Tuesday, November 22, 2016

Dreamscape Block Blog Hop: Day 6

Hello, fabric lovers! Is your turkey thawing in the bathtub? :) 

It's the second last day of our Dreamscape Block Blog Hop today. For this blog hop, we selected a six-color palette from our luscious Dreamscape prints to play with: Navy, Cloud, Lime, Grape, Daffodil and Lead. You'll love the variety of blocks our designers have created! And make sure you enter each day's giveaway for a chance to win fat quarters of these six Dreamscape prints! Enjoy!


Today, Debby from Debby Kratovil Quilts is here to tell you what the Dreamscape fabrics said to her. ("Make us into a block, Debby!") 


Here's Debby!
I LOVE bright colors. I can always find something to sew when I have crayon box colors to work with. Having the mottled gray for the background (instead of a flat solid) is a perfect "go with."
Fat quarters of Dreamscape

The fabrics told me to scroll through my files and look for something that would make them look good. After all, this is going to be a 12" block and they were each jockeying for the star position. I told them to hold on and I began looking. I came upon a block I call Striped Star that I designed 10 years ago (and never sewed). It's for paper piecing and is not for beginners, but is certainly doable for those who are familiar with the technique.


I began with cutting oversized patches for the block: 8 squares 4-1/2" x 4-1/2" of the gray/cloud color and 8 strips 1-1/2" x 6" of EACH of the four bright colors (grape, daffodil, navy and lime).
Patches cut for Striped Star Block
Then I printed 4 copies of my foundation (pattern link appears at bottom of this blog post). Notice that I identified where my patches needed to be placed. Also, on the pattern, there are arrows pointing in the direction of how the patches are to be pressed. This will enable the seams to nestle when joined.
Pattern with names of patches written down


The patches MUST be placed so that they angle as shown. Sewn one at a time, pressed and then trimmed.
Building the strips at an angle

Then trimming before adding one of the two gray triangles:


Fold paper back; use a ruler to leave 1/4" seam

Notice that the edges of the fabrics extend beyond the paper pattern. These will be trimmed later. The gray triangles are also cut oversized. This last triangle is placed first so that you don't mistakenly sew it on the wrong side! Then it gets flipped over and stitched from the paper side.


Adding the last gray triangle

Now what?
Trim fabrics even with the outside line on the paper

 And from the front?
1/4 of the block before removing the paper
Removing the paper? Oh, yeah. That's right! What does that look like?


CAREFULLY remove the paper without disturbing the seams
Place the two units together. Sew with 1/4" seam allowance. Because you pressed the seams in opposing directions, this makes for a very nice join.
Pin at the seams as shown

I prefer to press the seam open in order to reduce the bulk.


Press diagonal seam open to reduce the bulk

Let's see four units together:


Four block units before stitching into the Striped Star Block
 A perfect 12" (finished) block made easy using paper piecing.


Striped Star
You can find the FREE Striped Star pattern (in pdf) here: Striped Star. You can also see more of the fabrics at the Benartex site: Dreamscape.

Thanks, Debby! Head over to Debby's blog for a chance to win a Dreamscape bundle. Contest runs until November 25 and winners will be announced on Tuesday, November 29.


Follow along each day of the hop!
Tuesday 11/15: Chris from made by ChrissieD
Friday 11/18: Kristen from KD-Quilts
Monday 11/21: Benartex blog design team
Wednesday 11/23: Wendy from Ivory Spring
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30 comments:

  1. Your first link to Debby's blog isn't working. Beautiful block thank you for the pdf!

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  2. ohh what yummy fabrics. you star is wonderful. thanks so much for the pattern.
    quilting dash lady at Comcast dot net

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  3. Gorgeous fabrics for a spectacular star block! I will definitely be making this block. Thank you for the opportunity to win a fabric bundle.

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  4. Outstanding block made from beautiful fabric!
    nikilsend(at)outlook(dot)com

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  5. Another super block. You guys picked some real winners for this hop.

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  6. Nancy A: rangerer@sbcglobal.netNovember 22, 2016 at 2:04 PM

    Love the block and the intense colors of Dreamscape

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  7. Love this block! Really shows off the beautiful colors!
    cathylouwilson@gmail.com

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  8. Debby's block is beautiful. The fabrics are perfect for this one.

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  9. Beautiful block today. It's been a great hop.

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  10. What a super block that I intend to try this weekend. And, these fabrics are just gorgeous!

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  11. Love this block! Thanks for the free pattern and the chance to win these beauties. I have followed Debby's blog for a while and love her paper pieced patterns.
    Sandy A

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  12. Beautiful. The green center really sets it off.

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  13. Thanks for featuring Debby K. I follow her blog via email and am always impressed with her clear tutorials and her very sharp, graphic blocks. The block you feature today is clearly no exception; it's a stunner!

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  14. I love the paper pieced arrows put together

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  15. Love the fabric and colors! So beautiful. Thanks for the tutorial I love paper piecing.

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  16. Love the fabric and colors! So beautiful. Thanks for the tutorial I love paper piecing.

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  17. Dreamscape is on my list of purchases. Love the block!

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  18. Dreamscape is on my list of purchases. Love the block!

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  19. This is stunning. This would make a special Quilt of Valor which is my hobby. The colors are books and beautiful.

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  20. Yep, this is definitely a winner! Thanks Debby and Benartex!

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  21. Paper piecing is definitely the way to go with this one. Very pointy points!

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  22. Wow, that's amazing and gorgeous. These fabrics were perfect for it! dezertsuz at gmail

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  23. I really like your star pattern. I haven't done much paper piecing -not quite ready for this one!

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  24. i love that there is a pattern in these fabrics that does not blur the bright colors

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