Notice to new members intending to register - from January 9th 2012

lil peep · #1 05-11-2012, 06:13 PM

Hey ladies! I'm working on a quilt with amish stars and it's my first time with a star pattern. I'm having hard time getting the points to line up. It seems like my squares aren't the sizes they should be even though I'm cutting them to the right sizes. So then the points don't line up. Any suggestions on how to make this work better? I'd appreciate any advice!

**sidewalker** · #2 05-13-2012, 11:13 AM

Only thing I can think of is to make sure your seams are the exact size.....
fabric is all cut on the proper grain and lots of luck.
and PRESSING. Ironing seems to help alot.
anyone else do an Amish Star??? better advice?

lil peep · #3 05-14-2012, 08:07 PM

Oh I press everything before cutting and every time I sew the pieces. I feel like it has to do with how I'm cutting the fabric. Not sure if there's a way to make rotary cutting more precise though.

**sidewalker** · #4 05-15-2012, 07:10 AM

I tried but failed miserable with a rotary cutter.
(for a small quilt)
Give me a sharp pair of shears any time over rotary.(I do use rotary for paper cutting tho. works well for me with that)

or-mtwt · #5 05-21-2012, 02:55 PM

http://youtu.be/8H5Dbp9dqeg

This might help you... its a bit long and she is telling you how her sewing machine works in the first 4-5 minutes but she does show you how to make the star I wasn't able to find anything else with this block to give you a better idea of how to do it but I hope it will give you some help..

or-mtwt · #6 05-21-2012, 03:40 PM

forgot something... a tip for you when cutting with a rotary cutter get you a little piece of that rubber they use in your cupboards and put it on top of your fabric making sure its behind where you cut and hold down on the ruler at that area and then cut your fabric it will hold your ruler steady and your cuts will be easier to do and you will find you have less trouble with it.. keep some of that rolled up in your sewing cause you will cut it from time to time not keeping track of it but it will come in handy for a lot of things while you are sewing even to pull your hand sewing needle out of the fabric when or if you do hand quilting..

**sidewalker** · #7 05-23-2012, 09:49 AM

good tip, mtwt!!!!!!

(btw, congrats on the homecoming!! hoot!)

lil peep · #8 05-26-2012, 06:25 AM

Rubber they use in the cupboards? I'm not sure what you mean...those little dots?

**sidewalker** · #9 05-26-2012, 10:36 AM

I think she means this type thing

http://www.walmart.com/search/search...d+shelf+liners

or-mtwt · #10 05-26-2012, 08:49 PM

they also make some that is very thin too you can see though it that you can also use.. you can also use it to open bottles and jars (:

**sidewalker** · #11 06-03-2012, 09:53 AM

funny thing.
we were channel surfing the other day and saw this older woman showing how to make this type quilt. She's amazing and has all the bells/whistles for making quilts.
I wish I could remember her name but I'd bet you could google it, and find helpful tips on how to's besides what or-mtwt gave

or-mtwt · #12 06-04-2012, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sidewalker

funny thing.
we were channel surfing the other day and saw this older woman showing how to make this type quilt. She's amazing and has all the bells/whistles for making quilts.
I wish I could remember her name but I'd bet you could google it, and find helpful tips on how to's besides what or-mtwt gave

Would it happen to be Eleanor Burns? It could also be Nancy Zieman she had a stroke many years ago and her face has never gone back right.. You can put "PBS Quilting shows" in a Google video search and come up with all kinds of them for doing all kinds of quilts.

**sidewalker** · #13 06-10-2012, 06:58 AM

lol.........I do think it was Eleanor, not Nancy. (Ive seen Nancy a few times, and seen her catalogs)