Patchwork with Templates

Have you always wanted to learn more about those acrylic templates you see at quilt stores and online? I did too, so I bought a set and played around with them. They were AMAZING to use…everything just lined up and came out perfectly ( believe me, that usually is not the case for me!). So I thought I would share how you use them and then you can decide if you want to give them a try!

You will need a template set ( I am using Marti Michell’s set G)

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You will also find it very handy to have a rotating cutting mat, a small rotary cutter and a pencil.

img_2264Choose your center fabric and cut it out using your large hexagon ( I fussy-cut my fabric because I wanted to focus on certain images, so I laid my template on the right side and cut around my shape). Then I decided what fabrics would complement my center fabric and cut 6 of each of those.

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You can fold your fabric and cut multiple layers at a time ( as long as your fabric is NOT directional that is!). The instructions suggest that you lay the templates on according to the grain of the fabric, I did not worry about that because I am using scraps and have to fit my pieces in any way I can. After you cut your star points you want to mark dots ( on the wrong side)where your seam allowance will start and end. Lay the template over each shape and mark.

 

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The block is starting to take shape already! Now it’s time to cut the diamonds in between the star points:

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Mark the dots on those and now you are ready to start sewing your block together.

 

This took a little bit of thought! My ultimate goal was to sew straight seams so I looked at the pieces and decided which order would work best.I decided to sew a star point on first and sew the star point right above it to the accompanying diamond. ( Make sure you don’t get your pieces turned the wrong way on your way to the sewing machine!).

 

 

 

 

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Sew both pieces from DOT TO DOT and press.( I pressed away from center and towards diamonds, but you may prefer to press open). Now you are going to join those 2 pieces.

 

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img_2270And then you are going to repeat on the opposite side of your hexagon:img_2272img_2273img_2271Just look at those perfect points!

The top and bottom star points and diamonds you are going to sew together so they form a straight edge

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And finally you are going to sew those pieces to the top and bottom of your center section:

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You could sew from dot to dot on this last one, but I don’t think it is necessary because you are not joining any more pieces to the outside.

Tadaaaa! First block all done! Now wasn’t that super easy?! Believe me, if I think it’s easy, then it is 🙂

Now go on, go make some of your own!