Tutorial spiderweb

As my first blogversary is coming up this month, it is time to get creative. I would like this to be a little gift to all of you who would like to try my take on the old Spiderweb. It is a celebration of the web, and sharing. So I would like to share with you how I make my scrappy Spiderweb blocks. Please read through the entire tutorial before you start. I will try to answer any questions you might have. Please post your questions as comments to this post.

step 1: Your first important design decision, choosing a fabric for the base. This will be the stars, or the background of the spiderweb patter. I chose a solid white: Kona White. You might chose different.

step 2: I cut my base into squares of 12.5"x12.5". Then I make two cuts on the diagonals and end up with 4 triangles. The longest side of each is 12.5". These 4 triangles will later form one block.

step 3: Now I mark each triangle. I fold the long side in half, and make a mark (using a pencil) 1/4" away from the edge along the fold. Then I measure 6" from the 45 degree angled corners and mark with the pencil. The triangle will now have tree marks. Take your ruler. You will draw a line with your pencil 1/4" from the two marks (the 6" mark and the middle of the 12.5" mark.) The line will be on the 45 degree angle corner side of the marks. Repeat with the other side. These two lines will be hidden in your finished blocks.

step 4: Find some scraps for your strips. This is your second important design decision. Decide on what color scheme you will be using for your strips. Again, there is many options. I have restricted mine to using mostly scraps from designers like Heather Ross, Denyse Schmith, Amy Butler, Kaffe Fassett. Feel free to choose otherwise. This will be an important decision in the design of your quilt.

Assemble your scraps. I cut them into strings of different width; minimum 1.0" - maximum 2.0". You might like smaller and/ or wider. I advise you to sew a few blocks before you cut into all of your scraps. The length of a useful strips is 5". You may precut a few or just use your scissors as you go.

step 5: The fun starts!!!! Take your first triangle, aka base triangle. Choose a strip from your selection. Put the strip right sides together on your base triangle along the line you have marked. Make sure the strip covers the base triangle. Sew with an 1/4 " foot along the side so that the seam is crossing two of the tree marks you made on your base triangle. (Important: The line you marked will line up with the edge of your first strip when you use a 1/4" foot.)

step 6: Fold over your strip and make sure it is covering the base triangle. Choose your next strip ( I prefer some contrast in colors) and position it right sides together, on the first strip. Make sure it covers the edges of the base triangle. Important!!! Fold back your base triangle before sewing the sides of your strips together. You are not supposed to sew the 2. strip onto the base triangle, only the 1. From now, you use the base triangle as guide to make sure your strips are long enough to cover the base triangle. Keep adding strips until you have covered your base triangle.

step 7: Choose your first strip for the other side of the base triangle. As in step 5, sew this to the base. Go on like step 6 until you have covered the base triangle. Your base is supposed to look something like this:

step 8: Press with your iron(I use steam) and turn your base. Be careful to press and not stretch. It will look a bit like this:

Now, using the base triangle (white fabric) as a guide, I cut the edges:

Then I cut away the excess base triangle, one side at a time:

step 9: After making 4 of these triangles I sew them together to form a block;

Tip: Be careful not to stretch the triangles out of shape before they are sewn into blocks. I think is important to chose a sturdy fabric as the base.

Happy sewing, folks ...