To start this project I needed to make string diamond shapes for the flower petals. To do this I cut paper foundations. Usually I like to use old white pages from the phone book (the yellow pages stain the bed of your machine, but it does come off), but in this case the pages were not long enough so I used cheap sandwich wrap paper, which I cut into 5" strips and then, using the 45degree mark on my ruler, into 5" diamonds.
Sew strips to the papers, starting through the centre of the diamond and working out both ways to the pointy ends. Use a much smaller stitch than you normally would for piecing because the more holes in the paper, the easier it will be to take out. I set my stitch length to 1.5, which is about 18 stitches per inch.
They're very untidy. Flip them over to the paper side and trim the edges back to the 5" diamond again, but re-measure because the paper might have squished up a bit.
After it's trimmed, slice it into four smaller diamonds (2.5"). I made 24 sets of four in various colours. To take out the papers, give the diamond a sharp little tug (not too hard) from point to point and some of the papers will break away from the stitching, making it easier to remove the rest.
Then on to making green calyxes for the flowers. Cut 5" paper squares for the foundations and string piece them diagonally with shades of green.
Trim the squares back to 4.875" square (that's one eighth inch smaller than the original papers), then slice them diagonally, being sure to cut along the centre strip.
I pieced 12 of these squares, giving me 24 half square triangle units.
To assemble the blocks you'll need 4 small and 2 large background half square triangles. Cut the smaller ones from 2.875" squares or from 2.5" strips if you're using an Easy Angle ruler. The larger triangles are cut from 3.75" squares or from 3.375" strips using the Easy Angle. (Yes, it is a funny measurement, but it can't be helped.)
For 24 blocks I needed 96 (48 pairs) of the smaller triangles and 48 (24 pairs) of the larger.
To assemble the blocks you'll need 4 small and 2 large background half square triangles. Cut the smaller ones from 2.875" squares or from 2.5" strips if you're using an Easy Angle ruler. The larger triangles are cut from 3.75" squares or from 3.375" strips using the Easy Angle. (Yes, it is a funny measurement, but it can't be helped.)
For 24 blocks I needed 96 (48 pairs) of the smaller triangles and 48 (24 pairs) of the larger.
Lay out your blocks one at a time; the green calyx in the corner and four petals arranged above it.
Add four small triangles between the outer petals. Note that the diagonal edge of the triangle lays alongside the petal.
Place the larger triangles in the remaining corner; the diagonal edges lay adjacent to each other.
Stitching order is all the small triangles to the petals first, then large triangles to the two inner petals. Press
these seams towards the background. Stitch the two sections for each side together next; I found that pressing these seams open made the block sit better.
Stitch the centre seam and press that open as well. Lastly stitch the calyx triangle and press that seam towards the triangle.
I chose to square up my blocks by adding triangles on each side. I did not take photos for this part. I cut half square triangles from 6.5" strips. These are oversize and gave me "floating" lilies. I quilted the blocks individually and trimmed them to 11" before assembling them as a raggy quilt, with the raggy side to the back.
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| String Lilies |
The quilt finishes at 41" x 60".
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| String Lilies - back |
The super scrappy back might not be everyone's cup of tea, but I think it's fun!
