It is a new week, my Shining Stars, and which means new stitching enjoyable and a brand new prize! At the moment we’re formally in Week 2 of the Shining Star quilt sew alongside. This week we reduce, sew, press AND trim. Phew! It seems like quite a bit, however I do know you are able to do it.

Making the flying geese models is the extra technical half within the Shining Star blocks so I figured we would get them out of the way in which early after which rock ‘n roll by way of these improv log cabins for a pair weeks. Sound good?

Shining Star Quilt Provides

The beauty of this quilt is that you could make it with probably the most naked minimal quilting instruments. Since I pop round to a couple completely different rulers only for ease (and since I have already got them available), I am going to hyperlink to them under. I like a wider ruler for chopping a number of Background strips (a video tutorial under on why) and a shorter, smaller ruler for trimming the flying geese models.

Lower Material

First issues first, we are going to sort out chopping after which transfer on to the flying geese. Honk! Honk! 😉

Tip #1: Preserve your cloth organized.

I’ve talked about this in previous sew alongs, however if you happen to’re new right here, my favourite solution to keep organized with my cloth is to put it out and take a photograph. Here is a photograph from Week 1 the place I did simply that. This fashion I haven’t got to scratch my head and marvel later.

It is a nice reference as a result of within the subsequent step after we reduce, the material can get a little bit combined up.

Tip #2: Stack your cloth for chopping.

After ironing your cloth, divide your Colour 1 and Colour 2 cloth into two piles. Every pile can have 9 materials (18 whole) if you’re making the throw. In case you are making the limited-color model and utilizing yardage, you may skip this half.

From every Colour pile I divided the material once more into one stack of 4 and one stack of 5 fats quarters. I will reduce by way of this a lot cloth directly as a result of my rotary cutter blade is actually sharp. In case you are utilizing a boring blade, you’ll have some hassle getting by way of that a lot cloth.

In case you are new to chopping, you do not have to stack cloth in any respect. First attempt the chopping with one or two layers of material after which add extra layers as you are feeling comfy. I often max out at about six layers of material.

Chopping Material 101

I’ve two movies on chopping cloth that may assist if you’re new to the method. The video under demonstrates the fundamentals in chopping cloth. Within the instance I’m chopping yardage.

I am debating whether or not or to not get into cloth grain…hmmm. OK, how about this. In case you are having points together with your lengthy slim strips bowing within the center, which means your cloth is actually off grain. Here’s a video on the right way to repair that. Solely rip your yardage. Do not rip your fats quarters. You could lose an excessive amount of cloth.

This subsequent video is an Instagram reel that rapidly exhibits how I like to chop numerous strips precisely.

1. Line up the rules in your ruler with the trimmed edge and the underside fold of your cloth.
2. Multiply the quantity of strips you need by the strip width. On this instance I would like 5 strips (principally as a result of my ruler isn’t extensive sufficient to do extra). 5 x 1.5″ = 7.5″. So I line up my ruler on the 7.5″ guideline and begin chopping backwards. WHY?? As a result of the added weight of the ruler stops the material from shifting whereas I reduce which implies MORE ACCURACY. It additionally goes sooner as soon as you determine the maths.

Tip #3: Lower surgically if you wish to preserve greater scraps.

In the event you reduce actually rigorously, this sample offers you some good cloth scrap chunks. It does take extra effort, although. Beneath is Colour 1 and the way I reduce to get the biggest scrap items afterwards.

See that good huge chunk of scrap leftover? For now I’ll set these apart so I’ve numerous selection to select from when selecting my little sashing squares.

You can too see that with among the leftover cloth I went forward and reduce 2.25″ strips for future scrappy binding. Another excuse I like this sample is that if you happen to reduce rigorously you’ll have sufficient scraps to make binding!

Tip #4: Lower your binding strips from scraps!

I like scrappy binding and it is such a pleasure to maximise the material you’ve slightly than throwing these scraps within the bin. Beneath I reduce Colour 2 and I used to be in a position to get pretty lengthy 2.25″ binding strips from the fats quarter.

Make Flying Geese

Your cloth is reduce so let’s make some geese. On web page two of the Shining Star sample there’s a hyperlink to a non-public video tutorial on the right way to make these flying geese models. Skip to minute 20 for the tutorial.

