MODERN QUILTS & GIRLYGEEK GADGET GEAR: Dawning Snowflake Tutorial

I'm really excited to been asked to make the February block of the month for the Misfit Quilters! Even though I am called The Valkyrie, there is still a bit of a romantic in me, and it really starts to come out in February. This past month, I witnessed what was probably the most romantic thing I’ve ever seen: snow falling with no clouds in the sky…during a sunrise! All I could do was go outside and spin and spin and surround myself in diamonds in pinks and oranges and lemon yellows. So instead of doing the usual hearts such for the month of love, I wanted to do one of those snowflakes.

I found the most delightful pattern through called 'Snow Cristal’ from Joanna at Shape Moth. It is a paper piecing block, but it is super simple. The finished 'Snow Cristal’ block is at 10.5”, however she suggested either add on the background as you completed each triangle. Or, you could cheat like me and make this into a mug rug for a Valentines gift.

So grab your fabrics and download the free PDF pattern here, and lets at it. Oh, just a few tips:

Test the accuracy of paper-piecing patterns. My printer has a habit of going to 97% automatically. Double check with a ruler! If you can, get some of the foundation paper, or the Big Chief paper we used as kids or even go to your local newspaper and see if they have any they can give you. The paper is MUCH thinner and easier to tear away.
To make removing the paper foundation from paper-projects easier, set your sewing machine's stitch length to a short setting. Not so short that if you have to frog you can’t but the perforation is what makes it easier to tear out. I like to shorten it up to about 15-18 stitches per inch. Every machine is different.
If in doubt, use a set of tweezers to get those little paper pieces out of the way.
Remember this is just paint by numbers from quilters. sometimes I will take a set of crayons and mark what colors I want to go where so I don’t mess up.

Step 1:

Print out 3 copies of the triangles. Double check 100% scale, no scaling. She has a 1” box right there, whip that ruler out on the first one and go at it.

Step 2:

Using your rotary cutter and ruler, trim the foundations 1/2″ (at a minimum) from the outside solid line.

Step 3:

Select the #1 fabric piece and position it RIGHT SIDE UP on the BLANK/BACK side of the paper over the #1 area. Be sure that it covers the area completely with at least 1/4″ (at a minimum) all around the #1 area (hence the ½”more). Either tape the edges in place or pin it. I like to pin, it’s just a preference.

Step 4:

Find the line between #1 and #2. Fold the paper over the edge of the ruler exposing the excess fabric beyond the #1 seam line. Place your ruler along the edge of the fold adding ¼” to edge and trim away the excess fabric. If you tape, be sure it’s not on a sewing line!

Step 5:

Measure out and cut out ½” larger than need (at a minimum) the #2 fabric.

Place the #2 fabric with the previous #1 piece along the just trimmed line, right side together and double check that it really will cover all of the #2 area by “pretending your finger is the seam.” Then flip it back into place along the just trimmed line of the #1 piece and pin in place.

Step 6:

Place the block with the lined side up under the presser foot and sew on the line, extending the stitches ¼″ on each end.

Step 7:

Remove your pins and tape and press the #2 piece open!

For the Next Lines:

For the #3 line, follow the same sequence of trimming, sewing and pressing as described in the above steps. Also, when you extended the stitching on each end of the line? When you fold along the #3 line, you will need to pull away the stitching from the paper at the pointed end and that is completely ok! The fabric will still be stitched in the seam allowance area!

Section 2 - 3

Section 3 - 4

Section 4 - 5

Section 6 - 7

Section 7 - 8

OK I spaced, I forgot to take a photo here. Grrrrrrr.....

Section 8 - 9

Section 9 - 10

Section 10 - 11

Section 11

Once the #11 piece has been sewn you will need to trim up Section 10 and 11 1/4″ from the outside sewing line you can attach the rest of the triangles.