A big hello to you on this chilly May day! Late Autumn has definitely set in here in Australia… The afternoons are turning darker earlier, the chill in the air is becoming more bitter each morning and the Ugg boots are already getting a good workout at home! And it’s finally tea drinking season and I’m loving it! 🙂
In today’s post I’m sharing with you the second last block that we’ll be making in my Star Sampler QAL! It’s a beautiful chunky-like star called the Square & Star. Personally, I’ve never heard (or really seen) of it before. It’s one of those blocks that looks tricky from the outside but once you peek inside and see the simple units that make up the block, it’s one of those easy-peasy ones that you can make within 45 minutes or so.
Have fun with mixing different contrast fabrics together for this block. The bolder the contrast, the better the block will look I think! Or if you want, stick with a favourite solid or bold all-over print for the ‘square’ and ‘star’ bits and it’ll turn out just as great!
As always, everything you’ll need to know in regards to the measurement and cutting information as well as the fabrics* I’ve use to piece this block together are in the pattern sheet linked at the beginning of this post! If you would like to use a similar 12.5″ set square as me, you can find it here: June Tailor Get-Squared 12.5″ Ruler.
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Like I mention in the video, block 12 has been a long time coming and I thank and appreciate everyone for being so patient with me! Block 12 is the one design that I’ve been so excited to make! It’s final layout, I think, will be very effective and really add an element of interest to the finished quilt top! The final hint for this block is that it’s similar to an Ohio Star block but it’s not an Ohio Star block… If you get what I mean! 🙂
*A big thanks to Australian wholesale supplier and fabric distributer Dayview Textiles for supplying me with such beautiful fabrics! If you want to see all of the fabrics I’ll be using in this Quilt Along, check out this post where I share them all with you!
Today I bring to you the next block tutorial in my Star Sampler Quilt Along series! We’re up to no. 10 – this one is called the Martha Washington Star! And gosh, isn’t it a pretty one! The pretty little pinwheel in the centre has me swooning every time I look at it.
Named after the very First Lady of the U.S, this sweet block is perfect for all levels of quilters and has lots of basic piecing techniques all patchworkers should have under their belt. Techniques used to make this block include half square triangles, quarter square triangles and in come cases (not in ours today though), the making of flying geese units.
When pulling the fabric for this block, you can choose to go either way in your colour schemes. You can use the same fabric for the pinwheel centre and the surrounding HSTs or do like me and use two contrasting fabrics. Heck, if you really want to, have some fun and do a scrappy block! The choice is all yours! 🙂
For all of the measurement and cutting details, along with the fabrics* I’ve used to piece this block together and a diagram of the block layout, click on the pattern sheet linked at the top of this post. If you would like to use a similar 12.5″ set square as me, you can find it here:June Tailor Get-Squared 12.5″ Ruler.
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Goodness! With block 10 made, we’ve only two more blocks to go until we start piecing our quilt top together! Huzzah!
I can’t wait to share with you what block 11 is! The best way I can describe it is that it’s a bit on the chunky side, design wise! Te-he! Despite that, it’s a beautiful block and I’m super excited to make it!
Until then friends, keep on sharing your finished blocks and I hope you all have a lovely and safe Easter break!
Happy Sewing!
xx
*A big thanks to Australian wholesale supplier and fabric distributer Dayview Textiles for supplying me with such beautiful fabrics! If you want to see all of the fabrics I’ll be using in this Quilt Along, check out this post where I share them all with you!
Are we ready for another block tutorial in my Star Sampler Quilt Along?!
Block 9 is the Missouri Star, a design I’ve actually never made before. Fun fact of the day; when I was filming this, it was actually my first time making too!
When I was piecing it together, I was honestly unsure whether or not I had made the right choice in fabrics. I felt that the prints and colours of my two main fabrics didn’t quite mesh well together… But once I finished the block and took a step back, I think it works. The contrast in the fabrics show the design of the block and help highlight those semi-tricky half quarter square triangle units!
My tips for making this block:
Taking your time to make sure you square up the centre unit to a 6.5″ square as well as ensuring your HSTs and then half QSTs are trimmed and squared up to the measurements mentioned in the tutorial.
When making your half QST units, pay attention when placing the marked background fabric squares on top of your HST units. The marked line should be running in the opposite direction to the seam of the HST underneath.
Keep true to a 1/4″ seam allowance. All of your seams and points will match up perfectly, resulting in a precise 12.5″ block at the end after squaring it up.
