Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Time Warp Stars: Becky's Set


Stars in a Time Warp by Becky Brown
84" x 84"


Thanks for all the nice comments last week. I enjoyed writing the weekly Time Warp posts, collecting together things I'd written about fabrics years ago and getting some new insights.

Penny's Clouds and Storm Prints

I also enjoyed seeing what you readers found in your stashes. I can see we have been buying the same fabrics for years. Now you know why it looks authentic. It's always better to have a name for a style than just a gut feeling that it looks "right."

Els G - Provincial

It will be exciting to see what kind of sets the star-makers come up with.

Terry had a stick print---or is it cracked ice?

Many thanks to super-model makers Becky and Bettina.



 I had intended to make stars too but I'd rather write than sew and and they did sew, so, sew much better a job than I would have.

Below is a free pattern for Becky's set.
She used 113 stars:
- 64 dark framed stars
- 49 light framed stars

As she sewed stars every week she framed each 
so that her finished star blocks are now 7-1/2" square.

"Adding frames is a really nice way to show off each little block - also a nice way to adjust for any variance in size of the block."


“Each block was framed with 2 short and 2 long strips. I alternated light and dark frames. When you lay them out in preparation for sewing, alternate the long side of the dark and long side of the light frames to avoid seams butting to seams. When sewing the blocks together, I pressed toward the dark fabric.”

The intersections

Cutting the Block Frames:
Here is Becky's method. She cuts large and trims.

“The finished frame width is 3/4". I cut the strips oversize (1-3/8") and after carefully pressing the seams AWAY from the star block, I trimmed each block to 8". The finished size of each block with frame is 7-1/2 inches“

· Cut 2 strips 1-3/8” x 8-1/2” for the top and bottom.
· And 2 strips 1-3/8” x 6-3/4” for the sides. Trim as you go.

Some technical editors think you should cut exactly. If you'd prefer to cut exact measurements....

· Cut 2 strips 1-1/4” x 8” for the top and bottom.
· And 2 strips 1-1/4” x 6-1/2” for the sides.

Cutting Exactly



Border Edge

“I wanted some kind of border without making the quilt too much bigger. Adding a strip in the outside triangles give it a bit of a zig-zag look without increasing the size of the quilt. 

The frame along the edges is slightly wider and all dark fabrics.



Cutting the Border Triangles
You need 49 edge triangles (C) and 4 corner triangles.

"The cut size of the strips is 2" - the outside triangles are cut so the edges are on the straight of grain.”

Here's a JPG of Becky's instructions for the edge.

Side Triangles 
A - Cut size 2" x 7".
B - Cut Size 2" x 8-1/2".
C - Cut 5-1/2" square. Cut into 2 triangles.


Corner Triangles
Strip - Cut 8" x 2"
Triangle - Cut 4" square. Cut into 2 triangles.



Becky's instructions above are summarized in two JPG files below that you can print.

How to print:
Create a word file or a new empty JPG file that is 8-1/2" x 11".
Click on the image.
Right click on it and save it to your file.
Print that file out 8-1/2" x 11". 

JPG for Block Setting.


JPG for edge instructions.

Attention Volunteer Technical Editors: If you notice any errors in our (MY) instructions let us know. We appreciate the free-lance correctors. 

16 comments:

Barbara said...

Hi Barbara! Thank you so much for a wonderful QAL. I've learned so much from your weekly posts. For me Wednesdays couldn't come soon enough! Thanks to Becky and Bettina, too, for making all those great star block samples and to Becky for sharing her beautiful quilt. I'm so inspired!

Elizabeth A. said...

Thank you, thank you again, Barbara. You have taught me so much about many aspects of reproduction fabric, My appreciation for the fabrics and for textile history has just grown and grown. Your sharing has been an amazing generous gift. Like many others, I looked forward to every Wednesday's posting and then I delighted in seeing the stars that people made. I was so happy to see another posting this morning with the ideas for framing and setting the stars. Thank you also Becky and to all who administer the site.
Elizabeth D

cityquilter grace said...

want to add my thanks...i learned a LOT about dating fabric and history of same....looking forward to getting my flimsy together and this setting is gorgeous!

Barbara Black said...

You are the BEST--so generous in sharing your vast knowledge. Becky and Bettina are pretty terrific too--now to choose which of my favorite sets I'll use.

Wendy Caton Reed said...

Becky's setting is beautiful. Thanks again for teaching and sharing throughout the year. I've really enjoyed this.

Suzanne A said...

Becky's setting, color palette and jumble of different fabrics looks unique to my eye. Somehow it came out looking very contemporary for an antique repro fabric project. All the elements combined to make a very, very interesting quilt that I wish I could see in person, it was such a treat to see it here. Barbara, I hope you have something else in mind because i"m addicted to reading your writing about quilts and fabrics and history every Wed. & Sat. You are not replacable.
Thanks for all you've done!

Chantal said...

I am sad that it is all finished. I enjoyed reading the Time Warp Stars every week even if I didn't participate in making the stars. I know that I will revisit these posts often whenever I buy fabric. Thank you so much for your time and dedication. Becky's quilt is awesome!!

Lori said...

It is a great setting! Thanks for the fun sewalong all year!! I can't believe weve come to the end.

Jeanne said...

Woohoo - I have 114 stars in my "no blue" set, so Becky's setting is definitely a contender!

Cyndi said...

Thanks for a most enjoyable yearlong project! Becky's quilt is stunning!!

kiquilter said...

Thank you hardly seems enough to say for the education and inspiration you have given us ll on this year-long journey. I,too, am one who hopes you will plan another journey for us. Your knowledge and generosity in sharing are without equal. Thank you, thank you!

Cynthia@wabi-sabi-quilts said...

Becky's set is fabulous! Thanks again for all the knowledge you shared this year!

Denniele said...

Even though I didn't manage to sew stars this year, I have enjoyed reading about all the different fabrics each week. Becky's quilt looks amazing! Thank you for this. :)

Nancy said...

I didn't manage to get this one going either but I too enjoyed reading the blog each week. THANK YOU!!

Chopin - A Passionate Quilter said...

What a pretty quilt - I did not have the time to do the stars, but what a beautiful quilt Becky! I will put this on the back burner for 2016.

I really like the idea of the border - really makes the stars pop!

Dorothy said...

I have finished all my Stars and put in sashing and added borders. I have put a photo in my latest Blog.