How to make a Friendship Star Flower

At the end of May my term as president 

of Uncommon Threads Quilt Guild will be over.

Members make out-going presidents a block to remember the year.

I liked this Friendship Star Flower block but could not find directions.

So I am writing the directions here.

Fabric requirements:

Fabric A - (3) 5" squares any flower color

Fabric B - (4) 5" squares any flower color

Fabric C - (2) 5" squares green preferred

Use any quilting cotton, solid or patterned.

The variety will make it special.

Mark a diagonal line on the reverse side of the B squares.

Pair two A squares with two B squares and 

pair the other two B squares with the two C squares.

Make half square triangles from the pairs.

Sew a quarter inch seam of each side of the marked line.

Cut the two halves apart between the parallel seams.

Now there are four half square triangle blocks in each color combination.

Trim each square to 4.5 inches including the center square.

Blok Lok is helpful with the half squares but not required.

The star can spin either way.

After trimming, sew the squares together like a 9 patch block.

Below is a finished block.

Remember to sign the block.

I like to spin the seams.

The block should measure 12.5 inches now.

Thanks! Happy Sewing.

 

More May finishes

I bought a quilt book with patterns for letters, numbers, & punctuation marks.

Our quilt guild agreed to make 30 mini quilts for new Habitat homeowners.

This one was fun to design and sew.

Finished with label and hanging sleeve.

One last photo.

I took these photos to show how to make a Friendship Star Flower block.

I used 5 inch blocks in 3 colors.

Color A is in the center.

Four half square triangles with colors A & B.

Four half square triangles with colors B & C.

Trim all the blocks to 4.5 inches.

Sew together as shown.

Block is 12.5 inches unfinished.

Now back to the Sewcialites 3 blocks.

Happy Sewing!

 

Early May Projects

Not yet two weeks into May and I have finished several projects.

First, I made little finger puppets for my preschool choir kids.

They sang about Noah and the Ark, so I made these wolves.

Surely wolves were on the ark?

Next, it was David's 10th birthday.

I asked what he wanted and he replied - a costume.

He chose a Renaissance doublet like I made for Noah Lesh several years ago.

Since I couldn't get the same fabric as the first doublet, Emily suggested anything with gold.

I found this maroon and gold decorator fabric at a local shop.

I added a gold cotton lining, gold trim, and gold buttons.

The finished doublet.

I used my serger and sewing machine.

There are 19 buttons! Four on each sleeve and eleven on the front.

Instead of buttonholes I used gold cord loops.

It will take help to get dressed in this heavy coat.

After the costume I finished a skirt and shoulder bag for Miss Ava.

This is the baguette pattern with an adjustable strap.

The lining is two pink fabrics because I didn't have enough of either one.

The baby quilt I shared in the previous post is now finished.

I used a multicolored stripe for the binding.

What's sewing at your place?

Happy sewing!

 

April Quilts

Uncommon Threads Quilt Guild members are participating in Sewcialites 3 Sew-along.

I cut out the setting blocks and started making blocks.

I used some stash fabric I put aside to make something now forgotten.

My cousin's daughter is expecting a baby soon and I thought these blocks were perfect for a baby quilt.

The Sewing House offered a deal on long-arm quilting.

I chose a pattern close to the hand quilted Baptist fan.

The backing is cotton flannel. I washed and dried the flannel before it was quilted.

Below is my first mini house quilt for Habitat.

There are words of affirmation in the clouds.

I hand quilted around the sun with yellow pearl cotton.

Below is my second mini house quilt top in progress.

Below is the finished flimsy.

I raw edge appliqued the cloud, sun, and sidewalk.

I used alphabet beads to decorate the windows with Faith, Hope, Love, Family, and Friends.

Flowers beads were sewn to the sidewalk edges.

A button makes a door knob for the door.

I finished the quilt with a hanging sleeve, facings, and a corner label.

I love the old cars on the backing fabric.

Next up - David wants a renaissance costume for his birthday.

So glad I kept this pattern after making a costume for Noah.

This pattern is out of print and selling for $60 on Etsy!

Happy Sewing, friends.

 

This & That in the Sewing Room

Lots of random projects from the sewing room.

I picked up a butterfly costume piece of fabric from quilt guild give-away table.

It was too small for Ava so I made it for her little cousin.

Still working on my Midnight Garden blocks.

I tried making some string filler blocks - the browns at the bottom.

A little bunny is checking out the garden.

Some paper pieced morning glories are in progress.

Another on-going project is the Sewcialites 3 block of the week.

This is my favorite so far.

A side trip into finger puppet making for Easter.

Tigers for Ava & Kenton.

Lions for their cousins Marshall & Elliott.

The inspiration came from this cute zoo fabric.

I made each child a zoo themed wide open bag.

Could be used to hold little cars, pencils, legos, you know, all the small things kids collect.

Each bag has a finger puppet inside.

Each bag is a little different as I tried different ways to sew the zippers.

Here are the Sewcialites 3 blocks that I have made into a baby quilt.

Nancy's youngest Mariah is expecting a baby soon.

Nancy would be so excited that her baby is having a baby.

This is a hug from me.

Another shift dress for Ava.

Above is the back. Below is the front.

The neckline and hem are edged with cream pique.

Interesting connection- Sylvia H.'s daughter-in-law's mother cut the fabric for me.

We discovered the connection as we talked about our children & grandchildren.

This morning I took my Midnight Garden blocks to our sew-in.

I tried them on the project wall to get an idea of how I might arrange the blocks.

Whew! That's about it for now.

Today is Mr. Martin's birthday.

Time for cake.

Happy Sewing!