4/27/2021 0 Comments Batik Challenge!!Generally Memorial Day in the US and Victoria Day in Canada are the unofficial kick off to summer. The hotdogs, hamburgers, potato salad, festivals, fairs, family and celebrations. So here’s the question: What Does Memorial Day and/or Victoria Day mean to you?
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The Olivia's Star is made up of beautiful purples, blues, aquas and pinks, which lends it all sorts of choices for the setting fabric. I chose to do a dark blue, like a dark sky, to let the lighter and brighter colors pieced into the star to glow! Reminder! Grab you kaleidoscope tool to auction off setting fabric options!
Did you know the Olivia's Star has a big sister??! (Just like my Olivia, she has a big sister, Madison) So if you'd like to try the Madison's Star, the big sister version of this, using 2-1/2" strips, hop on over to that pattern here:
The Olivia's Star is composed of 8 diamonds. By using the background fabric on each side of the strip sets, it makes these diamonds so dynamic!!
Troubleshooting If your diamond is smaller than the template, here's a couple things to try: Press, like really press! You will be amazed at how much you lose in seam allowance. I always take a scant 1/4" seam on bargello pieces and press my seams open. If you think of each seam, losing 1/16" in pressing to one side, that can add up quickly. Also, because this is a mini, it's much more important to have less in the seam allowance than showing on the right side of the piece. Trying to avoid sewing the seams into the next segment when sewing it together can be frustrating. Trace the template onto the non-shiny side of freezer paper, using the 1/4" marking on the template. This will downsize your diamonds a little bit, but no one will notice! Cut the freezer template out and press it to your diamond. Mark as indicated, and use this as your new template. No problem!! If your piecing of segments is a little wonky, bowing slightly: Press, like really press! Nudge them back in line:) Lay your triangle on your piece and see if your slightly wonky piecing still can be trimmed off to fit the triangle. If so, start marking!! Because of the way it's pieced, with the background fabric making the bright colors seem to float, once these diamonds are sewn together, you will not see it, I promise!! Next up, choose your setting fabric and let's put this together!!!
Get those segments on a Design Wall! Super important to cut segments for ONLY 1 diamond, lay them out on the design wall to check and see if they're correct. Other notes: *Use a scant 1/4" seam. You don't want to have more in the seam allowance than there is showing in your diamond. If you end up with only 1/8" seam, that will work as well. *Please use spray starch to keep your seams open. It helps the piece lay flat and keeps everything intact when your working through the rest of the pattern. Next Up! Piecing those diamonds!
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AuthorHello! I'm Karen Gibbs, the Design Director for Banyan Batiks, a quilter, a Momma, crazy about food, cultures and an active lifestyle. Archives
April 2021
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