Tutorial: Twinkle, twinkle little star!

I thought today I would demonstrate how I made a little star using my technique for foundation pieced English paper pieced hexagons. I worked with 1/2" hexagons! You can find a master template for the hexagons here.

The first step is to draft the star points. I make marks at the top and bottom edge of a pair of hexagons. These marks will be the width of the base of the star point. You can make the base of the star points as wide or narrow as you want however I would not make it as wide as the hexagon itself because there is just too much seam allowance for a little piece. It is much easier to baste with a narrower base.

 I connect the marks on the diagonal.

I repeat on the other diagonal.

I make two more pairs and then cut them out.

If you are new here my foundation piecing method is explained in my January 19, 2014 post. It is really important to shorten your stitch length! The basting is explained in my January 20, 2014 post.

Here you see a foundation pieced star point on the hexagon. When trimming the excess be sure to leave at least 1/4" seam allowance but 3/8" is even better. I just trim with my scissors. If the seam allowance is too large when I come to baste it I can trim a little bit.

 Here you can see a basted hexagon from the front and the back. The paper is still in place. Notice how the fabric is folded and basted at the base of the star point. Normally the folds would all be in the same direction but in this instance the fold in the lower right corner has changed direction. It makes for a sharp corner.

The basted hexagons are arranged and ready to be stitched together.

Once basted they can be stitched together and a center is added. I'll do a little video in the near future to show you how I set in the center hexagon.

The little star is complete and it measures a dainty 2 1/2" square.

 I used one of these stars to make my miniature quilt Bony Fingers.

I plan to use the star I made in this tutorial as an embellishment on another quilt so it will be appliqued in place. I gave the star a good press with a hot iron and spray starch. I pressed the front and the back. The basting threads were removed and then the paper was removed. To remove the papers I gently opened the seam allowances that were basted under.

I remove the papers from the sides of the star point. My stitch length was shorted so the paper comes out effortlessly.

The last step is to remove  the paper that was the star point from the center. I neatly folded the seam allowances back into place.

And here you see the finished star ready to be appliqued to my quilt!

While this small star looks difficult it is actually quite easy. Just take your time and have fun! If it doesn't turn out it doesn't take much fabric so it isn't a huge loss! If you do make a little star I would love to hear how you made out!

And speaking of stars, Nellie of Nellie's Needles has finished Step 4 of her Soupcon QAL quilt. She wrote "It was a surprise to see how the set in squares border glowed when it was all constructed. I didn't see that effect until it was all sewn together. I'm in love with this piece". She took the words right out of my mouth! That is the very reason I love this border....it really does glow! Nellie's use of the striped fabric just adds a soupcon of excitement! Nellie is working on a second quilt using the basics of my Soupcon QAL pattern and she is creating something really wonderful. You can see it and read about it here.

That's it for today! Until I post again happy sewing!
Karen H

Tutorial: Basting hexagons my way

If you are here for the Grow Your Blog Event you can enter my giveaway by leaving a comment here.

I promised to show you how I baste my hexagons for English paper piecing (EPP). I enjoy basting because it is a mindless activity but even so I want it to go quickly. At the end I want a neatly basted hexagons with smooth folds and sharp corners so that each will  fit precisely (or close to it) with its neighbour!

To start I use a tiny dab of my glue stick to hold the paper to the wrong side of the fabric. If I'm cutting multiple hexagons I'll often glue the paper to the fabric and then cut the hexagon out with scissors. Unlike other piecing methods the seam allowance doesn't have to be an exact 1/4". Here you can see a hexagon that I cut out. It isn't perfect but there is enough seam allowance all around so that I can baste it!

I thread my needle and make a knot at the end so it is ready to go. I like to use inexpensive thread like serger thread. To start I fold the fabric over the paper and I pinch it with my right thumb and index finger at the very edge of the corner.

I rest the edge to the left of the corner against the ball of my index finger (the pointer) and I use my index finger roll the fabric and as it starts to fold over the paper.

