First Choice Ruler | If These Threads Could Talk

Thank you QT fabrics for providing Dawn & Dusk panels to make this fabulous OBW quilt.

Terri Butler & I designed a OBW with Dawn & Dusk in Adobe Illustrator first.

The version above was computer generated. I was not able to recreate the same hexagons exactly, but I stayed pretty close. I cut 3.25″ strips using my First-Choice Ruler, that yield 5″ finished hexies.

Hexies sorted by predominate color.

I created 10 ” stars by choosing 2 sets of equilateral triangles to make diamonds and used my Star 60 Tool to cut the side triangles.

hexies are moved around a lot during the design process.

I stitched the top and bottom columns into sections. I top stitched the top section to the panel first. Then I stitched together one column on the right side and stitched it to the panel using a partial seam. Laying the panel on the table, I used the column to determine where to place and top stitch the bottom section by matching up the dog ears. It’s amazing how much the columns shrink once they are stitched together.

The columns above and below the 10″ star 60’s must be stitched together to make them the same width as the larger half hexie. Then they can be stitched into columns and joined together.

Right side attached to the panel section.

Almost ready to blur the edges of the panel.

Dawn & dusk top is all together. The borders are on and the edge are blurred to make it hard to find the edges of the panel. The top measures 69″ x 54″. I’m so in love with Dawn & Dusk. Terri Butler is busy working on her Dawn & Dusk OBW Jacket.

Be sure to follow Terri Butler & me on our joint Facebook page Mama Said These Threads Could Talk

Terri Butler on Mama Said Sew

@QTFabrics #Dawn&Dusk #Star60Tool #FirstChoiceRulers

Dawn & Dusk will be in shops 2027.

I was watching a video lecture on CTPub.com by Paula Nadlestern. Wow she is amazing, a true quilt artist! She inspired me to try some something. I whipped out my Star 60 Tool …

I dug through my OBW stash and found this fabric by Laura Heine called A Bird in Hand. It had already been cut into 18″ repeats.

I cut my strips 3.25″ to yield 5″ finished hexies. I always use my First Choice ruler to cut my triangles.

I am constantly looking to see what else I can make from my 3.25″ strips that can be added to my OBW’s. Did you know you can make a 10″ star if you cut your diamonds (using the Star 60 Tool) from a 3.25″ strip?

I wanted to make a 10″ hexies with a 5″ hexies in the center.

From the aligned 3.25″ strips I cut half hexagons following the instructions on page 10 of the Star 60 tool instructions. I am making 5″ finished hexies so I follow the chart for 2.5″ units. I needed a 3″ strip and place the 5.5″ line on the bottom of the strip and cut on both sides.

Because my strips are 3.25″, I turned my half hexie so I can trim 1/4″ off the short end. Now my half hexie is the correct size.

I choose an equilateral triangle to pair it with the half hexie and stitch them together.

This is a great way to create hexies with interesting, one-of-a-kind centers.

Front and back of the 10″ hexies.

Once I got going I was having so much fun I had to finish the top. I added five 10″ Star 60 units and six 10″ hexies with a 5″ hexie in the center. I need to come up with a name for that. I wanted to add something bold, so I made a 20″ hexie from the birds. I used the original fabric on the left side of the quilt. A Bird in Hand measures 70″ x 57″.

@CTPub @Studio180Design