Sweet Freedom Mystery - Clue #3

Can you believe we are already up to Clue #3 of our Sweet Freedom Mystery?!  Welcome!

Time to adds some Stars to our Patriotic Mystery, don't you think?

Fabrics = White, Blue, Patriotic scraps/leftovers


Wonky Star - we'll be making four (4)...FUN!

Cut Fabrics:

White:
  • Thirty-six (36) 4 ½" squares - I used my rotary cutter to cut 4 ½" strips, then cut those strips into 4 ½" squares.  How many strips?  Depends on the width of your fabric.  Cut one strip to determine your final needs. 
Blue
  • Sixteen (16) 4 ½" squares, cut on the diagonal, to create thirty-two (32) triangles to be used for the star points OR leftover Blue scraps of various sizes which can be trimmed to size during construction - pics of examples included below in our sewing instructions.
Patriotic Scraps
  • Various size strips for center square - I used three (3) different patriotic fabrics/remnants, including the same Blue/Star fabric from Clue #2 and the RED fabric from Clue #1 I've already used in this quilt, and a third complimentary patriotic fabric... quilter's choice!
Fabric Prep Tip:  Prepare your fabrics by starching/pressing for straighter/sharper cuts, and to stabilize the 'bias' edges of the star points.  

Cutting Tip:  Make sure your cutting tools are properly sharpened.  Replace the blade in your rotary cutter regularly and/or after a mega-cutting session, and especially when the blade becomes dull and starts to 'skip'.

Alternative cutting:  for those who may be cutting your Wonky Star units by alternative means, NO worries!  You may cut your Wonky Star units according to the sizes given, utilizing the ‘lengthwise OR crosswise’ grain of fabric - whichever works best for you, will work in our Wonky Star block.

Please Note:  There are AccuQuilt GO! Dies available in the sizes we are using for this mystery clue that work very well.  Since I would need to cut fabric chunks at least the width of these units w/rotary cutter, chose to go ahead and finish up my cuts to get the units needed...once again, quilter's choice ;-)  

Good cuts result in great sewing!
Sew:
One (1) Blue triangular piece of fabric to one (1) 4 ½"  white square of fabric, right sides together.  
 

Lay first Blue fabric triangle/remnant in place - be sure to cover BOTH sides of fabric


Notice the pins = the stitching line
Prior to stitching, 'roll' the fabric over to right side along stitching line to ensure the entire area of the foundation block will be covered


 
Stitching first triangle/Star point

Jenny of Missouri Star has a FUN video tutorial on HOW to cut/make these Wonky Stars:


PLUS - a F R E E Wonky Stars/Charm pack pattern - NOT ours, just 'another' quilt pattern to use w/Wonky Stars...Enjoy! 
  
Press first Wonky Star point
Flip over pressed block unit and trim excess fabric

Additional trimming to create uniform-sized block and remove excess fabric in seams:

Trim 'excess' base fabric

Trimmed and ALL ready for second Wonky Star point

Second Wonky Star point w/Blue fabric remnant, ready to be stitched in place


Once again - check to ensure there is ample fabric to cover the white 'foundation' block prior to stitching in place

Second Wonky Star point in place, sewn & pressed, and ready to be trimmed

Trimmed!  Be careful to NOT trim off the Blue star fabric, by folding it back and out of the way

Completed Wonky Star unit - make four (4) for each Wonky Star block

Jenny of Missouri Star has a FUN video tutorial on HOW to cut/make these Wonky Stars:


PLUS - a F R E E Wonky Stars/Charm pack pattern - NOT ours, just 'another' quilt pattern to use w/Wonky Stars...Enjoy!

Sew:
Two (2) Patriotic strips of fabric to one (1) 4 ½" white square of fabric, right sides together.  

Strip piecing four (4) center blocks

Sewing Tip:
I 'center' my first patriotic fabric strip by folding my white foundation block in half, creasing that fold line and centering my first patriotic fabric strip over that creased center fold line.   
Next, I lay my second patriotic fabric strip over the first strip - right sides together, stitch down & together at the same time w/scant ¼“ seam allowance, using my presser foot as a guide for my seam allowance, pin in place if need be.  These seams do NOT need to be perfect - sewing a straight seam line is more important for aesthetics, and for maintaining a 'flat' block unit - curvy sewing lines can create wavy block units that refuse to press/stay flat...NOT fun, especially in your finished quilt:
Two (2) patriotic strips sewn - chain pieced together, ready to be pressed/cut apart and the third strip added to the opposite side

Trimming the center block unit to size

Center block unit ALL trimmed - ready for assembly into a Wonky Star!  (I did follow-up w/basting down ALL the raw edges of each completed center block 1/16" away from edges, to ensure my basting remained within the ¼“ scant seam allowance)

Next:
Assemble & sew ALL center block/star point units, along w/white corner block units into four (4) Wonky Stars - ensuring each Wonky Star block measures 12 ½” square, (12" Finished in a quilt), once completed:
Laying out prior to Assembly of the Wonky Star block units
 Wonky Stars:
Wonky Star #1


Wonky Star #2



Wonky Star #3


Wonky Star #4


Have FUN sewing these Wonky Stars!

Final Sewing/Pressing Results for Clue #3:
  • Four (4) Blue/White/Patriotic 12 ½ x 12 ½” Wonky Star blocks (Finish at 12" x 12")
Congrats!  You’ve just completed Clue #3 of our Sweet FreedomMystery! 

Please Note:  A 'printable' of ALL our Sweet Freedom Mystery Clues - including Clue #3, is available in our Sweet Freedom Mystery Facebook Group:
  
https://www.facebook.com/groups/SweetFreedomMystery/ 

Thanks to ALL of you for choosing to participate in this patriotic Sweet Freedom Mystery.  Your choice to create a patriotic quilt to honor a Combat Service Member or Veteran for their service and sacrifice for our country makes a difference...One quilt at a time. 

Happy Sewing,
Deb Lindley
Illiana Quilts Of Honor 

Sweet Freedom Mystery Facebook Group:  
https://www.facebook.com/groups/SweetFreedomMystery/ 

Clue #4 scheduled to be released 'around MIDNIGHT' on Tuesday, February 4, 2020...See You Then!

Sweet Freedom Mystery Info:
 Fabric Requirements 
Clue #1
Clue #2 
Clue #3
Clue #4
Clue #5 

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