By Nico Laudenberg
February 28, 2021

“To practice any art, no matter how well or badly,
is a way to make your soul grow. So do it.”
                                                Kurt Vonnegut

How are you?

We very much hope that all fingers are well, no blood was shed and all pieces are cut (or not, that’s fine, too)!? Plus we hope that all folks from colder places (like Texas or such) are warm and healthy.
The good news of this blog post: It is much, much shorter than the last one, pinky promise. And the task of the week is way faster done than all the cutting. So if you didn’t make it through all the cutting yet – this week will give you time to catch up.

This week’s task

We finally get to sew some! And we start full speed. Yes, the center star is by far the most tedious part of all piecing involved in this quilt. On a positive note: it’ll be over by the end of the week, so yay! Start with the hardest and the rest is easy going!

Read Elizabeth Hartman’s piecing tips for the center medallion, they are only available to those who have registered for the QAL. You can sign up here

Fear not – you can do this! Be kind to yourself! If you are talking to yourself, listen well and check what you are saying carefully: Just say things that you would also say to your quilting buddy or best friend!

 

And some tips

 

 

Hint: Chain piece wherever possible. That means: sew one seam, and at the end, just keep going and sew the next pieces, and the next,
without stopping, cutting the thread and starting with the next seam. This way, you’ll have a garland of pieces. Just snip the little thread connections and see how much time you saved.

 

 

Did we scare you enough now? Now just do it and saddle the horse. Oh, and by the way: the medallion block shown in this post might not be perfect, but it was made while neglecting pretty much all of the tips we just gave you… Give it a shot, you can do it!

 

Improv Alternative

Or you just skip all that measuring, piecing precision pressure and do it freestyle. Here is how:

Skew Star Center Medallion

For this medallion center star, we started out with a single diamond, pretty much like the #1 template, but not necessarily very exact.

Like a log cabin, we just went clockwise and added random strips of varying width. Just attach a strip on one side, open, (finger) press, trim, and repeat on the next side. Work clockwise, round and round, until the piece is big enough to cut out the shape of one star-eights (the larger version of the diamond we started with).

Add the background according to the original instruction. Cut out the eight star pieces, they are 45° diamonds with 4-1/2’’ side length.

 

 

What’s next?

Take your time and make the center. Or finish cutting first. Whatever you do, enjoy it and show us! We can’t wait to see what you are doing! Share on social media and meet your mates in our private Facebook group! We will cheer you (or maybe teach you some swear words in Spanish or German)

When posting on Instagram, always use this hashtag: #gaaqgqal

Next Sunday will bring a new newsletter and blog post. If you sign up for the newsletter, don’t forget to check and double check your secret boxes: spam, trash, junk, promotions folder!

Not comfortable with Instagram yet? Need a little refresher? Find our Instagram slideshow here: Instagram Tutorial

 Do you want more and meet some of your fellow quilt-alongers live? Let us know – socialmedia@gaaqg.com, we’re happy to set up a Zoom meeting to hang and chat together!

 

Stay healthy,
Nancy Frye, Gena Loyd and Nico Laudenberg

Reach out and connect:

Email: socialmedia@gaaqg.com

Instagram: @gaaqg

Hashtag: #gaaqgqal

Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1049612052185500

Are you interested in reading the newsletter: You can register here anytime!

 

2 Responses

  1. I’ve signed up for the QAL. where do I find Elizabeths piecing tips for the center medallion?