ShellyQ

Whip stitch two quarter star units together to form halves (Pic 8a) adding more squares in where appropriate (Pic 8b)

Whip stitch the two halves together, this is the trickiest part of this block as you are sewing where all eight star points meet. Just take your time, get as good as a match in the center as possible, you may have to ease a little to achieve this. Fold all the dog ears out of the way and put some extra stitches in the center to hold everything (Pic 9)

Your two halves joined (Pic 10a) Add the last two squares to your block (Pic 10b

ShellyQ

Layout you remaining pieces as shown (Pic 11) This is how these will be added to the block

ShellyQ

Start a thread in the corner of a trapezoid as shown. Lay this along the edge of a square right sides together as shown (Pic12a)

Whip stitch this seam, starting at the star point and working outwards along the square (Pic 12b) Fasten off. I have chosen to stitch in this direction as we have to do a little finishing off on the outside edges and this is easier to do if you don’t have to start a new thread for just a couple of stitches

Restart thread back in the same corner of the trapezoid that you just started the previous thread. Turn work and fold, so that the pieces needing to be stitched, line up. Square will be facing you. Whipstitch this seam and fasten off

Add the next trapezoid in a similar manner (Pic 12c) working so that the last seam that you stitch will bring your thread to the center of the outside edge of the bock, (Pic 12d) where the overlapping trapezoids need to be joined

ShellyQ

Bring your needle and thread through to the front of your work and make 3 - 4 small applique stitches to hold the pieces (Pic 13a)

This is to prevent a hole at the seamline, which will be where your paper finishes. You need to stitch far enough so that the work will hold but not so far that your hand sewing will get chomped by the rotary cutter when you trim your block (Pic 13b)

ShellyQ

Add in your next trapezoid in such a manner so that again on your final seam you are heading towards the outside edge of your block, the corner this time. (Pic 14a)

Whip stitch a little beyond the edge of the paper, about an 1/8th of an inch (Pic 14b) Fasten off

ShellyQ

Continue adding trapezoids until you have finished (Pic 15)

ShellyQ

Give your block a press and lay it right side down on your cutting mat. Lay the 1/4” line on your ruler along the edge of the paper, linig up the side edge of the paper against a vertical line on your ruler (Pic 16a)

Trim along the edge of your ruler with a rotary cutter to make a nice tidy 1/4” seam allowance (Pic 16b

ShellyQ

Repeat for all four sides of your block. You can also tidy up the dog ears at this stage too. You now have a hand pieced block with a nice tidy 1/4” seam allowance ready to be machine sewn. (Pic 17)

I like to leave the papers and basting in until I am ready to use the block, no particular reason for this just preference lol.

Any way that’s me for this month. Hope you have found it useful and informative. Will see you next month and in the mean time Happy Sewing :D

Next time, Drunkards Path for cheats :wink:

Izy

Great Tutes as per usual Shellyq - this is how I started out and most of my blocks in my first sampler quilt were created this way, it definitely eased me into quilting without tooo much anxiety as there is a certain amount of 'allowance' in this method for the beginner - so I discovered and its a great way to design your own blocks too Just draw out a square whatever size and design you want cut on the lines and away you go :D

ksusan

Fantastic tutorial, ShellyQ--- I will try to paper piece the second pattern.
I did the hexagon years ago and loved the process, but when I used other shapes, I didn't know how to properly handle those points with all the extra fabric (dog ears). You technique makes so much sense.

You obviously took time and effort for the entire tutorial for us. I can't thank you enough!!!!!! :) :) :thumbup:

Piecefully yours,
Kay Susan