in search of the center

What I've been playing with. A few weeks ago I got a very generous fabric package gift and have been longing to use some of the new prints. Finally this weekend I took a few hours to cut some pieces and practice eight-pointed stars. I am hand-piecing these; for some reason I just feel like it.

What do you see in the picture above? Do you see eight points that meet in the middle? I hope so. I think that's what you would think you see if these stars were on a quilt lying on a bed and you were taking in the room at a glance.

But really, those points don't precisely meet.

This is one of the better ones. On some of them the center points are jigged just slightly to one side or the other, and the center isn't a point, more like a region. This bothers me. I feel as if I should be able to do this exactly: my hand stitches are small, I am patient and careful, I'm willing to practice.

Initially I tried following the instructions in Jinny Beyer's book on making quilts by hand. She tells you what direction to sew the seams, and puts four pieces together into two halves, then sews the halves together. My halves are great, but when they get sewn together the centers shift no matter how I try. After several like that, I tried sewing the pieces together one after the other in a big ring. That wasn't so bad, though not appreciably different. Then I tried sewing from an outside edge to the center point and back again, which joins three pieces. Then again, from the outside edge to the center and back out again with one thread, joining one more piece to each side, making a five-wedge piece. I sewed the last three wedges together in the same way as the first three, then inset that piece into the five-wedge one. (This is a rushed description I know). I like the symmetry of this method, but I can't honestly say that it significantly improved the center.

So I'm not sure what to do. Keep practicing, I guess. Meanwhile I am *loving* playing with this fabric and making up different colored stars. If I collect enough of them for, say, a lap quilt, I think I will make this the background

The colors are more subdued than I usually use and a bit more appropriate for fall.

Though I am not thinking about f*ll. Not at all. It's not time for autumn. There are still two more months of summer, right?

Comments

[Cassie]

Its really wonderful to see some of those fabrics in use. Eight pointed stars are always a challenge, but one I'd personally rather meet by hand than machine. It's been ages since I did any, though. Hearing you talk about it and seeing yours makes me want to try one...

[Charleen]

The look great. I am just getting back into quilting. I made a few star blocks into pillows years ago and always handpieced them. If I remember correctly I left a microscopic space unstitched at the center and had all the seam allowanced spiral out. Unfortunately it was way before blogging and digital cameras so I don't have any notes on how I did it.

I also wanted to comment on how beautiful the christening gown is. It was a tremendous undertaking and will be a treasured heirloom, I'm sure.

[Susan]

I think Ginny Beyer's book is the best out there on quilting and of course hand quilting. I don't have tons of quilting books, but many of them. Hers is excellent.
I think your stars look very very good from a distance as you wrote. Even close up, if not exact points meeting.
One thought: If you have some kind of quilt shop or local guild, you could try contacting them or members of a guild to see if anyone can offer advice. I always find seeing in person to be a great help.
I enjoy the process so much as well that I've pieced together several blocks for quilts (for my daughter's bed), as well as table runners and such as that - but have yet to quilt them into actual items. The piecing is so much fun I just keep playing with that.
Good luck with your stars. They're going to be lovely put together. You've done beautifully.
Incidentally, I think Charleen's comment may have merit - leaving a small unstitched space at the center for later joining?
Another thought - does Jinny Beyer have an email address or group forum to which you could pose this question? Or possibly a different quilting forum on-line? Ya never know. Someone out there just may have your answer.

[Dove]

I am just starting to quilt, so I have no idea how to help, but I just love those fabrics.