Sigh...
Despite what I had believed to be accurate measuring, sewing and cutting, I clearly did something wrong because my lone-star diamonds are not "right". Now I have eight worthless 6x6 diamonds and I don't know what to do with them. I am horrified that I've done all this work and that I didn't catch the problem right away. I mean the diamonds are catty-wampus. Any suggestions for what to do with these, other than cremate them?

Looks like some of your seam allowances are not really 1/4". As much as less than 1/16" off a few times will screw it all up. Remeasure your diamonds and resew. Been there. Done that.
Cheryl

since you;ve got so many bias edges you could try starching and sizing the diamonds to shape by pinning them to a board for drying..draw out the shape they should be then pin to that size after they're wet with starch and let dry...

Or, separate each of the dimonds and applique them to a solid background and add sashing, etc to enlarge the star design and hide the discrepancies in size...your own design.

It's to pretty not to re sew and get it right

My fear about re-sewing is that the bias-- which is probably already stretched from my poor attempts to "make it fit gosh darn it!" -- is too far gone.

This started out stripped, and it's quite possible that my 1/4" weren't 1/4" from the beginning which means undoing everything down to the individual diamond, correct?

I'm not sure I have the heart for that (6x6x8=288). So I'm now wondering if anyone has suggestions for something to do with these catty-wampus parallelograms other than a lone star.

I'm so heart-broken. Do you really think it's worth it to take it down to 288 pieces and start over?

jss

It looks to me that they are all stretched in the same way. When sewing did you alternate the direction in which you sewed? Ive not done a lonestar but I know in other strip piecing sometimes if you sew the other way it helps. I think i would try ktbb's suggestion.

Have you tried to reposition them? That might help. In the photo it looks like some of them that aren't next to each other might fit better with another one. Not sure if that makes sense. Move them around . . .

1943, I did try that. As you may be able to tell from the photo, I took a big piece of butcher paper and drew out the lines into which the diamonds should have fit. I rearranged them every which way and always had at least two that wouldn't fit.

I'm now wondering if I did something wrong from the very beginning-- like when I cut the diagonal strips (from the horizontal) that I cut them too wide.

Mmm... maybe there's a solution there? undo each of the strips and re-measure *those*; when stitched together, shouldn't each of the individual diamonds be "perfect" diamonds, not as "stretched" as they currently are?

They should be diamonds. I haven't done one for so long and back then we cut each piece by hand. Maybe you want to try the starching or just dampen then and try to block them all to one sizie/shape. It's a shame not to use them. The colors are so pretty.

It's so pretty - I would not give up and keep trying to mke it work.

It doesn't look that bad to me. I would block each piece to size using Sharon Schamber's spray starching technique. Here is a link to her video on how to stretch a block (she also has one on how to shrink a block):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQkF02vpVuw

The hardest part of doing this is drawing an accurate template for blocking purposes.

Jillaine Just let us know what you do and how it turns out. Jan (Quilter 1943)

Jillaine, It's heartbreaking, but has happened to all of us at one time or another.

You could try this, it will change the look somewhat, but at least it may save you money and time.

Measure each of the legs of all the triangles, establish a mean measurement. Let's say is 14", for example.

1)Cut 24 (1") strips of the most neutral fabric 14".
2)Sew a strip to the long legs of each triangle, carefully pinning to make it fit the strip.Some will have to be stretched, some eased.
3) In the center, sew 1 strip to 1 length, then sew another triangle to that strip, and repeat.

I did a quick scale in EQ to give you a visual. It's going to be work but less than ripping out all those squares. The pink strips are the adjustment.

boy, if you can't rescue the second half of them, use the first half for a half diamond. they look good!!

I would pick the smallest diamond. Then pick one of the other diamonds, placing them right sides together. Check to see how far off the first seam is on the second one, and sew it to match the smaller diamond's seam. Continue doing this on all of the seam lines. Then match that same smaller one to another one of the diamonds the same way. I would not rip out the seams, as you would probably end up with more puckers and problems.

This may throw off your set in diamonds, you may have to cut them a little smaller to fit :wink: :D:D:D

Wow, what a wonderful community I've found tonight. Thanks for all the tips and suggestions. I'm going to try the Sharon Schamber resizing on one of the diamonds and see if I can get anywhere near what it needs to be.

Gal288, I'd considered something akin to what you suggest, but I like your execution of it much better. I'm still not sure it will work if my diamonds aren't true-- won't they be just as "untrue" surrounded by edges?

I'll let you know how it goes. Hopefully there will be a before and after shot. Now let me go see if I have any spray starch and something to pin this to.

-- Jillaine
p.s. and here I thought the double-wedding ring was tough... (see profile photo)

Geez, I'm sorry this has come to a standstill, the fabrics are so pretty.
Maureen

I don't think so, not if you average out the side leg of the triangles, cut the strips that measurement and then make the legs fit, that should bring them all to the same size. There will be some puckering, but I think when you quilt it can be managed.

Good luck, let us see how it goes. Atleast try it in the center and see if it goes together okay.

IF your changes don't work out as you'd like, how about usiing the "points" as independent sections and placing them elsewhere in a top or border. The size discrepancy perhaps won't be so obvious then.

Jan in VA

Well, I don't have spray starch, so I'll have to wait until tomorrow (almost 10pm here; if I had the car, I'd run up to the 24-hour Safeway...)

In the meantime, I've measured the eight finished diamonds; NONE of them are true. The closest one to "true" is 13.5 x 12.5.

