Cutting Strip set #4, 12" from center

I had to shift the tube a bit in order to cut on the blue starry part of the tube. Don't worry, it will make sense :)

We are getting tiiiiired...

Tube #2 becomes cut strip set #2

Strip set tube #2 we cut 4" from the center of the blue side of the tube (not the starry side). #2 is no longer a tube, but cut strip set #2.

We placed cut strip set #2 face down on cut strip set #1 (already pinned to the backing), lining up and matching the seams on the adjoining 4" blocks whenever possible (it looks better when the cut strip sets are staggered neatly).

A big step! Cutting tubes, preparing to sew to backing

This is where we need to really pay attention and go slow. Here the time needed to correct mistakes increases exponentially...AMHIK*
We need 7 tubes.
Each tube is composed of two strip sets sewn together - one strip set of each color combination, with a 4.5"X10" end block of the matching color sewn onto each end.
Each tube has two strip sets and four blocks. This makes more sense if you look at the picture. You can't see the blue/water strip set sewn onto the other side of the starry blue/white strip set, but it's there.
We will be cutting the tubes in a staggered manner so that when they are laid out, they will form our pattern.

Here's the method of our tube-cutting madness:


I have a 12"X18" cutting mat that I put inside each tube, in order to cut through just one side or layer of the tube. 
I cut through the solid blue strip sets with the water strip in the middle (NOT the starry blue strip sets with the white strip down the middle).
Tube #1 was cut in the middle of the solid blue half of the tube.
Tube #1 is no longer a tube - it is cut strip set #1. It will be pinned and sewn to the middle of the backing, and the other cut strip sets staggered from there. 
Tube #2 was cut 4" from the center of the solid blue side of the tube (not the starry side). #2 is no longer a tube, but cut strip set #2. Repeat...
Tube #3 was cut 8" from the center of the solid blue side of the tube (and is now cut strip set #3), and
Tube #4 was cut 12" from the center of the solid blue side of the tube (and is now cut strip set #4).
We basically will do the same with cut strip sets #5, #6 and #7, with the measurements matching #2, #3, and #4.
I squared up the edges (trimmed them with the rotary cutter so they are even). Feeding the OCS monster again :)

*ask me how I know

frogging... rip it, rip it *grumble*

Again... the directions are for a full size quilt and WE ARE MAKING A TWIN... <<banging head>>
I should have measured the total length of the tube *before* I assembled it, to make sure it won't be longer than the width of *our* quilt.
I re-measured and shortened the strip set, and reattached the end block to the shortened strip set. Not a big deal in the long run, but annoying when you think you have it all figured out and *surprise* you don't. LOL
This is a clue that I need sleep...

The Tube, a la bargello quilt assembly

The Tube, a la bargello quilt assembly - assemble, press, then (cut) discover you should have measured before assembling...

design decision: 2" (middle) strips

We are assembling 2 strip sets into one long strip and then into a tube, and then cutting the tubes so that when laid out the design is staggered (per the original pattern).
The plain blue strip sets have a strip of "water" going down the middle. We cut them perpendicular in direction compared to how all the other strips are cut, so it will look like water and not an EKG after assembly.
So the water strips are longer than all the other strips, which were cut from selvage to selvage (the factory-cut ends). Although this results in more waste after trimming, it will be worth it to have the effect we want.