitches on each point. Then press them flat in a swirl. That should make it lay flat.
The outside edge is off quite a bit. If you don't want to rip the center seam out & do it over you can try to square it up. From the front measure from the center seam across to the edges & see how far it's off. If it's not too much I'd lay a long ruler across from corner to corner. If you can keep enough seam allowance at each star point & just trim off the rest. Make sure you measure twice, mark well, measure again & cut once.
When you go to add the borders, fold them in half, mark & pin from the center seam out to the edges.
Again you did good.
07-03-2017, 11:24 AM
#19
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Va.
Posts: 5,752
Excellent job on your Lonestar. I didn't notice the misaligned seams until after I read your post. If it's something that will bother you, then pick it out, But if it was mine and as someone else mentioned is laying flat then I'd probably leave it be.
Rob
Rob
07-03-2017, 12:34 PM
#20
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Illinios
Posts: 1,260
I so want to make this quilt, but it always looked so hard, maybe I will give it a try some day..
Your quilt is beautiful, love the colors, you did a wonderful job sewing it together, that little part that is off , no one will notice it.. great job and beautiful quilt. can't wait to see it all done..
Your quilt is beautiful, love the colors, you did a wonderful job sewing it together, that little part that is off , no one will notice it.. great job and beautiful quilt. can't wait to see it all done..
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