I catch the fold with my right thumb to hold it in place;

I then use my left thumb and index finger to hold the fold -it is all one smooth fluid movement! I am ready to start sewing

I bring my thread up from the right side of the fabric just below the fold and take my needle down through the fold and back up close to where the next fold will be made. My goal is to have a smallish stitch over the fold because it will hold it down nice and snug!

I turn the hexagon a little and  repeat the process.

I continue in this manner until I get to the last corner. With my right thumb I fold the fabric and sweep it under the folded fabric for the last side. I make my stitch over the fold.  I take one more stitch in the same way along the first edge that was basted and clip my thread. I don't knot my thread when I'm finished because it will just slow me down when it is time to remove the basting thread.

This is my hexagon from the back. You can see that the stitches are smaller at the corners.

This is my hexagon from the front. You can see that the stitches on the right side are larger. In addition to keeping the folds flat and snug, stitching in this way makes the removal of the basting thread much easier because the stitches on the right side are large. HELPFUL TIP: I use a darning needle (the end with the eye of the needle) to pull out my basting threads. These large stitches make it easy for me to slide the needle under the stitches and pull the thread out.

I find this method of basting quick and easy.

When I'm basting one of my foundation pieced hexagons if there is a fold in the center of a side as is the case with the point of a star I often take an extra stitch to hold if flat.

Pictures are great but sometimes it helps to see live action so I thought I would shoot a video to demonstrate how I baste hexies! It is action packed - snags, tangles and basting all in two minutes of  amateurish video (my first one if truth be told) but it gives you the idea. I considered re-shooting the video but decided that it would be good for you to see that everything doesn't always go smoothly! That includes the shooting - please excuse the blurry shot! I hope the video will be helpful! Once you get the rhythm of the movement down pat the basting goes really fast and it is meditative once you get into the zone! Best of all you have nice sharp corners and smooth folds resulting in perfectly basted hexies!

I hope you've enjoyed this quick tutorial and that you'll give it a try. Until I post again, happy basting!

Karen H

My Give-Away, Another hexagon tutorial and some Soupcon blocks

If you got here by way of 2 Bags Full's Grow Your Blog Party welcome and it isn't too late to enter my draw for a chance to win one of my hardcover needle books. You can see them here and enter by leaving a comment telling me if you would prefer the teal or the pink needle book should you win! There are more than 500 blogs to explore and some wonderful prizes to be won!

UPDATE: Have you visited The Needle and Thread Network? Why not check out WIP Wendnesday here. There's lots of inspiration to be found!

Okay it is time for another tutorial so let's continue to have some hexagon fun using my foundation pieced English paper piecing technique! So far I've showed you how to make this block

which is a variation of this block. There was a tutorial posted on January 19.

Before I get stared I want to share a HELPFUL TIP about foundation piecing. Sometimes it helps if you think about the paper hexagon with the lines on it as the wrong side of your fabric. The blank side of the paper hexagon would be the right side of your fabric. Have you ever cut patches, marked the sewing lines on the wrong side and then sewn your patches together? Well instead of drawing our lines on the fabric we are drawing them on the paper which will be attached to the wrong side of the fabric!

Today I'll make yet another variation of my star block! You will need a sheet of 1" hexagons which you can find here. Start by drawing your sewing lines to form the start points on the hexagons; you can find the directions in my January 19, 2014 post. You'll need six star points and one hexagon for the center.

You will now draw a horizontal line through the middle of each of the six hexagons. The pink line across the middle of the star point is the dividing line for the colours in the star point and the pink dashed lines on either side are registration marks that are used to line up the fabric. The numbers 1, 2 and 3 refer to the pieces and the order of placement.

To start you will need two strips of fabric for the star point. The should measure 1 1/2" x 6 1/4". Sew them together along the long edge an press the seam open. Cut six 1" slices. These pieces will be #1.

HELPFUL TIP: If you haven't tried my foundation pieced English paper piecing technique and you might want to cut your patches just a little large, say by 1/4". This extra little bit will give you some wiggle room.

