Summer Sampler 2017: Princess Cut Star

Happy Monday, and happy July! We're now on Block 8 of Summer Sampler 2017, which means we're almost halfway done already, which is hard to believe.

It's my turn as designer again this week, so my Princess Cut Star block is up! I designed this block and was immediately reminded of the facets in a princess-cut diamond, and so Princess Cut it was.

Here's the great thing about this paper-pieced block: Templates A and B are pieced in reverse order. Why is that so great? Because it means when you join an A unit to a B unit, the seams will nest together, just like they do in traditional patchwork. I think you'll find that it makes this block come together much more accurately and easily than some of the other blocks we've tackled during this quilt-along. Piecing the templates in reverse order isn't always possible (it totally depends on the design), but when it is, it's happy-dance time.

So here's my tip for this week: I leave the paper on my paper-pieced units when I'm joining each A unit to a B unit. I think leaving the paper on is particularly helpful with triangular-shaped units, because it stabilizes those little angled points at the edges. Just pay attention, as you’re joining A and B units, to whether your seams are all snugly nested together. But once the A and B units were together, at that point I took my paper off, before I sewed the quadrants together. With the ability to nest those seams, I don't think it's necessary to leave the paper on once you have the triangles sewn into nice stable squares.

Here are all my blocks so far, all together. Loving them! Want to join in? It's not too late! Click here! And if you're playing along, don't forget to hashtag your photos #summersampler2017. Click here to see the beauties being made by others who are participating!

Happy sewing everyone! See you next week.