I mark cloth otherwise primarily based on how huge it’s and what number of items there are. For a full rundown on marking cloth and quilts, take a look at this submit, Quilt Marking Instruments: Totally different Methods To Draw Pointers.

For the Shining Star throw quilt, there are fairly a couple of of those flying geese squares, so for the primary batch of stitching on the big sq. I primarily used the creasing methodology.

Afterward I switched to the stitching tape methodology, however I am getting forward of myself. Let’s break these strategies down.

Methodology 1: Marker

This Dritz water soluble marker could be very straightforward to see and washes away with water. I wish to line up a couple of, level to level, and mark all of them on the identical time.

Methodology 2: Crease

You should use a hera marker and even simply your finger nail to make creases. With this many squares, I selected to take them over to my urgent mat and use my iron. I discovered that if I stacked a pair on high of one another, I may crease them two at a time.

Methodology 3: Stitching Tape

Relying in your stitching floor this tape could or could not be just right for you. I converted to utilizing the stitching tape as a information as soon as I began stitching only a single sq. to the flying geese models. Once I was stitching two squares to a big sq., the material was so huge I could not see the tape.

Tip #6: Pin. (At the least at first)

Here is the factor with pinning and I am certain you already comprehend it—the bigger the stitching space the extra you should pin as a result of cloth shifts because it makes its approach by way of a stitching machine. When stitching two squares to those massive sq. items, you in all probability ought to pin.

I imply, perhaps if you happen to sew actually slowly you may get away with not pinning, however who desires to stitch actually slowly? Not I!

Tip #7: Chain piece your flying geese models.

It is a nice alternative to put out your models, pin after which chain piece them unexpectedly. The extra you may pin, sew and press in batches, the faster the method. (Chain piecing is while you frequently sew with out snipping your thread.)

(In the event you’re questioning about my stitching cupboard, I wrote a overview on it right here, The Greatest Stitching Cupboard For Quilting & Crafting.

Tip #8: Do not simply trim the canine ears.

I do know it is tempting to go snip snip together with your scissors and transfer on to the subsequent step, however these flying geese models end ever so barely bigger than 5.5″ x 10.5″ so you actually do should trim them down.

I am sorry, I am sorry! I believed some slight trimming can be higher than 95% of you developing quick and getting pissed off. Plus this manner your geese end sooooo tidy and excellent. Watch the video tutorial within the sample for a full demo on trimming.

Tip #9: Add some tape to your ruler.

In case you are having hassle realizing what to line up in your ruler when trimming the flying geese, add some guides with washi tape or painter’s tape. I even use a Sharpie typically to attract dots, strains and arrows to assist me see what’s what. With some cleaning soap and water the Sharpie marks wash off.

Obtained questions on chopping or making flying geese? Ask them under within the feedback or within the Suzy Quilts Patterns Fb group! We’re right here to assist and ship some encouragement your approach.

Week 2 Sponsor & Prize

Heather Alexander Longarm Quilting is our Week 2 sponsor. Heather is gifting away FREE edge to edge longarm quilting on any throw quilt. She not solely quilts fantastically, Heather additionally quilts rapidly! So if in case you have a deadline, she’s prepared to work with you.

Get 25% off longarm quilting in your Shining Star quilt from Heather Alexander Longarm Quilting now by way of 2022. You will need to point out this deal when filling out the information kind.

Beneath is an instance of a few of her work. Kim Vogelsang made this Shining Star variation and Heather quilted it. For a restricted time it’s a quilt package at Crimson Tate.

Find out how to Win

• Put up a pic to Instagram. The photograph immediate for Instagram this week is to submit an image of your Shining Star progress. Use #ShiningStarQuiltSA within the caption.
• You will need to have a public Instagram profile to take part.
• Every photograph posted is an entry and you may enter as many occasions as you need in a single week. As soon as the week is over, these posts don’t rely within the subsequent week’s giveaway. Each week we begin recent.
• Your photograph have to be posted between Friday, July 15, and Friday, July 22. The winner can be picked randomly from all qualifying posts and introduced at roughly 4:00 p.m. on the twenty second. Good luck!