Part 2 - AccuQuilt Hunter's Star Quilt Instructions - Adding Borders

Now, I’m a little unconventional on how I measure and apply my borders and corner blocks. So, I completely understand if you want to use your own method of accurate measuring. The borders are basically 3 strips of fabric sewn together alternating dark, light, dark and then 4 corner blocks. If you are continuing to follow from part 1 instructions, you probably already have your half square triangles for the corner blocks cut out and sewn together to make the half square triangle squares such as the one pictured below image7.

You should have 16 of these created from sewing the 16 light half square triangles with the 16 dark half square triangles cut and set aside for the corner blocks.

Image7

CRUNCHING THE NUMBERS

Border & Corner blocks

• 16 light 2 1/2"half square triangles **** Probably already cut and sewn in Part 1 instructions ****
• 16 dark 2 1/2" half square triangles**** Probably already cut and sewn in Part 1 instructions ****
  
  
• border strips (2) 2" dark strips and (1) 1.5"

CUTTING THE STRIPS

I like to cut my border strips too big for the quilt. I like to be safer than sorry and anything that is left over, I try and add to the back of the quilt or use somewhere else like a pillow or something.   I currently do not own the strip cutter dies for the AccuQuilt Go product. If you had the 2” and the 1.5” strip cutter dies, this would work great for you as well. So, if your finished center measured approximate 50+” long and approx. 41+” wide, this is how I generally measure it.

Dark Strips Cut 2” wide

Since I have two strips of dark on each side of the border, I would cut 3 strips of dark fabric the full length of my fabric width for each side of my quilt. This ends up being 12 strips of the dark fabric cut in total. This was not scraps. The fabric width is usually anywhere from 41-43” long.

I cut 4 strips in half and join each half piece to a full size piece. This gives me approx. 8 strips at about 61” each of strip. I know I’m about 10-20 inches too long. However, I like to use the extra on the backs for use on a pillow in the future.

Light Strips Cut 1.5” wide

Since I only have 1 strip of light fabric on each side of the border, I would cut 6 strips of light fabric the full length of my light fabric width for the whole quilt. Again, this was not scraps. The fabric width is usually anywhere from 41-43” long.

I cut 2 strips in half and adjoin each half piece to a full size piece. This gives me approx. 4 strips at about 61” each of strip. I know I’m about 10-20 inches too long. I like to use the extra on the backs for use on a pillow in the future.

ASSEMBLING THE BORDER SIDES

Each side has 3 strips (2 dark and 1 light) 1.5 times the length of your fabric width. Or approximately 60” long.

Sew one light strip onto one dark strip right sides facing each other. Open and iron the seam to the dark side the whole length of the strip. Now attach the second dark strip to the open side of the light strip with right sides facing each other. Sew the full length of the strip using a ¼ inch seam. When completed, open and iron the new seam to the dark side of the fabric. Your top and bottom of the strip will look like the sample below in image8 and image9 below. The borders should measure 4.5 inches wide when completed as in image10.

image8

image9

image10

Repeat this process 4 times to create a side border for each side of the quilt. Once ironed, set them aside.

ASSEMBLING THE BORDER CORNER BLOCKS

Each corner block is made up of 4 dark and 4 light 2.5” half square triangles which when sewn together above, gives you 4 half square triangle squares. I use two different types of corner blocks to represent the two different centers of the stars on the quilt. You could very easily use all 4 blocks the same if you would like. The two layout of square I use are positioned as such:

image 11 image12

In both cases, flip block B onto block A and sew right sides together on the right side. Flip block D onto block C and sew right sides together on the right side. You end up with two rows for each block. Reposition rows to match the photos above. Flip AB row onto CD row and sew right sides together. Make sure to match up your seams and sew the right side to produce the matching blocks. You should repeat this until you have 2 complete blocks to match image11 and two complete blocks to match image12. Your blocks should finish out at 4.5” square.

ADDING THE BORDERS TO THE QUILT CENTER

I add the left and right side borders first. These are straight basic seams adding the border to the quilt right sides together. Trim the top and bottom edges of the added border even with the quilt center.

image13

On the last two borders (top and bottom), I trim one edge on each border to have a straight edge to sew one of the corner stones to. I leave the rest of the border length and end alone. I only use one pin on the seam of the attached corner block to make sure it lines up with the seam of the left border.

PLEASE NOTE: The following photo examples are from another quilt I was working on. I did not take pictures when I added the borders to my hunter’s star quilt. However, the process is still the same.

I stop sewing the top border all the way across the top and stop about 3” away from the right side seam where the corner block should be.

I then measure with a ruler to mark ¼ inch past the right border seam to know where to trim my newly added top border.