As always, everything you’ll need to know in regards to the measurement and cutting information as well as the fabrics* I’ve use to piece this block together are in the pattern sheet linked at the beginning of this post! If you would like to use a similar 12.5″ set square as me, you can find it here: June Tailor Get-Squared 12.5″ Ruler.
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Can you believe it, we’re nine blocks down with only three more to go?! Time flies when you’re having fun, huh?!
My 9 Star Sampler Quilt Blocks!
I’m super excited for block 10! We’ll be making the Martha Washington Star block (google it to see how pretty it is!). The thing I love most about that block is the gorgeous half QST pinwheel in the centre! Too cute!!
Keep sharing your blocks! (Use the hashtag #AmandasQuiltAlong on Instagram!) If you can, post a picture like mine above showing me all nine of your blocks so far! All of your quilts are going to be beautiful, I just know it! 😀
Happy Sewing, Friends!
xx
*A big thanks to Australian wholesale supplier and fabric distributer Dayview Textiles for supplying me with such beautiful fabrics! If you want to see all of the fabrics I’ll be using in this Quilt Along, check out this post where I share them all with you!
Huzzah!! The day is FINALLY here where Block 8 in my Star Sampler Quilt Along series is up on my YouTube channel, ready for you to make!!
My deepest apologies for the taking a hella-of-a long time to get this block out to you! Excuses include: Christmas, New Years, Holidays (cruise time!) and lots of work shifts slotted in between. Not to mention our Internet decided to conveniently break last week, leaving us with a veeeeerrrrrryyyy sllllllooooooowwwww connection for about 8 days. Uploading a video and trying to write a blog would’ve been painful and very soul-crushing!
But alas, our Internet is back and happy, I’m back and happy from my long break away from YouTubing and blogging and I’m ready to dive straight back into the creating!
So back on topic; Block 8 is such a simple beauty to piece together. It does require you to be quite precise with your cutting, piecing and trimming of each unit, but I go more into that in the video. Have fun choosing some great contrasting fabrics to really make each element in the Star pop!
For all of the measurement and cutting details, along with the fabrics* I’ve used to piece this block together and a diagram of the block layout, click on the pattern sheet linked at the top of this post. If you would like to use a similar 12.5″ set square as me, you can find it here:June Tailor Get-Squared 12.5″ Ruler.
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Like I mention in the video, I’ll be starting on Block 9 this week. It features elements that we’ve covered before in the series, but will be applied in a slightly different way. (Pretty cryptic, huh?!) I’m genuinely very excited to make this block as I think the final outcome of it will be stunning!!
*A big thanks to Australian wholesale supplier and fabric distributer Dayview Textiles for supplying me with such beautiful fabrics! If you want to see all of the fabrics I’ll be using in this Quilt Along, check out this post where I share them all with you!
With a rare weekend off from work, I’ve taken the opportunity by the reins and dedicated my hours getting reacquainted with my sewing machine! Before getting back into my Quilt-Along series, there’s one block that I’ve always wanted to make and this weekend was perfect to finally do it!
It’s the Swoon block designed by Camille Roskelley at Thimble Blossoms. This block came out just at a time when I began to get really serious into patchwork and quilting. It seemed like everyone at the time were buzzing all about and making all of these beautiful Swoon blocks! So naturally, I just had to get in on the action! With the pattern bought, downloaded and printed, that’s as far as I got. Five years later, I’ve finally made my first one!
And I love it!!
As I placed it up onto my design wall and stepped back, I exclaimed out loud, ‘Oh wow, it’s sooooo pretty!!!’ Because it is. It really, really is.
The fabrics I used to make my Swoon include two basic solid colours; white and ice blue. The vibrant orange floral print is from a range by Victoria Findlay Wolfe called Mostly Manor. This particular print is called, Elise. (All info taken from the fabric selvedge.) I absolutely love the floral motifs in this print. So much so, for the centre unit I fussy-cut my favourite floral spray and made it centre of attention!
Sometime throughout this new year, I would love to make another one. If you can’t already guess, the block is quite time-consuming to make, all depending on how fast a sewer you are of course! Due to the extreme heat we’ve been living through in Sydney these past few days (40C+ temperatures!), it took me two days to complete this block. I’m sure if given the opportunity to make this block on a less hotter day, I could definitely have one whipped up in a day.
