Ok, Great! Thanks for clearing that up for me. Now I just have to decide on my favorite block. There are so many to choose from. :D

Oh, Elle,
Sorry. I was referring to the public library. Ours has an extensive collection of quilting books thanks to our local guild. But, McCall's website also has that library of links on the left side of the page.
Does this make sense?

judee

Where is the list posted?

The list is on the first page of this thread, the very first post at the end of the directions

Thanks Judee, okay guess you have wonderful libraries there. Haven´t managed to enter one here in Spain LOL.

Have had another hunt through and found one I like, so starting soon on that project.

Elle

Dear Organizing Queen (aka Judy)

count me in!!! ONe question since you haven't answered all that many yet (hahaha), is there a requirement on whether or not they are pieced or appliqued? Or just identical? How "identical" is identical??? OPPS, that was TWO questions! No,wait, my math is bad...that was THREE questions!
:oops: :D

Between the URR quilt, the IRR quilt and chicken quilt challege this spring, i need to start a quilting calendar! Either that or quit hanging out with y'all! :lol:

Ill put you on the list. you can use what ever technique you want. You decided what is identical.. similar is ok, I guess.

The rules here are pretty easy,, must be 12 1/2 unfinished and blue and white stars...and 12 in a set, you make as many sets as you want...and send them to me by March 1.. thats it

http://mccallsquilting.com/qb/pattern_1101/

look at this star block...really great!

So I started making my blocks for this and when I got done I realized that they were 11 1/2 inches instead of 12 1/2....*sigh*

Now I have 12 11 1/2 inch blocks and no idea what to use them for...

Sounds like a lovely lap quilt for a Christmas present to me!!!

Wow, great idea! I hadn't even thought of doing that...thanks!

Can you add a 1" border and make it work for the block exchange?

Or I can do that...again didn't think about that...thanks for the suggestion! :lol:

Please sign me up. I've had a blue and white quilt on my want to do list.

Lisa

you're in... welcome

I've bought and washed my fabric, and cut up lots of squares. Just now wondering about advice on pressing half square triangles. I've seen the advice that I should press down with the iron rather than move it about, but are there any more tips specifically on how to press half square triangles? I'm hoping for perfect points... :?

That's right Sazu, pressing down without moving the iron around too much will keep your square in good shape. For me, the thing that can throw my block out of kilter faster than anything else is not keeping a consistent 1/4 in. seam. My machine that I use the most for my piecing, my old workhorse 38 yr old Kenmore, it does not have a quarter inch foot. But I made a mark where my fabric should line up to achieve that 1/4 in seam allowance and that's my bit of advice.

Here is what I do when press all seams, including half square triangles..
First lay the piece on the ironing board flat and press the stitches..
Then lift the top piece and using your iron just above the fabric, lightly press the top piece away from the seam. Dont put undo pressure here, just press it open. This isnt ironing, but pressing..If you use a light hand, you wont have any trouble with the bias edges stretching..

practice it, you will see..

OK I left out part of the instructions for the exchange.. sorry, Ill add it to the rules page also..

Please attach a little piece of paper with your message board id and if you want your real name on EVERY block you send me.. This is so that you know when you get them back who made the blocks in your quilt.

you can pin a piece of paper, or sticky labels.. anything that will stand up to me handling them during the re-distribution.

By the way, with all the participants, I think each of you will get a different set of blocks, so the quilts will all look different when done...

Also, I have had a question about posting pictures of your blocks.. I say go ahead, no one is going the get the same set so, it would be nice to see them all.

Judy

This is the block I'm making for our star exchange. I think it worked up nicely. Not a very good pic, though. Oh well.

Wow! That is beautiful!
I just ordered my material last night.
Can't wait to start.
Purple

Very pretty Deb! I like it...I haven't picked out my block...yet..you really have the jump on me!

Wow!! My fab is all washed and ready..... but I can't find a pattern I want to do.

I started my block and it turned out 11 1/2'' instead of 12 1/2''...so I get to start over...That is a great block!

Great block, Deb. You guys are so gung-ho. I have so many Fall and Christmas projects, plus my URR and some UFOs that I decided to not even think about this block until after the holidays.

January is such a slow month after the Christmas rush. When the weather is cold outside, it will be fun to look through lots of books and magazines and pick just the right star block and then go out to several quilt shops and pick fabric to make it with. Then when I get home, I can make a cup of tea and look at my pattern and fabrics again. Before you know it I will be in my quilt room, cutting and sewing and just giggling over every block as I finish it.

Yes, January will definitely be when I think about my blue and white star blocks.

Thanks for all of your comments. You're right Marcia, there is plenty of time to make blocks. I'm in several block swaps and like to keep up, just in case life gets in the way. I've been in full fall mode the last couple of weeks and have been pretty busy. I did some canning, applesauce and peppers in oil. I've done most of my fall cleaning, scrubbing carpets and screens and windows and all that fun stuff. But, it just doesn't seem like fall if I don't perform those rituals. Next Monday is our Canadian Thanksgiving. According to weather report we may have a barbecue instead of a big ole turkey. We are supposed to get a nice warm up. Fine with me.
Anyway, I usually get in some early morning sewing every day. I'm always up early and really enjoy that time to myself. Well, myself and my two pooches. Hubby really likes to sleep in whenever he can.
I think we are all going to have some really beautiful quilts from this exchange. I'm really loving the star theme.

I know Im signed up, but how soon do we have to say if we're submitting one set or 2?
I'm working on the first set (have 144 half square triangle blocks to press), but in the lull after christmas I might be tempted to do a second set. Do I have to commit now or can I decide nearer the deadline?

You dont have to let me know, just send them in.. if you send one set, you will get back 12, if you send two sets, you will get back 24, etc.

Just remember, if you are doing two sets to make each set unique..

Judy

oooh all the canning and applesauce and peppers in oil got me hungry.. can I come to your place!!!!????

I have one block set ready, but I would like to make up a second block set so I have enough to make a full size quilt!

You already have 12 star blocks sewn?!?!?!?!?!? :shock: Me thinks me's found an overachiever among us! I'm still just thinking about it :D

Me to Marcia, have started on three different blocks so far and didn´t like any of them, so starting again.

Will get there eventually.

Elle

:oops: :oops: I'm not sure I'm even to the thinking "seriously" about it!!

Aggi, You'd be welcome at my place anytime for peppers in oil, homemade pizza, lasagna, mmm. I love to cook and feed folks. No one ever leaves here hungry. I made a big roaster of stuffed cabbage today. I freeze them so we can have quick suppers, but most of them find their way home with the kids. :-)

Sandi,
I haven't picked a pattern or my white fabric. I picked two blues and will post pix when I receive them from Thousands of Bolts.

I'm still working on my IRR center, that will be my priority next week.
Of course, I'm still working on my flocks of geese.

Oooh, any chance of the recipe for stuffed cabbage. Sounds good for a quicky meal. (anything so I can get more sewing done).... lol

Elle

I think I might like that stuffed cabbage recipe also,
Will you post it?

I have ordered the white fabric. I already had a stash of blue. :lol: Now to pick a block. Hopefully I'll start on them in December as all Christmas gifts will need to be in the mail by then.
:D

Hi Ladies, I'll post the stuffed cabbage recipe on Recipe page, so as not to muddle things up here. Hope you like it.
By they way, I'm using the same block pattern, Army Star, for my 12 blocks, but the fabric may be a little different for each block. I'm using my blue stash also. I know I don't have enough of any particular fabric to turn out all 12. No problem with that, eh?

Thank you sooooo much for the recipe, going to check it out.

Elle