Then I trim the newly added border on the line just marked. I usually just cut with scissors while sitting at the sewing machine.

Next, I pin the last corner block for the top border to the newly trimmed edge. Reposition this newly added block under the machine and sew the corner block on to the attached border. This is why I leave about 3” not sewn on the border. It allows me to rearrange the quilt to get the border block under the needle to sew. Then I realign my border to my quilt with the newly attached cornerstone, pin the seams and continue sewing the rest of the border on.

When the top border is attached, you’ll see the corner blocks match up perfectly.

REMEMBER: The border photo examples are from another quilt I was working on. I did not take pictures when I added the borders to my hunter’s star quilt. However, the process is still the same.

Repeat for the bottom border. However for the bottom border, I start on the right side of the quilt first. This allows me to have the border on the top of the quilt when I sew and the quilt bulk is to the left of my machine. Just a preference of mine. I try and use the excess border strips for the back of the quilt or a matching quilt pillow. I hope these instructions allow you to make a hunter’s star quilt as well. If you have any questions or corrections, please feel free to contact me.

Thanks for stopping by!  
~*~Trish~*~

Part 1 - AccuQuilt Hunter's Star Quilt Instructions

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Let’s try this again.  I wrote most of these instructions up yesterday and accidentally deleted them.  I was so sick, they were so detailed.  O-well… Back to the drawing board.   I usually do not write a lot of quilting instructions so please let me know if you find any errors or have any questions.  

HOW I CUT WITH MY ACCUQUILT GO

I used the small AccuQuilt Go Value Die for this quilt.  It works with the AccuQuilt Go Baby but I don't have a Go Baby just yet.   I usually cut a maximum of 4 layers of fabric on my AccuQuilt Go.  It just works best for me to help in making sure the cuts stay as accurate as possible.  Also, I always line up my fabric edge (you know the one with the manufacturer’s name on it) parallel with the long edge of the die.  There are also some great tips on the AccuQuilt Go and Yahoo Group.  

I usually cut or rip my fabric into strips and then I accordion fold it over closely over the one die needed.  My strips are just a little bit wider than the item trying to be cut.  This allows me to minimize my scraps.

 

And before I know it, I have a whole pile of cut out blocks.

CRUNCHING THE NUMBERS

Center Quilt Blocks

•          240 Light 2 1/2" half square triangles
•          240 Dark 2 1/2" half square triangles
•         30 4 1/2" light squares
•          30 4 1/2" dark squares

Border & Corner blocks

•     16 light 2 1/2"half square triangles
•         16 dark 2 1/2" half square triangles
•          border strips (2) 2" dark strips and (1) 1.5" light strip

PREPARING THE BLOCKS

First step is to pair up all 240 dark half square triangles with your 240 light half square triangles and sew right sides together.  During this time, I feed them one by one into the sewing machine and then snip separate them later. Iron each one open pressing the seam to the dark fabric.

Repeat the steps above with the half square triangles for the border .  Match one light with one dark and sew right sides together.  Iron each one open pressing the seam to the dark fabric.

PUTTING THE BLOCKS TOGETHER

Now, it is all about direction on the blocks.  There is really one base block to this quilt that when repeated creates the star.  Make 24 full blocks and then we'll make 6 blocks without the final seam.

In image1 you can see the direction placements for the half square triangle blocks.  We'll start working in the top left section, place 4 of your half square blocks to match the image.  Make sure you keep track of which side needs to be sewn to keep the blocks in the direction originally laid out.  Sew TL1 to TR1 to make a row 1 in image2 (below) and then sew TL2 to TR2 to make row 2 in image2 (below).  Ignore the 4 1/2 inch blocks for now.  In the bottom right quadrants of Image1, position 4 more half square triangle blocks in the right directions to match and then sew BL1 to BR1 to form row 3 in image2 (below) and then BL2 to BR2 to form row 4 in image 2 (below). 

Image1

Image2

 

Position your rows to match the layout in image2 above.  Now sew Row 1 to Row 2 with matching up the center seams.  Once completed, the block will match block1 in image3 below.  Move on to sew Row 3 to Row 4 to create block2 in image3 below.

image3

image4

 

To finish the block, match the positioning in image3 and sew Block1 to a Dark 4.5” plain block.  Then sew a light 4.5” plain block to Block2.  Finally, sew the two block top half to the two block bottom half to complete the block as in image4.   Repeat this process to create 24 of these individual blocks.    There are 3 more blocks to complete.  However, on these 3 blocks, do not sew the top half to the bottom half.  This will leave 24 completed blocks and 6 halfs.