While it’s been so lovely to have some time to myself to do some ‘me-time’ sewing, it’s also time to get back into my Quilt-Along series! I left you all at the end of last year to catch up to Block Seven. It was the beautiful and very simple Indian Star block.
Lots of you have been sharing your finished blocks with me on Instagram or Facebook and they’re all looking so great!!
This week I’ll be working on getting Block Eight filmed, edited and uploaded for you to sew together next weekend. The block that we’ll be making is called the Crystal Star block and is another simply designed block that you’ll be able to piece together in an afternoon.
Along with the rest of my Quilt-Along series, I’ve got some great videos and tutorials lined up for this year. I will be doing another Stop-Motion Embroidery video since the Christmas one I had promised was a total fail. (I always seem to misjudge how busy I actually am during the Christmas season!). I also want to try and do a few other crafty tutorials along with all of my other usual content; Monthly Favourites, a few hauls and even some daily/weekly vlogs (all depending on if I can find the confidence to do so!).
I also have a few little sewing room goals that I want to achieve this year. Before telling you what they are, can I tell you something really bad? Something that I’m kinda ashamed of and really makes me sad…
In the year 2016, I never finished one quilt. It’s been the first year since I started quilting eleven years ago that I didn’t produce a finished quilt. It feels a bit strange really. Last year was one of the busiest I’ve had in a long time and because of that I had to put to one side the thing I love to do the most just to keep my head above the water of life’s crushing responsibilities. Sigh..
HOWEVER!! All of that is changing this year! I will find the time and dedicate my all to my craft. My passion. My life. My love. My escape. My happy place!
Although I never actually finished a quilt last year, I did rediscover lots of quilt-tops that are ready to be basted, quilted and finished. So my sewing room goal for this year is to complete AT LEAST one of these many quilt-tops hiding inconveniently under my sewing table!
My Colourplay Quilt-Top is top of the list!
As the year ticks away, I’ll try and keep you in the loop with how I’m travelling with these quilts. Every year I seem to make a promise to get all of my WIPs finished, but it never seems to happen. I wonder if this time next year I’ll be writing the same kind of words…
Before wrapping up today’s post, I wanted to share some happy snaps from my holiday! (I was going to make a vlog of my holiday for my YouTube channel, but I wasn’t all that happy with the little footage I actually captured!). I’ve just recently come back from a cruise on the Emerald Princess where we sailed from Sydney to Port Arthur and Hobart (Tasmania) and then Melbourne. It was just a short eight-night cruise but it was so lovely to get away from reality for a while and be a happy passenger on a pretty boat.
Emerald Princess tendered in Port Arthur, TasmaniaEmerald Princess docked at Hobart / GIANT slice of pizza / A delicious Chocolate dessert / The Atrium
Although I love visiting and exploring other countries, there’s nothing better than discovering the beautiful nooks-and-crannies in your own country. Whether that be learning something new about our history, exploring hidden bays and coves or marvelling at the different skylines and architecture that each major city has, forming a rich culture and persona.
A few of these photos you may’ve already seen of Instagram, but I thought I’d share them here for you too.
Goodbye Sydney!!FORMAL NIGHT: Stateroom Selfie in the mirror!Ready to explore Hobart!
Words truly fail me when I think of just how fast this year has gone…
I can very clearly, to the day, remember exactly what I was doing this time last year in the lead up to Christmas, almost as if it was yesterday! Yet so many things – moments, milestones and memories – have past in between and it’s hard to believe that we’re only days away before starting a new year all over again!
To me, December always feels like if you blink you miss it, you know? This December has been no different. With a time demanding retail job, everyday life responsibilities, sickness, YouTube content to shoot, edit and upload along with the ever-looming Christmas Day deadline to buy presents, bake, cook, clean and sing at Carol nights, I’m surprised I’m still able to get up early in the morning and get the day started!
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To start this post off, I would first like to issue an apology. Everyone reading this who is following along with my latest Quilt-Along I’m so sorry for taking aaaaaages to get Block Eight up. My excuse is muddled up somewhere in the last paragraph! 😓
But in all seriousness, I honestly haven’t had the time to film the bulk of the tutorial because of my work schedule and a few other life-y type things. This week, leading up to Christmas has just been the busiest. I’ve practically been living at work due to extending trading times and such while attending Christmas lunches and parties. So in between that, Carol services, gift buying and sleeping, all of my video and tutorial making have been temporarily placed to one side ready to be picked up again early in the New Year.
