What first brought me to the Quilting Board was a cry for help; a lonestar I'd started had gone terribly wrong. (If interested, see: http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-99549-1.htm)

I ultimately gave up on that quilt (it's sandwiched and basted, but I may never quilt & bind it).

But I recently found and purchased some fabric that reminded me of the fabric I'd used. Specifically, I purchased "Olivia" by Michele D'Amore for Benartex.

See: http://www.somewheresewing.com/cgi-b...es=0&lastmenu=


I purchased the florals, solids and some panels (not the stripes).

I also went through a number of my books and read the instructions far more carefully.
Where my initial effort went wrong is that after piecing my 2.25" strips, when I went to cut the angles, I did not measure the width correctly. I remember at the time being frustrated by where I was supposed to measure. Jan Krentz' books (which had inspired me) did not explain it well, but looking again now, I found the answer in a book I've had for probably 20 years-- Amish Quiltmaker, page 112. The key is that when measuring the width of the diagonal (45 degree) strips, you measure kitty-corner, from lower left to upper right of the strip. That's where I screwed up the first time.

Other changes I'm making this time (which I've since learned HERE):

* alternating direction when sewing the strips together
* STARCHING the stripped lengths before cutting them at 45 degree angles. (I'd never starched before in my life.)

I'll post progress here because if *I* had problems, I bet I'm not alone.

Please join me if interested.

-- Jillaine

Thanks for letting me know your problems...it will help if I decide to do one of those myself.

On the strip sets, press to alternating sides; i.e., on strip set #1 press to the dark; on strip set #2, press to the light.

This will assist in matching matching the seams when you sew together then angled sets of pieced strips.

Sounds like you are ahead of the curve this time. Good luck. Look forward to seeing the finished top.

fingers crossed that it goes much better this time

Jan Krentz also has a great DVD on how she makes hers. I enjoyed watching it. Unfortunately, it is a friend's video ... but I know where to get it from if I need it in the future.

Basically you are correct. Spray starch or Best Press or whatever before cutting. And continually check your angles ... this is another biggie. The angles can go off after just one cut!

She had more hints too, but I can't remember them all right now.


ali

Here I'm getting ready to cut:

1. 45 degree angle make first cut.

2. measure from lower left point to upper right point of one strip. This length should be the same amount as the width of the original strip. In my case, I'm going with 2.25"

harumph. hardest part: getting the seams to match up. Have ripped out first pieced diamond twice.

Starch before cutting the strips. I starch (I use sizing on light colors) and press the fabric before I ever cut it on almost everything I make. String quilts, paper piecing & OBW are the exceptions to my self-imposed rule.

I hope you finish the first one, I really like it. Good luck on this quilt.
This link should work for the first quilt.
http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-99549-1.htm