octogon table topper....Help !!
 

i am trying to make an octogon table topper, i seem to do ok with my first round of 1 1/2 " border ,but when i add the next round of wider border i end up making it square. i have looked at the tutorial on here ,but it has no pictures of the second round. can any one point me to a better tutorial or explain it to me ?

I'm not sure where you go wrong without a picture. Do you trim each piece as you add it? You need to line up your ruler with the next side so the end of the new log is cut at an angle. Have I lost you?

I will try to post picture

There is a great tutorial posted on YouTube for an Octagon Place Mat. This really helped me. I had to watch it several times and take some notes. I just googled Octagon Place Mat and it is the one uploaded by Karen Lukac. She tells you how to make an octagon pattern and how to add the strips. I have made several of these for table toppers and mug rugs. Hope this helps you.

You ended up with it square because the corners you added haven't been trimmed for the next pieces to be added. This is a picture of an octagon piece with multiple borders.
http://files.ctctcdn.com/1c50729e001...900a847439.gif

I haven't watched all this Youtube video, but Karen Lukac does show it with a smaller border, then a larger one. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4W_EnkKyrX4 Perhaps watching this will help you solve your problem.

Edited to add: I see this is the same video hoprigmom refers to. I'm going to have to watch it to see if it is how I would have done it if I had no instructions.

2nd edit: You really need to watch the video. You have to continue using strips instead of using triangles on the corners. FYI...Karen's way is not the way I would have tried it. Mine would not have worked out. HaHa!

i didnt add that blue peice as a triangle, it was a strip,, i guess i get lost on how to trim when i start adding the second round.... i will watch her video to see if that helps me under stand.

Instructions can be confusing. At least you only have four small pieces to remove. I've had to remove a lot more because I didn't understand something and proceeded anyway. You got lucky.

Just curious....what is the name of the pattern you are making? I'd love to see what the finished product is supposed to look like.

I dont have a pattern , actually , a few years ago i started with a dresdon block and followed Rivesongs tutorial , then it went into UFO pile. so now i cant follow her tutorial w/o pictures. so i started this one with the bird panel to use to try to figure it out. I just wanted to make a table topper . thanks for all the help.

frommycarolinahome.wordpress.com
Quilting project tutorials- Christmas hexagonal table topper
Sorry, I don't know how to do a direct link.

I paper pieced the one I made. Much easier and no brain work. LOL