ASSEMBLING THE QUILT CENTER

Then assemble each of the 24 full blocks to match image5 below.  I usually complete the rows first and then assemble the rows.  All you need to do is make sure your blocks match the layout in image4 below.  You basically rotate the individual block to match up the “feathers” of each star.  Also, I took a lot of time to match up the seams and pinning.

image5

 The six half blocks will be going on the right and left sides of the center quilt.  Assemble the half blocks to match the layout below in image6. 3 half blocks for each side.  Then attach the two rows to the left and right of the center quilt.  Be careful to match up all the different seams.  I like to use pins to make sure my seams line up.

image6

On to Part II for the borders.

Thanks for stopping by!
~*~Trish~*~

Finished Hunter's Star Quilt Top

The Hunter's Star quilt top is now completed.  I added the borders and corner blocks yesterday.  I'm pretty happy with how it turned out.  Especially since this was created completely with the pink scraps that were cut off of the backing to the Breast Cancer Quilts.  I used all the scraps cut from the two quilt backing sides. I ran them through the AccuQuilt Go and created all the blocks necessary to create the pink portions of the quilt.  The white was from my stash.  I used a different white on white in the border.  You can't really tell.

Next step is to decide on how I want to quilt the top.  I'm leaning more towards stitch in the ditch.  My other option is an all over design.  For now, it's hanging in my entryway and I'll keep looking at it to decide how to finish it.

Thanks for stopping by!  
~*~Trish~*~

Leftover Pink - Hunter's Star

I have a lot of pink fabric left over from the Breast Cancer Quilts.  I also read somewhere that you could make a Hunter's Star Quilt using some of the die cuts from the AccuQuilt Go Value Die Set.  I love the hunter's star pattern.  But, I've never made one.  So,  I used some of my backing scrap fabric (cut off from trimming the quilts) and set to cutting out lots of 2.5 inch triangles.  There are only 2 triangle dies on each pass but I put up to 4 layers of fabric myself.  I figured that I needed 8 pink triangles and 8 white triangles and then 1 pink square and 1 white square.

This block has a lot of pieces but I think it just might work.  Hopefully I don't tire of all the pieces.  Here's 4 of the finished blocks.  To my surprise, it works.  Can you spot all the pieces?  If you would like me to write up instructions, let me know. 

Thanks for stopping by!  
~*~Trish~*~

Quilts for the Cure Completed

Yeah!  I finished hand sewing the bindings to both quilts yesterday!  Today I spent time placing the hanging sleeve on both quilts using Steam a Seam 2.  Then I hand stitched around all the edges of the hanging sleeve just to give it more strength.  I've seen the Steam a Seam give out later down the road so I just wanted to make sure there was a backup stitch to catch it. 

I am very happy with how they turned out.  When I re-added some of the embellishments back, their original spots were under seams.  So, I placed them there anyway and some of those embellishments now move into the borders.  I think it looks pretty neat.

The backing color fabric is the same as the binding.  It has a different pink tone than the borders pink but I think it works.  All the pinks then blend together when viewing the whole thing.  I don't know about you but, when I do volunteer work like this, I put a lot of my heart into them and I am sometimes sad to see them leave.  But, I am hoping it will bring inspiration to someone in their journey against breast cancer as they read all the inspirational messages on each of the blocks!

Quilt 1

Quilt 2

Backing with Hanging Sleeve

Extended Embellishments
and Better look at Binding

Thanks for stopping by!  
~*~Trish~*~

Binding Added and Ready to Sew

Yesterday I removed all the curved pins placed for quilting since the quilting was complete.  I also added the binding to both quilts yesterday and they are ready for hand sewing to the back.  Perfect job for the weekend as Irene heads up the shoreline.  They are saying we may get some rain from it in PA.  The binding that I added matches the backing on the quilts. 

When I was completing the binding on the quilt, I have such a hard time with joining the ends of the binding ends.  I've tried many times but just can't get it right.  However, this time I think I realized my problem.  I never leave a big enough open space to join the tails properly.  I'll try and practice once I am completed with these quilts.  In the meantime, I do straight sewing.

Thanks for stopping by!  
~*~Trish~*~

Super Sewing Day

I had planned on pinning one quilt yesterday.  I ended up pinning both quilts.  That's not all, I completed the quilting on BOTH quilts yesterday.  The stitch in the ditch went so so fast now that I have more throat room on my sewing machine.  It was a super sewing day!!  Today my plans are to machine sew the binding to both quilts.  I think the hand stitching of the binding to the back will take me two days for the two quilts.  After that, it's hanging sleeves on both and I'm done!!  Woo Hoo.

