Celestial Star QAL: TRIM and JOIN

Before we get into today's post, next week will be a progress week, and I don't have any posts scheduled. It will be a great time to answer any of your questions, or go into more detail on any of the topics. IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, please ask them in the comments below, or in the comments on any of the posts. I am working on a step-by-step photo tutorial to add to the Paper Piecing post, and will have that up tonight, in addition to the video, if that helps anyone. If there is anything else, Please let me know! :) Thanks!

Today's Topic: Trim and Join 
Assignment: Trim all your sections, join the inner pieces to the outer pieces   
On the Blog: Write a blog post about it, sharing pictures of your progress, and link it up using the link up at the end of this post. OR you can also link up photos from Flickr* or Instagram.  
On Instagram: Complete the assignment, take a picture and tag it using hashtag #CelestialStarQAL.
There is no giveaway in conjunction with this topic.  (The next giveaway starts Wednesday!)

You can pick up a pattern on Craftsy and Etsy.

*If you are sharing pictures from Flickr, I started a Celestial Star QAL group, where you can also share your photos, or start up a discussion, ask questions, etc. I don't get on Flickr much anymore, but I'll try my best to keep my eye on it for any activity going on there. I still think Flickr has a pretty good platform for groups, even if the rest of the site has changed.
**If you decide to work faster than my schedule, which is fine, be sure to take pictures along the way so you can come back and enter the different giveaways!


 There's the short version. :) Keep reading if you want to see my methods for quick and easy chain piecing paper piecing.

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TRIMMING

 Today's topic is pretty simple! If you watched the video for paper piecing last week, I've included the trimming instructions at the end. Here is a 2 minute clip of just the trimming section,  if you prefer watching videos, otherwise, I've included the instructions with photos below. While it's pretty self explanitory, the most important thing is that you create accurate 1/4" seam allowances, otherwise your points won't match up correctly when joining the wedges.

How to:

We'll start with the inner piece, then I'll show you with the outer piece. Then continue with joining. Here is my inner section:

 Front

1. Turn it over your pieced pattern so the paper side is up.

Back

2. We are going to measure the 1/4" seam allowance from the INSIDE line (marked with the yellow highlighter) of the pattern border.*

 *It is so important that you measure and cut an accurate 1/4 inch seam allowance at this point. The printed seam allowance should be accurate, but if you did any scaling when printing, or trimmed it too narrow when cutting your pattern, it could alter that 1/4 inch amount. If you don't have an accurate seam allowance, your wedges will not line up properly, and your points will not match.


3. Line up the 1/4 inch markings on the ruler with the inner border (marked with yellow).

4. Trim, using a rotary cutter and cutting mat. Repeat with all sides. Below shows after trimming.

5. Make sure to trim the little corners. Line up the ruler with the outside line of the seam allowance. These trimmed corners make joining the segments a breeze when it comes to aligning them.

6. Repeat until pattern piece is completely trimmed.

7. Now we'll repeat these steps for an outer pattern piece.

 The front after piecing.

 The back. Line up ruler with inside lines (marked in yellow)

 Line up 1/4" markings on ruler with the inner line (marked in yellow). Trim using your rotary cutter.

 Repeat on all sides

Remember to trim those corners

 Pattern piece completely trimmed

Now we have two segments that are ready to be joined

JOINING
Joining the inner and outer pieces are easy, but it's important that they are lined up correctly to keep your 1/4" seam allowance accurate through the entire wedge.

1. Once all your segments are trimmed. Take an inner segment and place it right sides together with the corresponding outer segment. This is where those trimmed corners really come in handy! No guess work as to centering them.

3. Draw a thin line of Elmer's glue along the edge of one of the pattern pieces. Then realign your pieces. Press with your iron to set the glue (gives it a stronger hold to prevent shifting).

4. Sew on the line (marked with the arrows), make sure your stitch length is set to 1.5.

Here are my pieces after sewing, glue basting REALLY helps to keep the seam in the correct spot on both pieces:

5. Tear off the paper from the seam allowance ONLY!

6. Press to set seams.

7. Open up and alternate the direction the you press the seams.

 Finished wedge

Because this wedge does not have seam in the top portion, I am pressing this seam UP. 

 Here is how I decided which way to press my seams with these blocks. Notice how the wedge on the left has seams that go down into the center seam (where the inner and outer segments join)? And notice how the wedge on the right does not have seams going into that center seam?

The wedge with more seams going into that center seam, I have pressed the seam DOWN. It lays flatter that way as I'm not trying to fold those bunched seams and extra fabric layers. The seams on the right go UP, there are no extra seams so it really doesn't matter. Alternating the direction of the seams will help reduce bulk when joining wedges.

8. Repeat until you have 12 wedges!! :)


Feel free to share your progress below!


   

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