Celestial Star SAL - Month 7 - Seahorse Circle July 01 2018

It is now officially Summer for most of us.  Longer daylight hours, vacations, Summer activities, and just a reason to relax can seriously bite into your sewing time.  In my younger days, that was true for me.  But these days, the only thing that stops me from sewing is.......well, nothing if I can help it.  I've been playing with the latest Tilda fabric, Sunkiss, checking out the fussy cutting possibilities.  There are an abundance of cuts for these half-inch hexagon flowers.  A bouquet of these can certainly make someone's day; and, they won't wilt.  

TIPS:

• When I'm English paper piecing, I always knot the end of the thread in my needle before setting it down to prepare the next piece(s).  Whether I'm basting or attaching shapes, it is handy to have that needle and thread ready before I position my fabric.  Most of you probably do this without consciously thinking about it; bravo to you!  When ripping out, as we often do, I like to have that visible knot on top of my seam showing where I started my thread; carefully snipping that knot starts me on my way to removing the unwanted piece.
• I've been using Superior Thread Bottom Line 60 weight polyester thread on bobbins for attaching EPP shapes.  This 60 weight thread is by far the best I have found for EPP.  It is strong and nearly invisible.  My tip for "parking" this thread bobbin is to attach the color(s) I am currently using to my pin cushion.  I use a long pin with a large head, larger than the bobbin hole; I put the pin through the hole and stab it loosely into the pin cushion, using one long pin for each bobbin. This way, I can get a spin on the bobbin, making the thread pull out quickly and easily.  Pictured below is how I have mine set up for easy access.  EDITOR'S NOTE:  THIS IS AN AWESOME IDEA!  I NEED TO START DOING THIS!!! - JEN

• I store my various EPP projects in hat boxes, six quart or fourteen quart clear plastic storage boxes, large cosmetic bags, floss boxes, baskets, tupperware, etc.  Because I switch from one project to another so often, my basic sewing notions are in a cosmetic case. These notions include thread cutting scissors, fabric cutting scissors, pin cushion, needles, basting thread, sewing thread, white tracing pencil, black tracing pencil, pencil refills, seam ripper, and clover clips.  I also keep a small sand board and my Magic Mirror nearby.  Unless an acrylic template is specific to only one project, I keep all my templates together, grouped in various similar shapes in zip bags (ie, hexagons, half hexagons, elongated hexagons would be stored together in one bag).  If I don't keep organized, I often lose things.  Although I don't glue baste, I have a glue pen for the occasional use. I was planning on trying it on my half-inch hexagons. I have NO idea where it is. Ugh!

DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS FOR MONTH 7 - SEAHORSE CIRCLE

The name for this month's Colorburst is from the Seahorse Round fabric.  Once again, Jason Yenter's Treasures of Nature fabric has offered us many opportunities for fussy cutting. 

The exact placement for cutting each motif WITH SEAM ALLOWANCE INCLUDED is outlined below. Be careful when cutting. CUT ONLY AROUND THE DESIGNATED MOTIF.

Placements have often been selected for you to match motifs, often on both sides of the piece. When cutting and basting fabrics to papers, PAY ATTENTION TO THE FOLLOWING:

(1) The Center Octagon is cut from the Seahorses Round fabric.  Cut one, centering the circle.  The tails and the turtles will be pictured around the edges of this Octagon when finished.

IMPORTANT NOTE: CUTTING LINE HAS BEEN MARKED WITH MARKER AND FOLD LINE HAS BEEN DRAWN IN PENCIL, TO ILLUSTRATE THE POINT. DO NOT USE MARKER FOR CUTTING LINE AND DO NOT MARK YOUR FOLD LINE.

(2) The first set of Four-Pointed Stars are cut from the Blue Medallion fabric.  The CUTTING LINE is at the upper most tip of the daisy.  The FOLD LINE encompasses the orange center of the daisy at the tip.  Each piece is exactly the same on both sides.  Cut sixteen and sew them together in pairs.

IMPORTANT NOTE: CUTTING LINE HAS BEEN MARKED WITH MARKER AND FOLD LINE HAS BEEN DRAWN IN PENCIL, TO ILLUSTRATE THE POINT. DO NOT USE MARKER FOR CUTTING LINE AND DO NOT MARK YOUR FOLD LINE. 

(3) The Custom Jewel is cut from the Pink Medallion fabric.  Place the jewel template with the top pointing in the direction of the small circle.  Cut eight.

IMPORTANT NOTE: CUTTING LINE HAS BEEN MARKED WITH MARKER AND FOLD LINE HAS BEEN DRAWN IN PENCIL, TO ILLUSTRATE THE POINT. DO NOT USE MARKER FOR CUTTING LINE AND DO NOT MARK YOUR FOLD LINE.

(4) The second set of Four-Pointed Stars are cut from the Twin Seahorse fabric.  One set of two are identical cuts; however, they are facing opposite directions. Notice how the nose snuggles into the side point of the FOLD LINE when basted.  CUTTING a total of sixteen pieces, eight are facing left and eight are facing right.  Sew each set of two together with their backs to each other. 

IMPORTANT NOTE: CUTTING LINE HAS BEEN MARKED WITH MARKER AND FOLD LINE HAS BEEN DRAWN IN PENCIL, TO ILLUSTRATE THE POINT. DO NOT USE MARKER FOR CUTTING LINE AND DO NOT MARK YOUR FOLD LINE.

(5) The Kite is cut from the conch shells on the Twin Seahorse fabric.  Each piece is exactly the same on both sides.  Notice how the FOLD LINE at the wide point of each piece cuts off the bottom green edge of the conch shell.  Cut eight.

IMPORTANT NOTE: CUTTING LINE HAS BEEN MARKED WITH MARKER AND FOLD LINE HAS BEEN DRAWN IN PENCIL, TO ILLUSTRATE THE POINT. DO NOT USE MARKER FOR CUTTING LINE AND DO NOT MARK YOUR FOLD LINE.

Remember to post your progress on Instagram at #CelestialStarSAL and on Facebook at Celestial Star Stitch-along.  Even if you are working on earlier stars or are just getting started, please post.  You may even win a prize!

In the meantime, for those of you in the USA, Have a Happy Fourth of July!  For everyone, we are having a 3 day sale - 20% off of your order July 4-6th....just use code REDWHITE&BLUE at checkout.