A Season in Blue Quilt Along - "Blooming Star" Month 3

Welcome to "A Season in Blue" Quilt Along -

Let's learn how to make a quilt "glow" with this month's block.

Each month we are making individual blocks

from a selection of quilts found in our "A Season in Blue" book.

This will give you a chance to try some of the beautiful patterns

and grow as a quilter, as we create a Block Sampler.

For more information about this event, click here.

Our third month's blocks will be Shooting Stars from

the “Blooming Star” quilt on page 50 of our "A Season in Blue" book.

Please note: Fabrics in step-by-step photos and videos may vary from my blocks.

These will be provided to demonstrate the technique, and how to make your blocks

through the step-by-step photos and videos.

I will share with you the fabrics I will be using for each block, but

I encourage you to get creative this year and choose fabrics that you love!

STAR BLOCK

We will be making this Star block in a variety of fabrics!

Gather your supplies and follow the cutting directions on page 51 of the "A Season in Blue" book.

For our Block Sampler, you will need 5 Star Blocks.

Have fun picking out your fabrics and get creative with those color choices!

The directions below are to compliment the full directions in our book, A Season in Blue.

For full instructions, refer to pages 51-54.

Don't forget to visit our YouTube channel. If you need a little extra help,

click here to watch and get helpful tips for this block!

Are you ready to make some stars? For one block, you will need the following:

Cutting: From dark fabric, cut 12 Template A pieces.

From light fabric, cut a 2½" x 18" strip. Then cut 12 Template B triangles.

Each Star block is created from 12 A and 12 B pieces.

For our Block Sampler, we will be making 5 total star blocks. You will need 60 A and 60 B pieces total.

Starting with the dark A piece right side up in your hand.

Fold in half, right sides together, as shown.

Sew from the side point to the tip along top of the blade using a ¼" seam allowance.

Trim inside top tip of seam allowance, leaving at least ⅛" seam.

Note: Please notice that for step-by-step pictures, I am using the same darks to simplify the pictures and help you focus on the technique. For your block you can mix and match darks or keep them in the same fabric as you desire.

Turn the blade right side out and use a chopstick or blunt edge poker to fully turn point.

Center the seam on the backside of A piece and press blade firmly, pushing seam allowance to one side. Repeat for all A pieces.

Edyta's Tip: Sewing, turning, and pressing the A blades

goes very quickly if you're using a chain-piecing technique.

Next, take light B triangle piece and fold the top tip down ¼", wrong sides together, and finger press.

With wrong sides together, fold light B triangle in half lengthwise as shown.

Place dark blade A right side up, then place folded light B triangle on the right-hand edge of the A blade. Align all raw edges together and pin.

Lay a second dark A blade right side down atop the pinned A blade and sandwich the B "glow" between them. The light B triangle will be wedged between the two A blades.

Beginning with a backstitch to lock your seam, sew through all three pieces using a ¼" seam allowance. Repeat two previous steps to make 6 matching pairs of dark A blades with a light B triangle inserted between them in each seam.

From the wrong side, use your fingers to press the seam allowances open.

Press the light B triangle down in the center of the seam.

Gently press the seam allowances open.

Repeat steps to make and press six blade sets.

Sew the blade sets together in the same manner as before,

inserting a light B triangle between each pair of A blades.

Continue in the same manner until all six pairs of A blades have been joined into a star.

Cut five squares, 11" x 11" (after appliquing, you will trim to 10½" x 10½")

and four sashing strips, 2" x 10½".

(All background squares and sashing strips can be cut from a variety of lights.)

Press an 11" light background square. Using a touch of fabric stick glue on each star point, center it on the background square, then applique the star into the background

using hand or machine applique.

Note: When placing your star on the background, you can rotate or position as you desire. Please notice in my step-by-step I have my points pointing towards the corners of the background, where in the finished block, I rotated my star so the points are towards the side of the block so you can

see how it looks and choose your favorite!

See page 54 in your book for machine applique detailed directions.

Use Template C to prepare and applique the circle on the star.

