Question for Sarah or anyone else who can help re Month 1

[lsipes]

Hi - I am relatively new to quilting (started last August). I am having trouble fitting the centre star to the border with the round appliques on it. Have unpicked once and it has improved but still it looks as though either the star circle is too big or the outer border is too small. The star circle is not lying flat - it has a large margin overlapping the border and if you were to stuff it it would look like a sunhat and I am sure its not right!!! :| I am pretty sure that the star part of it has been correctly put together so I think the border section is not correct. Maybe I put the pattern pieces together incorrectly??? I joined it by sticking all the sections together on the black sewing lines - each section on the inner circle measures 1.25". Does anyone know what I am talking about and can anyone help? ops:

[Dawn S.]

I have been quilting for about 16 years. I took one try at sewing the center star circle into the pieced outer circle, and seeing each star tip move a little more off center, I quit that method, and ripped it out. Since my center star was on a stabilizer, I carefully trimmed the stabilizer to the solid black line, which is the stitching line. I then folded back the seam allowance and glued it (Elmer's Washable glue stick) to the interfacing. While the glue is still wet, the seam allowence can be manipulate in order to eliminate any puckers and folds that may appear. I was basically preparing a circle to be appliqued onto another circle. I then zig zagged it onto the larger circle, with a clear MonoPoly thread, and a very small zig zag. It could have also been hand appliqued (if I was careful not to get the glue out to the very edge, where my needle would be going through it). This was just an easier way for me to do it! I felt I had more control as to where each star point hit the pieced ring! I hope this helps you!

Dawn
In beautiful Northwest Montana

[Dawn S.]

Thank you so much for replying. It is now late at night for me, but I understand entirely what you are saying. Tomorrow I will unpick the centre from the border and try your suggestion. I will post tomorrow to tell you how it went. It is really nice to be able to post a problem and get a reply - I very much appreciate the effort and contribution.

[Dawn S.]

I did mine the same as Dawn did hers.

[Dawn S.]

Well I have now unpicked it and redone it the way you have suggested by appliqueing it to the border. It certainly sits much better and is now flat. Thank you for all the advice - I am now on to the applique part which seems to be going just fine!

Pixi
Qatar

[Dawn S.]

I think you are very brave doing this BOM if you only started quilting last year. Many of the well experienced USA quilters seem to be having problems and I certainly haven't found it easy - although to encourage you I think it is less daunting as you go on.
As I already said I found the patterns were very accurate and once I grasped the initial problem of understanding the registration marks and trimming the paper to the large L s and joining the paper at the small L and - checking that the squares were accurate - they fitted. It wasn't easy sewing the bits together but with perseverence it worked. Give my love to the Middle East I was there in November with my daughter. Muriel

[Dawn S.]

I am glad you have managed to attach the pieced border to your star. The only thing I think might be helpful to mention is that each month seems to involve inserting the completed part into a hole in the centre of the new blocks - or at least that is what happens in February and if your completed Jan is not the expected size you may have a further problem. I dont want to worry you, but this just occurred to me. Muriel

[Dawn S.]

I realise that I might have a problem later with fitting circles to other circles in one way or another. Its a bit worrying to be honest so I am not going to join anything together at this point. If there is a problem later I may have to redo some of the beginning bits but I will worry about that when I have to. I have now started on the applique blocks and already I think there is a problem!! I think the points are longer than the template especially the two smalll side ones - they go over the edge of the background. So I have to take it apart and see if I can undo the fusble webb and replace them. I think I am also tired which doesnt help so maybe I should start again tomorrow!

Its getting hot again here - my car read 38 degrees today. The wind is hot as well. I love living here and wish it could go on longer.

Thanks for your advice - its certainly very much appreciated!!

Pixi in Qatar!

[Dawn S.]

Pixi, I am so glad you finally had some success! And, as Muriel said, this is not an easy pattern for many experienced quilters, let alone someone new to quilting! You just need to keep in mind, there are no quilt police (as we say here in the US) so if you have to change something to make it easier for YOU to do it, then that it fine! It is always good to try to learn a new technique, and try the given directions, but if those are not working for you, it is okay to go out on your own. Like, I am not partial to raw edge applique, so for month two, I paper pieced mine. I have done a LOT of paper piecing, so this came easier to me than the applique would have. But, figuring out how to paper piece this could be a nightmare for someone else. This is just such a great pattern, with so many possibilities, that I will continue going forward, no matter what problems come along the way! Have fun with yours and don't hestitate to post questions when they arise, because there are a lot of us out here than can help you.

Okay, your new post just popped up. Have you added the outside frame on these diamonds yet? Is this outside frame/border what you are calling the background? The small point should be put onto the diamond BEFORE the frame/border is added, and it WILL stretch into the border area. But, once the border is added, it will "frame" that little point perfectly. It just looks like too long of a point. A picture of what you are talking about would help.



Dawn
In beautiful Northwest Montana

[Dawn S.]

Hi again. Don't worry about the side points going over the edge of the template. I had the same worry, but when you put it all together they worked out ok.
Muriel

[Dawn S.]

Hi to you both again - actually I have just realised why it goes over the edge of the background so I have taken those bits off - I have to cut yet more bits!! - and I think its going to be OK now. I will try and post a photo tomorrow but I may have a day of rest ! We are off to the desert and the Inland Sea for a picnic and a swim.

Trouble is, I wake up at night dreaming about the quilt! My kids would call me sad!

No doubt I will be posting before too long!

Love Pixi

[Dawn S.]

Hi Pixi. Well done, you are obviously making good headway. Enjoy your picnic and swim tomorrow. We went up to the picnic area in November. We have a friend here whose son and partner teach in the school for the refinery workers children in that area. Muriel