Cartwheel Constellation © 2010 by Gail Garber and Donna Barnitz

My first day-long class at AQS QuiltWeek Chattanooga was a freezer paper foundation piecing class, using the pattern Cartwheel Constellation.  The skill level was intermediate, although to be honest, foundation piecing is pretty much all the same technique.  The complexity comes in the assembly.  Students started off by making the quilt center parts with the pineapple block set inside the star points.  It is always best to make the toughest part first.

Using the Add-a-Quarter Ruler

In all of my foundation piecing classes, we trim using the Add-a-Quarter ruler.  I try to make this technique, which is not intuitive to novices, as structured as possible.

Ripping off the freezer paper

Once the foundation pieced sections are done, the paper is removed before stitching the parts together.    It wasn’t long before the first star points began appearing.  See the photos below.

Star Point by Jacqueline Fulginiti, Reston NY

Star point by Diane Hermann, Middleburg, FL

Star point by Connie Gratias, Alexandria, MN

Star Point by Cheryl Smith, Chattanooga, TN

What a fun and enthusiastic group of students participated in this class!  I love how all the pieces turned out so differently despite the fact that everyone used the same pattern.

Cartwheel Constellation Class

Day one of classes was definitely a success!  I can’t wait to see the photos of the finished quilts!  Great job, ladies!