Another thing I was hoping to get done and show you was a Christmas themed Stop-Motion Embroidery video. (A bit like this…) The pattern was chosen, the beautiful white linen fabric and gorgeous coloured threads to match were bought and the pattern was meticulously transferred onto the fabric. And that’s how far I’ve gotten. Boo!
I was so excited to get stitching and enjoying watching the pattern come to life through my numerous photos. But again, that tricky life element called ‘time’ has killed my dreams to their core and made the project flop graciously on its head. Anyway… I’ll keep it in mind to do for next Christmas!
Let’s move on from my hum-drum excuses and complaining onto some more exciting news! In the next week or so, the 2nd of January to be exact, I’m going on holiday! I’m going on a week-long cruise with my parents down to Melbourne and around Tasmania on the Emerald Princess! Words aren’t enough to describe just how excited I am – I’m so desperate for a holiday! We booked this cruise all the way back in 2014 sometime, so it’s been a long time coming! I hope to be able to take lots of photos and even film a little bit for you to make into a Holiday Vlog just like I did for our Fiji cruise in 2014. I even bought a fancy new camera for the occasion so there are no excuses to capture something to show you!
And speaking of something to show you… I recently filmed something fun for my channel that I haven’t done in quite a while. It’s a ‘What’s In My Bag?’ video! I’m not sure if you’re at all interested in what I keep in there, but for those of you are a little bit nosey like me, I think you’ll like it! It’s just something a bit fun and lighthearted for this time of the year and gives an opportunity for you to get to know me more! If you wanna have a glimpse at the things I carry around with me all of the time you can see it right here!
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So now that another year is over, it’s time to start planning for the next!
I will be continuing with my Quilt Along series in January – we’ll get all 12 blocks finished and then piece, baste, quilt, bind and label the quilt and admire it and cherish it forever! There are lots more tutorials and other content I want to make next year too – hopefully with a mix of sewing, crafting, floristry and lots more lifestyle and vlogging elements!
While still working at Spotlight, I’m planning on enrolling and studying the next certificate level up in Floristry where I’ll learn more complex designs and arrangements as well as explore the ins-and-outs of business management! Ooo!
Along with that, I have two very good friends who are getting married next year, another wedding where I’ll be doing the flowers AND I’ll be also turning the big THREE-OH in September! Crazy!!
It’s gonna be a great year! I can feel it already!!
Happy Festive Sewing, Friends!
xx
PS. Oh! I almost forgot! I have actually managed to finish one Christmas project that I started a few weeks ago! You may remember this darling appliqued snowflake design I shared on my Instagram all ready to be stitched into place on the machine…
I have since backed it with a matching chevron print fabric, stuffed it with a ginormous cushion insert and placed it on the lounge to be snuggled against, leaned on and comfortably squished by all ranges of backsides! I’m so happy with how it turned out!
Block seven is finally here for you to watch, enjoy and make! Yay!
I’m so sorry for taking ages to get this one out to you – I’ve been terribly ill with a nasty flu/chest infection for the past week and a bit and needed some urgent R&R!
But happy days, I’m back and feeling a lot more like myself again!
Like I promised last time, block seven is a more simpler and kinder block to piece together compared to what block six was. The Indian Star is a lovely and gentle design consisting of a few classic patchwork construction techniques – flying geese and a four-patch!
As always, everything you’ll need to know in regards to the measurement and cutting information as well as the fabrics* I’ve use to piece this block together are in the pattern sheet linked at the beginning of this post! If you would like to use a similar 12.5″ set square as me, you can find it here: June Tailor Get-Squared 12.5″ Ruler.
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As mentioned in the video, block eight is a similar variation to the Indian Star. It’s another easy one where we’ll be re-visiting the flying geese technique again, which I’m all sure you’re all pros at making by now!
Until then,
Happy Sewing, Friends!
xx
*A big thanks to Australian wholesale supplier and fabric distributer Dayview Textiles for supplying me with such beautiful fabrics! If you want to see all of the fabrics I’ll be using in this Quilt Along, check out this post where I share them all with you!
Hello! Geez, it’s been a while huh?! Apologies for being so out of touch these past few weeks… I’ve been working my (not so) little butt off and struggling to find the time and energy to get these block tutorials out to you!
But happy days, I’ve finally been given a few days off to get my life back into some sort of order! And first thing’s first, block 6 needed to be done!
