BERNINA Corporate Blog -
When the Stars Align! Today we will work on the third part of the Between the Lines Quilt Along.
Live video
In this blog post, you’ll find all the written instructions. Tomorrow, August 2nd at 4 PM CET, we have another Between the Lines live video on YouTube. There, I will show how to sew this pattern using the foundation paper piecing technique on teabag paper or regular paper. See you there?
You can already post your questions about this row, the previous row, or the quilt along in general in the comments of the video. I will answer them during the live session.
If you are reading the blog after August 2nd, you can watch the recording of the video by clicking on the above video.
New Here?
We started the Between the Lines QAL on June 6th. A quilt along where we make a row together every four weeks. We work with different techniques: Foundation Paper Piecing, quarter circles, traditional patchwork, and strip piecing (sewing and cutting strips). Would you like to join? Read all about the QAL in this blog post!
Would you like to order a kit with all the materials for this quilt? Order a Rainbow kit or a Blue-Green kit in the Sugaridoo webshop.
Supplies
In the patterns, I make two versions of the quilt: the rainbow and the Teal-Green quilt. I specify which fabrics to use for each version. Of course, you are free to make the quilt with any fabric you like.
Rainbow Quilt
- Light green triangles
- Medium green robots
- Light gray stripe
- Dark gray
Teal-Green Quilt
- Light teal half circles
- Dark teal
- Light gray stripe
- Dark gray
Before We Begin
Today we will work on Foundation Paper Piecing on teabag paper and regular paper.
Teabag Paper
In this blog post from our first Sugaridoo x Bernina QAL, I explain the method of sewing with teabag paper step by step. There, we sew a different pattern, but the technique is exactly the same. In the live video, I will show the steps for When the Stars Align row for the Between the Lines QAL.
Regular Print Paper
With larger pieces and longer seams, tearing away the paper is easier. Therefore, you can also make this row on regular print paper.
(You can also make this row using the freezer paper method from the previous row. Try the different techniques and papers to find your own favorite.)
A few tips to keep in mind when sewing on regular paper:
- Print the pattern at 100% or ‘actual size’, check the inch square on the pattern after printing
- Set your machine’s stitch length to a very small stitch. This way, the needle punctures the paper more often and it tears away more easily.
- Be careful not to pull the seams apart when removing the paper.
- Also remove the small paper corners behind the row when you’re done; tweezers or the tip of a seam ripper can help you with this.
- In this pattern, things go wrong if you accidentally make a section in mirror image. Then it won’t be a nice star/windmill anymore. As you can see in the photo above, a mistake is easily made 😉
Dual Feed
When sewing on paper, I especially like that the BERNINA 770 QE has dual feed. This guides the fabric evenly through the machine with the paper.
Instructions
Are you ready? Then let’s start making row 6, When the Stars Align.
The Pattern
We make this row with foundation paper piecing.
[Click here to download the PDF]
On the first page of the pattern, you’ll see two sections of 3 1/2 x 6 1/2 inches (without seam allowance). These go on the left and right sides of the row. You make each of them 1 time.
On the second and third pages of the PDF, there are three sections, Variation 1, 2, and 3. These are slightly narrower, 3 1/4 x 6 1/2 inches (without seam allowance). These go in the middle of the row. You make:
- 4 x Variation 1 in green (teal)
- 4 x Variation 2 in green (teal)
- 4 x Variation 3 in green (teal)
- 1 x Variation 1 in gray
- 1 x Variation 2 in gray
Option: All sections are slightly different to make the row a bit more playful. You can choose to make 1 variation 12x in color and 2x in gray so that you use the same variation everywhere, if you find that easier.
Cutting Fabric
Since all pieces in this row are slightly different, I don’t cut everything at once. I do this per section.
For example, if I start making section Variation 1, I cut:
- Piece 1
- 5 x in background fabric
- Piece 2
- 4x in light green (light teal)
- 1 x in light gray stripe
- Piece 3
- 4 x in dark green (dark teal)
- 1 x in dark gray
- Piece 4
- 4 x in dark green (dark teal)
- 1 x in dark gray
- Piece 5
- 5 x in background fabric
- Piece 6
- 4 x in light green (light teal)
- 1 x in light gray stripe
When this section is assembled 5x, I move on to the next section. This way, the cut pieces don’t get mixed up.
You might prefer not to pre-cut at all. That’s perfectly fine too!
Foundation Paper Piecing
In the live video on August 2nd, I will show how I sew these patterns on regular paper. If you have questions about this row, the previous row, or the quilt along in general, feel free to ask them in the comments below or in the video comments (you can do this even before the video starts). I will answer them in the video tomorrow.
Assembling the Row
To assemble the row, we sew all sections side by side. Make sure the two wider sections are on the outside of the row.
Try to align the center of the windmills/stars so that the 4 green (or teal) parts meet neatly.
Row Length
If your row turns out to be too short, less than 53 inches including seam allowance, you can sew an extra section and add it to the row.
A row can become shorter if the pattern was not printed at 100%, or if the seam allowance between sections was slightly more than 1/4″ inch.
This can happen when sewing so many sections together. We will trim the row to size at the end of the QAL.
Next Time in Between the Lines
On August 29th, we will work on the 4th part of the QAL. Mark August 30th at 4 PM in your calendar for the next live video!
Have fun making this row.
Best regards,
Irene
I used the teabag paper for 2/9 row 9 the mountains I was told by a more experienced quilter to not sew past the lines however I found that the loose ends of the background paper was very challenging to get lined up when sewing the sections together and I pressed the fabric very well. Do you suggest sewing past the lines on the outside edges to keep the points crisp or end stitching at the 1/4″ line?
Loving this QAL – FPP is becoming so much easier with practice! Rows 1 through 3 completed.Love Irene and Sugaridoo!
I’m confused about the trimming. What size do we trim to? 3 1/4 or 3 1/2?
Gosh Gavin, you were quick to complete the row – it looks great. 👏🏻
Mine definitely won’t be so perfect.
Whoohoo! That looks great! Happy to hear you’re having so much fun with the QAL
Hi, I just watched the video and am a little confused about the order of the blocks. Your instructions are sew all sections side by side,, but in what order? We have 3 variations of blocks how do they go together into the row?
Hi Annette. I think the whole idea is to be quite random. I did 1,2,3,1,2 so that some were right way up and others inverted.
Hi Annette and Gavin. Yes that’s correct! The vriations are very similar, they just vary a little bit to make the row more playful. You can sew them together however looks good to you!
Hi, I can’t find the templates. Where did you hide them?
Is this what you are looking for Monika?
The Pattern
We make this row with foundation paper piecing.
[Click here to download the PDF]
Thank yo so much Ippy, that’s the one!
That’s ok. Glad to help. 👏🏻👏🏻
Hello,I have tried to post my pictures of my sewing for the QAL with no success. Whats a tag? Im not overly smart with some computer language. Really enjoy this challenge.Appreciate your guidenceJillian FergusonAustralia
Hi Happy sew55,
TAG –
For the first row, Rush hour, I added –
Bernina/Sugaridoo QAL Between the Lines
For the 2nd row, into the Mountains, I added
Bernina/Sugaridoo QAL Between the Lines Row 5 to link the 2 rows.
Tag worked.
On the next row, I will add Row 5 and Row 9 to the Tag.
Not sure if that is correct, but it worked.
Maybe someone else can explain TAGS fully to you.
Thank you ippy for taking the time to answer other’s questions 🙂
Happysew55, if you need more explanations, let me know!
That’s ok Ramona, nice when we can help one another. 👏🏻👏🏻