For our Block Sampler, repeat steps to make a total of 5 Star blocks.

Using 2" x 10½" sashings, arrange and sew your blocks into a row.

Row size will be 56½" unfinished.

Congratulations! You have now made your "Blooming Star" blocks for your Sampler Quilt.

Here's is your Blooming Star color inspiration!

Blue Escape fabrics just GLOW in this design!

Oh, my heart just skipped a beat for Strawberries and Cream!

Great job everyone!

Oh I just can't wait to see how your color combinations

will come together.

Happy Quilting!

Don't forget to share your pictures with us on Instagram!

#aseasoninblue

A Season in Blue Quilt Along - "First Dance" Month 2

Welcome to "A Season in Blue" Quilt Along -

Let's keep the momentum going with some Nine Patch blocks!

Each month we are making individual blocks

from a selection of quilts found in our "A Season in Blue" book.

This will give you a chance to try some of the beautiful patterns

and grow as a quilter, as we create a Block Sampler.

For more information about this event, click here.

This month we making will be some sweet little Nine Patches from

the “First Dance” quilt on page 40 of our "A Season in Blue" book.

Please note: Fabrics in step-by-step photos and videos may vary from my blocks.

These will be provided to demonstrate the technique, and how to make your blocks

through the step-by-step photos and videos.

I will share with you the fabrics I will be using for each block, but

I encourage you to get creative this year and choose fabrics that you love!

NINE PATCH BLOCKS

We will be making this fun block in a variety of fabrics!

Gather your supplies and follow the cutting directions on page 41 of the "A Season in Blue" book.

For our Block Sampler, you will need 25 Nine Patches and 25 light background squares.

Have fun picking out your fabrics and get creative with those color choices!

Don't forget to visit our YouTube channel. If you need a little extra help making nine patches

from this First Dance quilt , then click here to watch and get helpful tips!

Let's get started with our 25 Nine Patches. I am going to use strip piecing to speed things up. In the book directions, I use 20" long strips , but for this project I'll be using 10 1/4" strips for more variety.

Cutting: 18 strips, 1¼" x 10¼" in blue.

15 strips, 1¼" x 10¼" in light.

Select and arrange 2 dark strips and 1 light strip to make your first A strip set.

We will make 7 strip sets.

Edyta's Tip: I like to mix and max my blues for a more scrappy look to my Nine Patches.

Pin and sew your strips together. Press towards the dark strips to complete one strip set.

Repeat to complete all 7 strip sets.

Don't forget to get creative with your fabric choices!

Arrange and sew 2 light strips and 1 dark strip to make a B strip set.

Press seams towards the dark strip.

For our Block Sampler, make 4 B strip sets.

Next, we will cut each strip set.

Edyta’s Tip: Make sure to use a fresh rotary blade for clean cuts, and then use your handy-dandy fabric markers to keep track of them all!

With your fresh rotary and a ruler, cut eight 1¼" wide units from each strip set.

For our Block Sampler, you will need 50, Unit A strip sets

and 25, Unit B strip sets to make a total of 25 Nine Patches.

You will have a few extra pieces. Feel free to use these for extra variety!

Select and arrange 2 Unit A, and 1 Unit B.

Pin and sew units together to make a Nine Patch. Press seams towards Unit A.

-

Each Nine Patch should measure 2¾" x 2¾" including seam allowances.

Trim where necessary. You will make 25 total Nine Patches.

I hope you're having SEW much fun selecting your color combinations!

Select your light fabrics for background squares and

follow the directions for cutting on page 41 of the the "A Season in Blue" book.

Edyta's Tip: The background squares are so cute and add a nice playful element to your quilt. You can use the same fabric for all of them. If you love a scrappy look like me, just go for it and use a nice variety.

For our Block Sampler, you will need 25 background squares 2¾" x 2¾".

Next, we are going to be sewing 2¾" light background squares and Nine Patches as shown above.

Sew a Nine Patch to Background Squares, then sew into rows.

Remember to rotate every other one as shown above and pin.

Row size will be 5" x 56½" unfinished.

