Postage Stamp Stars

 I seem to have an abundance of postage stamp blocks.  They are "cheater" squares, chain pieced rather that sewn individually with each square unique.  Feel free to cut individual 1.5 inch squares if you prefer, but I used strips and the tutorial posted here.  Just make strip sets of 4 1.5 inch scraps and sub cut into 1.5 inches.  When sewn together, these little squares should be 4.5 inches and will form the center of your star.

 Other than the center square, everything else can be cut from 2.5 inch squares of colored and background fabric using the easy angle and companion angle rulers.  If you don't like the rulers, then use your favorite flying goose method.  As long as you unfinished block measures 2.5 by 4.5 you will be good to go.

 I will go through the ruler method though, because it is my favorite.  The "sky" in this case is the same color as your center square.  Use the easy angle ruler with 2.5 inch strips placed right sides together.  You will need four pairs of triangles.

 From the background fabric you will cut four 2.5 inch squares.

 In addition you will also use the companion angle ruler to cut the "goose" portion of the block.  You will need four geese.  I like to stack my fabric 4 high and get them all from the same cut, but you can also cut them out one by one.

 Start by sewing a one side of the sky to the goose.  Press with the seam going away from the goose.

 Next sew the left side of the sky to the goose.  Press

 Repeat for all four geese.  Remove the dog ears.

 All you subunits are now ready to go.  Lay them out as a nine patch.  Make sure that the geese form the background and the sky is adjacent to the center block.

 Sew one background square to each end of the side geese.  Sew the other two geese to the top and the bottom of the center square.  Press the center section seams toward the center of the block and the side portions away from the center so that the seams will nestle.

 Finally, sew the sides onto the center and you are ready to go.

You could also use a string block, a crumb block, or even a novelty fabric as the 4.5 inch center square.  There are so many possibilities to try.  

Slow Stitch Sunday

Since I'm going to be gone for two weeks of August, and frantically trying to catch up for the two weeks after that, I worked ahead on my sampler blocks today.  I've been on a bit of an organizational kick this weekend, and so as soon as I was done, I ironed some freezer paper templates onto the leftover hand dyes so that I could put the rest away.  So far "away" is on top of the GO! cutter, thinking that I will make some drunkards path blocks out of them all.
Now I've got a stack of applique blocks ready to prep when it gets calm as well as gobs of pictures to start putting tutorial directions together for next month.  Sydney got home from camp yesterday and immediately left for sleepover.  That meant she slept most of the afternoon and I got quite a bit of work done.  Kurt has taken the other two to the national weight lifting match in Port St. Lucie.  He just texted to let me know they would not be home for dinner.  Poor guy.  He said it was cold and loud and long.  Hopefully I'll be able to applique a few more orange peel blocks after Sydney and I enjoy the macaroni and cheese that she chose for dinner.  First though, I'll head over to Kathy's Quilts to see what other slow stitching people are up to on Sunday.  

ScrapHappy Saturday - Red Racing

These red postage stamp blocks are the gift that just keeps giving and giving.  

At this point they are ready to be turned into 16 patch postage stamp stars.  All the bits are ready to go, I just need to sew them together.
What are you up to on ScrapHappy Saturday?  Use the linky tool below so that we can all visit and admire your progress.

Pink Alternate Blocks

 Pardon the photos on this one.  Pink squares form the bottom two corners of the quilt, which is in an awkward position on my design wall.
You will need 24 2.5 inch squares in pink.  Take 16 of them and combine with background squares to make 8 four patches in pink and white.  Combine the remaining squares into two patches.

Arrange the squares so that they form an arc around each block as shown.  Each corner is a mirror image of the other.  

Purple Alternate Blocks

 Purple will form the upper corners of the sampler quilt.
You will need 24 2.5 inch squares in purple.  Combine 16 of them with background squares to make 8 four patches.
4 of these four patches will be used to surround each purple block as shown in the picture.  Combine the remaining purple squares to make 4 two patches.  They will make up half of a four patch in the center of the alternate squares.

Here is the upper right corner, it is just a mirror image of the left corner.
If you have already finished your light blue squares you can complete two squares that are half purple and half light blue.

Row 3 Assembly

Light and dark blue together form the third row of our quilt.  Along with the green blocks forming the bottom half of the alternate blocks, we are able to assemble an entire row!
Light blue sampler blocks go on the right and left with dark blue sampler blocks in the center.
In addition to the sampler stars you will need 3 alternate blocks.
The center square is blue on the top half and green on the bottom half.
On the right and left you will make two mirror image blocks.  They are both green on the bottom, but the top portion is half dark blue and half light blue.
Assemble the alternate blocks using the directions found on the RSC15 tab.  You may no assemble the entire row or save the completed blocks for later.  

Yellow Alternate Blocks

 The yellow alternate squares will form an arc above the yellow block on the left of the quilt.  With a mirror image over the yellow block on the right of the quilt.

You will need 18 2.5 inch squares in yellow.  Sew 12 of these squares together with background squares to form 6 four patches.  In addition, make two 2 patches of yellow with yellow.  The last two yellow squares will remain single for now.  You may combine the yellow two patches together with a 4.5 inch background square to make a partial block.
If you have already made your green alternate blocks, you will be able to combine the partial yellow block with a partial green block.  Notice that the center square is a four patch made with two yellow and two green squares.  

Red Alternate Block Directions

There is a tutorial for making alternate blocks.  Look for the link on the RSC15 tab at the top of the page.
I thought that we would be able to put together the entire bottom row this month, but unfortunately there are just a few brown squares keeping us from that quite yet.  Still, you can get the four patches done and even assemble partial blocks if you like.
You will need 25 2.5 inch squares in red along with background squares of the same size.
First you will need 8 four patches which are red and white.  In addition you will need three two patches with red.  Finally, you will need two single squares of red.  Arrange the four patches so that they form a large "M" over the two red blocks on the bottom row.  If you are feeling very energetic, you can add 4.5 inch squares of background fabric between the four patches and assemble partial blocks with two four patches joined with the larger background square in the center.  Each of these partial blocks represents one third of the alternate block.
I a planning to post a series of posts with directions for different color combinations.  I will put links to each post on the RSC15 tab so that you can check back when you are ready to begin working on your alternate blocks.  

New Tab

I made a new Tab for tutorials.  I seem to keep making the same things over and over using wonderful directions already published by other people.  It seemed like it might be handy to have a list of links and pictures all in one place.  I might someday categorize or organize them, but for now, at least the links will be easier to find.  All of the links are to free tutorials that I have personally used and are up to date as far as I know.  If any of that changes, please let me know and I will try to keep things up to date.  

T-Shirt Quilt Done

I settled in with HBO on demand this afternoon and finished the binding on Miranda's T-Shirt Quilt while watching The Good Lie and The Devil Wears Prada

Then after dinner I made a pillowcase to put it into.  I googled the same tutorial for a hot dog pillowcase with French seams that I used for the last few t-shirt quilts.  I was out of exactly the same fabrics, but I found some other yellow and greens that looked good together.  

Miranda and her mom will come to pick it up on Saturday.  She just got back from her college orientation and will be leaving for UF in just about a month.  I hope she plans to take her quilt with her.