You are going to want to line up the seam line with the pink dashed line on your hexagon template. For me the easiest way to do this is to draw a line on the other side of the hexagon template (the second hexagon in the picture below). Apply a dab of glue stick on the side of the hexagon without the sewing lines and be sure that the glue is in the area of the star triangle. Place the wrong side of your slice on the hexagon making sure to line up the seam line with the pencil line. HELPFUL TIP: Make sure that the fabrics are in the same position on each hexagon. I chose to have the darker fabric at the base an the lighter fabric at the point.

Another method would be to use a light box (a window will do) to line up the seam line with your line.

Line up a thin ruler or piece of cardboard on the line between #1 and #2, fold the paper back and trim the fabric leaving somewhere between 1/8" and 1/4".

Cut twelve pieces of fabric that measure 1 1/2" x 2 1/2". These will be your background pieces #2 and #3. Take one background piece and place it right side together with the star point. Shorten your stitch length and sew the background along the sewing line between #1 and #2, fold back the paper and trim the seam allowance down if necessary. I like to make sure that it is just inside the corner so that there is no bulk at the corner when I baste the fabric to the paper. For more detailed instructions refer to my post on January 19.

Repeat these steps for the other side and sew the seam between pieces #1 and #3. Your hexagon foundation piecing is completed so all you need to do is trim the excess fabric being sure to leave a generous seam allowance all the way around. I like to leave about 3/8" because it makes turn under and basting much easier.

If this is your first star please refer to my January 19 post for information about basting, especially along the base of the star point.

And here you have the finished star! I hope you like this one too because I've got more to come!

In five days I'll release Part 3 of my Soupcon Quilt Along pattern. I continue to be amazed at the creativity of those taking part! If I had to choose a favourite block it would virtually impossible. They are all so different and all so beautiful. Don't believe me? When take a look at all the eye candy on the Soupcon FLICKR group! You should visit to see what the block looked like before and then after it was embellished! They are awesome.

Jean Cockburn made oodles of blocks and she is now busy embellishing them.  What I love about this one is that the scalloped embroidered edge softens the hard edges so that all I see is gentle curves. It looks line hand painted china!

In this block Jean used a wishbone stitch for the leaves and there are little fuchsia French knots all around the center hexagon. Simple embroidery with dramatic results, beautiful results!

Since Jean last showed this block she has added curlicues and French knots and the result is a whimsical block chock full of coral-coloured goodness!

Jean has also embellished this block! The little delicate asterisks with French knots remind me of dandelion fluffs! Again, just a little bit of embroidery and the look of the block is changed in the most wonderful way!

Did you think Jean was done? Well you would be wrong because here is her fifth block embellished! Isn't it great? It looks like it has been beaded but those are lovely little French knots and lazy daisy stitches. Fabulous!

HUGE APOLOGY HERE! The following block was made by Talb9999. I had incorrectly attributed it to the wrong maker. Talb9999 embellished her block with little rosebuds. She was asked if these are wrapped ribbon but she said she didn't have any ribbon the right size so she used material and doubled it over to avoid rough edges. This is yet another embellishment that never occurred to me!

Happy Appliquer's sister-in-law made this block. She has embellished it with flowers, leaves and one fat bee who is drunk on nectar! Isn't this block gorgeous?

Sheila has completed her embroidery and man oh man is it lovely! The red embroidery really enhances the lovely robin's egg blue design. It never ceases to amaze me what a different a little bit of embellishment can make!

The very talented embroiderer Nellie has come up with yet another masterpiece. You can read about how Nellie embroidered the border of her block here. You really need to see this one close-up to appreciate the intricate design she has worked. 

Stitchin Witch had completed step 1 and she is off to a great start! Notice how she has alternated gold and white paisleys! It is very subtle but very effective!

I just checked back and now she has completed step 2! See what a difference a little bit of embroidery can make? It looks fuller and richer and gorgeouser (technically I should have said more gorgeous but to me gorgeouser sounds more expressive)!

Phew! Lots of pictures and lots of words. Hope you enjoyed both! Until I post again happy sewing and don't forget to go here and leave a comment to be entered in the draw to win a hardcover needle book!

Karen H