If your row is big, you can trim down to 56½", or adjust your 1/4" seam allowance between your units.

Your rows should look like this once assembled.

Here's is your First Dance color inspiration!

I'm using some of the Blue Escape fabrics - let these gorgeous blues wash over you!

Or how about these Strawberries and Cream fabrics?

Aren't they SEW delicious!

Congratulations! You have made your First Dance row for your Sampler Quilt.

Happy Quilting -

Until next month.

Don't forget to share your pictures with us on Instagram!

#aseasoninblue

A Season in Blue Quilt Along - "Winter Village" Month 1

Welcome to "A Season in Blue" Quilt Along -

I cannot wait to get started sewing with you!

Each month we are making individual blocks from a selection of quilts

found in our "A Season in Blue" book.

This will give you a chance to try some of the beautiful patterns

and grow as a quilter, as we create a Block Sampler.

For more information about this event, click here.

Our first months blocks will be two cute homes from our “Winter Village” quilt on page 65 of our "A Season in Blue" Book.

House 1 and 20.

Please note: Fabrics in step-by-step photos and videos may vary from my blocks.

These will be provided to demonstrate the technique, and how to make your blocks through the

step-by-step photos and videos.

I will share with you the fabrics I will be using for each block, and I would encourage you to get creative this year and choose fabrics that you love.

HOUSE 1

Here is a color inspiration for this adorable block.

We begin by cutting House 1. Follow the directions on page 66 of the

"A Season in Blue" book and lay out all your pieces for your first house.

Don't forget to visit our YouTube channel. Last year we did a Winter Village Quilt Along and learned how to make all of the blocks. If you have missed it, click here to watch and get helpful tips for House 1.

Start by sewing 2 light rectangles with 1 blue rectangle to create a chimney square.

This unit should be 3-1/2″ x 3-1/2″ unfinished.

Position your chimney square horizontal with your roof rectangle right sides together.

Mark diagonal line. Stitch following this line.

Trim and press, pushing seam allowance towards dark.

Next, position light, background square, light sides together, with roof unit.

Draw a diagonal line. Sew along the line. Trim to the right a 1/4″ away from it.

Press open, this time pushing seam allowance towards the light.

Your roof unit should be 3-1/2″ x 6-1/2″ unfinished size.

Next, we will assemble our house by sewing top and bottom blue rectangles to the light window square.

Pin and sew side rectangles to complete the house.

Edyta’s Tip: Be aware of your fabric pattern! Start first by laying out your fabric pieces and pay attention to the direction of your print.

Push seam allowance towards dark fabric.

Sew all units together; house and roof.

Congratulations! You have just built your first house!

Can't wait to see your color option.

For our second house, we selected House 20.

Here is a color inspiration for this block.

Cut your pieces for House 20.

Follow the directions on page 78 of the Winter Village Pattern and lay out all your pieces for House 20.

Don't forget to visit our YouTube channel. Last year we did a Winter Village Quilt Along and learned how to make all of the blocks. If you have missed it, click here to watch and get helpful tips for House 20.

For your wall units, sew the top, middle, and bottom blue rectangles to the light window squares.

Next sew the blue rectangle to the light door. Pin and sew longer blue rectangles

in between each section, then sew all together and press.

For the roof unit, lay your light sky squares right sides together on top of your blue roof triangle.

Use your fabric pencil and ruler to draw a diagonal line on both of the light sky squares.

Sew on the line, then trim 1/4″ away from the line. Next, press your Flying Geese unit open.

For the chimney, sew a light rectangle to each side of a blue square and press.

For the chimney, sew a light rectangle to each side of a blue square and press.

Complete your house by sewing all units together row by row.

Pin, sew and press to finish.

Congratulations! You have just built your second house and completed this months blocks!

Can't wait to see your color options.

I'm using some of the Blue Escape fabrics - They are SEW dreamy!

For anyone using the Strawberries and Cream, your blocks are SEW yummy!

Happy Quilting - Until next month.

Don't forget to share your pictures with us on Instagram!

#aseasoninblue