Holiday Sensation Quilt Mystery Clue #2 - Beacon Star

 Holiday Sensation Quilt Mystery Clue #2 is the Beacon Star!

Beacon Star in both my fabric selections

The Beacon Star is made up of (4) Diamond Wedges, (4) Large Wedges and (4) Corner Triangles.  We will be making (4) Beacon Star Blocks. 

Starflower Christmas Fabric Selection

Kaffe Fabric Selection


Cutting Tip this week
When cutting those large Wedges, take the time to line up the small mark at the tip as well as the mark proper measurement on the bottom.  Left Handed quilters may find it helpful to place the strip on a slant (above).  Right Handed quilters may find it helpful to place on the reverse angle (below).

Stay organized
Cutting for Starflower Christmas

Cutting for Kaffe selections
Stitching tips
When sewing the Diamond, always stitch with the Diamond on top, make sure to have a good quarter inch seam allowance.

Take time when trimming that Dog Ear. 



Once you have the other small wedge sewn on, it is time to trim

Right Handed - Make sure to take your time to line these up well with the proper size. 

Left Handed
Piecing tips
Be sure to lay these out the same each time


When pairing these, you will want to line up the wedge sides, leaving the tip of the Diamond Wedge to hang out.  I highly recommend starting these with a leader so that the point doesn't get suck into your machine. 

These will need to be pressed open, a Seam Stick, especially a wooden one, is the way to go here.  You should still set your seam, and finger press. 

Then press.

Give them a trim and create that 90 degree angle. 
Right Handed

Dog Ears and a few threads.

Left Handed

Just a few threads
Octagon Piecing Tips
Sew all your Quarters into Halves.  


Take time to pin

You want to make sure you have a good quarter inch seam allowance, so that you have that 1/4" set back that you will use to pin that perfect center.  You will want to precision pin.  


Give your Octagons a good press before trimming the Large Wedges in prep for the Corner Triangles

Right Handed - Line up those Diamonds with the proper size


Rotate and line up again

Trimming off those last two

Left Handed


Rotate and Trim

All 4 Large Wedges should be trimmed now. 

Now you are ready to sew on the corners

Always sew with the Octagon on top.  I've used lighter thread here, than I normally would, to help show you the stitching.

Two of the three of my favorite Gray threads

Press towards the Large Wedges
Prep for trim down
You will need to mark your Large Wedges, using your Wedge Star tool, and a fabric marking pencil that will come out.  I like the Sewline pencils for this task.  The chalk will come out easily.

Trim down!
Be very careful with trimming.  If you make a bad cut here, it will be tough to correct it without remaking the block.  Right Handed above.

Left Handed

Trim all four sides.
Tada!  How beautiful are these blocks!

That wraps up Clue #2.  Thank you all for your kind words on my brother's passing.  It has been a very tough week.  Your kind words have helped a lot.  

Keep Stitching,

Michelle





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