I’m absolutely in love with this one! It’s called the Amish Star block and is such a little darling of a design! (BTW, is it pronouncedAy-mish or Arr-mish? I got no clue?) I’ve loved how I’ve been able to play around with fussy cutting the centre unit and adding pops of colour in the corners. Initially, I was going to make this block using just two fabrics – the usual background fabric and then just one black print from the Print Shop range. But I ended up changing it as I wanted to use more of the range throughout the blocks. So this is the colour-way I came up with and I’m sooo happy with it!
As always, everything you’ll need to know in regards to the measurement and cutting information as well as the fabrics* I’ve use to piece this block together are in the pattern sheet linked at the beginning of this post! If you would like to use a similar 12.5″ set square as me, you can find it here: June Tailor Get-Squared 12.5″ Ruler.
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I can’t to share with you what I’ve got in store for block 7! It’s a nice simple easy one that I think you’ll enjoy making! (It’ll be a nice respite from all of the tricky blocks we’ve been making lately!) I’ll also be sharing another two fabrics from the Print Shop range that I haven’t used yet! One of them is my favourite print from the range!
Until then,
Happy Sewing, Friends!
xx
*A big thanks to Australian wholesale supplier and fabric distributer Dayview Textiles for supplying me with such beautiful fabrics! If you want to see all of the fabrics I’ll be using in this Quilt Along, check out this post where I share them all with you!
My apologies for taking so long to get block five out to you! The last few weeks have been busy with work and so limited my time (and energy) to get the tutorial filmed and edited! I hope you’ll understand. 🙂
So block five is a beautiful one, if I may say so myself. It’s called the Maple Star and is very similar in design to our last block which was the Janet’s Star. The only difference between the two are the extra opposing squares in corner units of the Maple Star. Everything else is exactly the same as the Janet’s Star! Don’t you just love it how some blocks are so close to each other in design, with just one slightly different element either added or taken away to create it into something else that’s so effective and lovely?! It’s one of the many things I love about patchwork!
Anyway, moving on… Let’s delve into how the Maple Star block is made!
As always, if you click on the pattern sheet linked at the top of this post, you’ll be able to find a full list of all of the measurements and cutting info, along with the fabrics* I’ve used to piece this block together! If you would like to use a similar 12.5″ set square as me, you can find it here: June Tailor Get-Squared 12.5″ Ruler.
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I hope you all have a lovely weekend stitching up your blocks! Please do share them with me once you’re done – I love seeing what everyone is doing!
Also, to my friends in the States (and wherever else it’s celebrated in the world), Happy Halloween weekend – I hope it’s a spooky one!
Happy Sewing, Friends!
xx
*A big thanks to Australian wholesale supplier and fabric distributer Dayview Textiles for supplying me with such beautiful fabrics! If you want to see all of the fabrics I’ll be using in this Quilt Along, check out this post where I share them all with you!
Hello to you on this very warm Spring Sunday afternoon from a Western Sydney suburb in Australia!
I had a weird moment just now when thinking about how far in we are in the series… Can you believe we’re already a quarter of the way through?! Holy-moly! 😮
So block four is a fun one! A lot less tricky than what the Kansas Star block was. The Janet’s Star is made of three different but very simple units that come together to make, what I think is a very beautiful star!
So here’s how you make it!!
As always, everything you’ll need to know in regards to the measurement and cutting information as well as the fabrics* I’ve use to piece this block together are in the pattern sheet linked at the beginning of this post! If you would like to use a similar 12.5″ set square as me, you can find it here: June Tailor Get-Squared 12.5″ Ruler.
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Keep on sharing all of your lovely blocks with me! The new hashtag we have on Instagram is going great guns and I’m loving seeing everyone’s blocks altogether in one place! It’s all very exciting! If you wish to hop on to the Instagram hashtag train, don’t forget to add #AmandasQuiltAlong in your photo description/comment and you’re in the club! 😀
Have fun making this one and I’ll see you in about a week with block five, which happens to be very, very similar to the Janet’s Star layout! The block is called the Maple Star and features a slight difference in design! Anyway, you’ll see what I mean in the next tutorial!
Until then,
Happy Sewing, Friends!
xx
*A big thanks to Australian wholesale supplier and fabric distributer Dayview Textiles for supplying me with such beautiful fabrics! If you want to see all of the fabrics I’ll be using in this Quilt Along, check out this post where I share them all with you!
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