Thanks for stopping by!
~*~Trish~*~

Bindings and Backings

I completed the bindings and backings for the two quilts on Saturday.  I've been off visiting family in Western PA for a couple of days.  I got home just in time to feel the East Coast Earthquake.  That was weird.  The backings and the binding are made from the same fabric.  Turns out I purchased large lots (5 yards) of this fabric twice.  I must have really liked it.  I used my simplicity binding maker to help me create the 620" + of binding.  It makes it oh so easy and fast!  Today, I'll be pinning a quilt to the backing.  Don't think I'll quilt it just yet.  I plan on stitching in the ditch on both quilts since there are a lot of embellishments.

Thanks for stopping by!
~*~Trish~*~

Quilt 2 Borders Applied

I finished applying the second quilt's borders.  This one has the pink outlined ribbon corner blocks.  I chose these applique blocks since there are so many other colors on the quilt.  I'm happy with the results.  Now on to creating backings and bindings.

Thanks for stopping by!  
~*~Trish~*~

Quilt 1 Borders Applied

I finished applying the smaller borders and smaller corner blocks to the first quilt.  I'm very happy with the results.  I like the notched corners that a double border makes.  On this first quilt top that was mostly dark and light pink blocks, I used the black rimmed pink/white corner blocks.  For the second quilt, I'll be using the dark pink rimmed corner blocks.  I figured since it was already so colorful, I would keep the corners nuetral.  I'm still betting with myself that before I pin this first quilt to the backing, I change that dark center block on the right of the Ford center block.  If it were light pink, it would just flow better. 

Thanks for stopping by!  
~*~Trish~*~

Border Corner Options

I created 8 pink ribbon corner blocks for the quilt borders on the two quilts.  Once completed, I tested out the use of a black outline on the ribbon.  I've always like to see pink/black together.  I only made one set of pink/black ribbons so we'll see which one looks better.  I still have to cut the borders for now and then I'll audition them both.   The pink background fabric is what I will be using for one of the borders.  I love the design of this fabric and I try to use it every year.

Thanks for stopping by!  
~*~Trish~*~

Quilt 2 Assembled

I'm happy to say that the second quilt center is completely sewn.  This one was a little more challenging with all the extra add ons!  Now it's on to borders.  I've pretty much decided to add borders to each.  Although, they are a nice size now.  45" wide by about 50" long.  I may add a 2" inner border of white to each with a 5" border of pink outside of that.  So, I should end up around 51 wide by 56 long.  I'm also going to embroider some corner ribbon blocks.  I hope you like it!

Thanks for stopping by!  
~*~Trish~*~

Quilt 1 Assembled

I finished assembling sewing the center of the first Quilt for a Cure breast cancer quilt yesterday.  I'm happy with all the match up seams but the center blocks are bothering me.  I probably should have made the right half block a light color.  Why didn't I see that before when the individual blocks were laid out?  It's the right half block flanking the Ford center block. 

On to assembling the second quilt center.  I call them the centers because I'm thinking these quilts need borders.  I'm on a schedule to finish these.  I actually created a project plan to have them completed by the end of the month.  Now how techno-geeky is that?  So, based my plan, I have one day to decide if borders are needed and what they will look like.  But, if I finish the second quilt assembly today, I'm ahead a couple days :-)

Thanks for stopping by!  
~*~Trish~*~

Second Quilt Layout

I now have the quilt layout decided upon for the second Breast Center Quilt for the Cure quilt.  It seems that the more variety of blocks that are presented, the longer it takes to decide upon a favored layout.  Here it is..  There is only one block that kinda sticks out of place for me.  it's the big blue velvet bow on the middle left side.  But, there it will stay.  Now it's time to sew these two quilts together.  That should go pretty quick.  My favorite are the 4 center corner denim embroidered roses.

Thanks for stopping by!  
~*~Trish~*~

No Block Left Behind

When I was trimming most of the blocks in the second set of quilt blocks, there were about 8+ blocks that were not the correct size of 5" squared.  Donors are asked to create their quilt blocks with 5" square leaving 1/2 inch area around the square for seams.  My initial thought was to leave these couple out.  We all know when a block is too small, the quilt top does funny things.  Even an 1/8th too small makes an impact to the way the quilt lays.

Then, I stepped back and asked myself to make them work somehow.  I remembered I had a few blank precut 5" squares from previous quilt.  I then decided to applique the too small blocks onto the right size blocks.  Now, no block is left behind.  I'm pretty happy these turned out the way I wanted them to.  Now, I just need to figure out a layout for all these colorful blocks and then I'll be able to start sewing.

Thanks for stopping by!  
~*~Trish~*~