Four of them are 14 x 12.5 (ugh)

Three of them are 14 x 13

So, I *think* I need to shoot for 13 x 13, right?

Or am I just um... screwed? (sorry for the language...)

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.

I did the very same thing about 20 yrs ago - I tried to make a lonestar - and I did not know what I was doing. Mine looked just like yours- I carried those around with me for years - finally burned them. Now that I understand what to do and how - that is one pattern that I have tried but still not very good at it. Its still pretty - I wonder if you could applique them to a piece of material... Good luck.

This has scared me from trying a Lone Star! My daughter wants one, but I don't think I'm ready for it just yet.

That is going to be very pretty--I love the one with the strips!

This is what I was thinking. Anything can be saved with a sashing strip
:).

So sorry this happened to you. I was teaching my bff to piece the other night and she thought I was being anal about the lines being drawn accurately. I told her there is nothing worse than spending three hours on one block only to not have it come out right.

sorry this happened..they are gorgeous fabrics. Not much help as I have never done one but hope you can manage to fix it somehow.

I have not attempted this pattern yet but the colors and fabric you chose are absolutely beautiful. I hope this works out for you. I've had frustrations with quilt patterns as well, I feel for ya.

Ugh! I feel your pain. I used to make these blocks for a living and there is a learning curve to them. Most especially if you have pieced each tiny diamond individually.

What is the size of each of the eight pieced diamonds supposed to be?

Do the group of four that are the same size match up? What about the group of three that are the same size...do they match up?

I had a similar problem with the Bethlehem Star. Those diamonds are so tricky because of the diagonals. They tend to stretch when you sew them. I am not sure what I will do with my Bethlehem Star. It will be my last UFO to try to conquer.

I do have a couple of thoughts for you though. First, make a full size template of one of the large diamonds, maybe use freezer paper and see if you can use steam and get them all back in place where they belong, then starch them real good before piecing. Those bias edges may be willing to go back in place.

If not, how about making it look like a broken star by putting some strips of the background in between them. Maybe even do something off the wall with them. Lay each one of them out on a big background square and applique bias tape around them. Your diamonds are pretty. I would definitely try to use them somehow.

Because of my experience with diamonds, I will never do it again. Just make this one a converstion piece and enjoy it.

Say, can you place all eight diamonds so that the "arms" at
the side-center < > all match up and take another picture?

What I'm thinking is that if you can make the seams match from the side center most points of the diamonds, all the way down except for the final points in the center of the block, you might be able to make a circle or one piece star of the dark pink fabric to cover the uneven center points. Then the outer arms of each large diamond would still be a little bit off but since they are spaced so far apart it probably wouldn't be noticed by anyone but you. What 'cha think?

My first quilt was a Lone Star which is really not a beginner quilt, but I guess I'm just a glutton for punishment...LOL

First I tried the strip method and mine didn't work either, so I feel your pain. I think they may have been better if I had starched heavily before cutting, but I didn't know to do that. Anyway, I ended up cutting individual diamonds to make my star and used the diagonal strips in the border.

I know this isn't much help, but I do understand your frustration. Maybe these great quilters here can help. Your fabric choices are wonderful.

Good luck!!

I would try the added "sashing idea,,,in fact it really adds to the design.I would add a small strip all the way around each one then cut them all to one size.

How about trimming them all to the same size? It will be a little smaller and the diamonds might not line up, but hey, with the pretty fabric you have, probably no one will notice. AND IF THEY DO hand them a seam ripper and showthem where the sewing machine is!

It looks to me that the pink print diamonds between the dark pink and light pink aren't true diamonds. Maybe that is where your problem starts. Measure them and see. I have never done one of these, because I know I would make a mess of it. But I say starch and lots of it.

I agree, but measure some of the others as well. I see some light pink and some white that aren't true diamonds. I'm wondering if you measured incorrectly when cutting some pieces.

Almost Free, ironically this is my second lone star. While my first was not perfect, it was no where near as out of whack as this one. What you're learning here, of course, is how important the measuring, cutting and sewing (esp those seam allowances) are for the success of this quilt.

-- Jillaine

How about picking out the four that are the closest and making a half star? Sort of like a rising sun? Would be a great wall hanging above a doorway. Add fabric and make place mats out of the rest. The fabric is way too pretty to abandon. Please let us know what you decide! I think we are all as invested as you are in this project.

My morning walking friend raised an issue I hadn't thought about last night. If I *do* try to resize with starch (and she had an extra can she gave me), what happens when the quilt is washed? This is meant to be a bedspread (ultimately). Am I doomed to a wall hanging?

By the way, this pattern is from Jan Krentz's Lone Star Quilts & Beyond. It's a variation of the quilt on the cover, as well as those on pp 44-45. Although why I chose to do 6x6 instead of 4x4 is beyond me. Probably because of the fabrics I had on hand. I make quilts "backwards" -- I go to the store, fall in love with the fabric, buy enough (hopefully), then pick a pattern.

(Almost Free: start with a 4x4, not a 6x6!)

To the person who suggested I align the "arms", I tried that; look at the original photo I posted and note the arrows I added. They point to the fact that the "arms" do not align at all.

Can anyone point me to a youtube or other video that describes the basics of starching quilt pieces? I.e., that includes things like what needs to be underneath the fabric; what is used to pin the fabric TO, etc. I've never learned those kinds of basics. (Clearly!!!) ;-)

Thanks again; you're a wonderful group of people.

-- Jillaine

I would pull them out from the center so they are where they belong and stitch from there into the center. Then I would applique a shape, round, diamond whatever over the uneven center.