Sapphire Stars, The Conclusion

"Sapphire Stars"

Scrap Club hosted by Kevin the Quilter

2017 Summer Session Mystery Quilt

PDF FOR FINAL ASSEMBLY

Here is Sapphire Stars in it's entirety!

Are you surprised??????

Do you likey??????

I certainly hope you do!

I know I do!

This design was created out of 

Scrap Club's love for Stars, and a 

combination of my September birthstone!

Whatta combo....right??? LOLOL

As with anything you piece, please measure,

press, and assemble the way that works for you.

I am NOT going to give all pressing instructions as 

most seams will nest from the previous unit instructions

and most quilters have their own way of pressing

during assembly, especially with a scrappy quilt.

Let's see how to piece this all together, shall we?

Here are the cutting instructions for assembly:

Remember that constant gray we haven't touched yet???

We will need:

17qty: 2.5" x 12 1/4" strips 

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE measure your blocks

before cutting these!!!!!

This was my measurement, however, your sewing 

may be a little different than mine.

Hold off cutting this clue until the big block

assembly.

We will also need:

4qty: 4.5" x 12.5" navy rectangles

AND

Various lengths of 2.5" strips of navy

to create the inner and outer borders of this quilt top.

(You may use only one navy fabric if you like for these

borders, that is your choice.  As for me, I chose several.)

Here is a good place to start......

Remember these units from clue #1?

We will be turning them into 12 of these units.

I selected to place my light corners in the center

so it would look like a shimmering sapphire.

Remember the pressing instructions from Clue #1

will make seams nest for these units.

MAKE 12

After constructing these 12 "sapphires"........

Using the units we just constructed from Clue #1 as our centers,

we will be using units from Clue #3, and Clue #5

to make this block.

We will be making 12 blocks with the same layout.

These are sewn together just like a 9 patch unit.

IMPORTANT

Place reds in opposite corners and yellows in 

opposite corners.  Make sure ALL 12 blocks 

have the same orientation with reds and yellows.

(Photo is distorted, thus, uneven corners.)

MAKE 12

Next, let's work on the sashing......

I do recommend laying out your quilt blocks

for this next step with the sashing

for easy piecing.

As you can see, we will be using our

"SURPRISE" units from Clue #4 to create

what will look like an alternate block.

Please note in the photo above,

 the 4 house top blocks we made along with

that cornerstone are all of the same fabrics.

You should have 6 sets of these from Clue #4.

The 10 random house top blocks will

complete the sashing on all the sides of the quilt top.

With this being said, you certainly can mix up

all of the house top blocks and cornerstones if you wish.

If you are interested, this is the way I pressed my

sashing strip.

And here is one sashing strip completed

from the back.

Please measure before cutting your gray strips.

You don't want to cut off the tips on those

hose top blocks.

Here is the sashing sewn on one block.

And I am adding a cornerstone here.

Notice that the blue strip in the half square triangle

do not meet the points of the star in the sashing.

This is the way it is designed, so don't think

you are doing something incorrectly here.

We all make quilts differently.......

for me, it is the shortest seam way

and for others, they may want to piece rows

and then add sashing.

The choice is yours, as is the pressing.

I laid my quilt top one half at a time.

This worked for me, and I ask you to do

what works for you.

Next......

Once the center of your quilt top is complete,

you will want to add a 2.5" inner border of 

Navy.  I sewed several Navy strips together,

sewed them to the sides, squared it, then added

them to the top and bottom, and squared it again.

Now....it is time...........

To go to work on our top and bottom borders.

I insert a whole-hearted apology to each and every one

of you here.  Through a mathematical error on my

part, we all pieced 4 extra units of the 7.5" rail fence units.

You should only have 18, not 22.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE forgive me?

I am human, and mistakes happen more than ever anymore!

We will be piecing 9 of these units from Clue #2

 together, alternating the placement of the blue.

Seams should nest beautifully for this part..
I offset these so you could see.

Make 2

One set for the top, and one for the bottom.

They should look like this.

Notice the reds run straight through in a single line.

Now, let's address those smaller rail fence

units for the sides of the quilt.

You should have 24 Light blue rail fence units

and 24 bright blue rail fence units made from Clue #2.

Divide each into 2 stacks of 12.

As shown in the photo, there are 2 stacks of 12 each

for bright and light blue units.

We will be making 2 long piano key borders

for each side of the quilt.

Make 2 strips of 24 alternating bright and light blue units.

Chain piece them together like this.

Notice I used every last inch of that

red piece on the left....the selvage was pieced

into the seam and didn't show!

You will now have these strip sets to complete the quilt top.

Attach the top and bottom borders first.

Trim corners if needed.

This photo shows how much I had to trim off

using a square ruler.

We are almost there......

Remember, the 4qty 4.5" x 12.5" rectangles we cut 

at the beginning of this post?

We will be attaching these to each end of 

our remaining 4.5" rail fence/piano key borders.

Please notice, it is easiest to go ahead and piece the 

last navy 2.5" border to the sides at this time.

I used several different lengths of 2.5" navy strips

to make these, and trimmed the excess off.

Now......

Find the center of your quilt top sides.

Hint.....it is going to be at your center sashing,

right at that point on the side.

Find the center of your side border strips,

by folding in half,

pin them in place, and attach to your 

quilt top center.

Notice, there is some excess on those navy rectangles.

After sewing, square them up.

I added extra to these rectangles

 so I had room for error.

After the side borders are attached,

add a 2.5" navy pieced border to the top and bottom

and.........

TA-DAH!!!!

Your "Sapphire Stars" quilt top will be done!

I certainly do hope you have enjoyed participating in

this mystery quilt, as much as I have?

I would LOVE to see your version!
Please e-mail your pics to me or post it 

on your blog!

It's been a pleasure mystifying you!

Thanks for all of the encouragement!

Keep on Quilting!

Kevin the Quilter