Sister's Choice Quilts

My interests are quilting, reading, cooking, family, decorating, and matters of style. I post regular quilting tutorials and book reviews of current fiction.

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New Paper Piecing Adventure

Sentimental Stitches Little Blocks 365

One of the things I'd like to get better at in 2021 is paper piecing. Recently while scrolling through Instagram, I came across some people who are participating in a paper piecing sew along hosted by Sentimental Stitches. This sew-along is called Little Blocks 365. These creative people shared photos of their blocks and I was blown away by their small size and perfection. You see, these blocks finish at 3" square.

I looked into things a bit and found that enrollment was still open for the sew-along. If you paid an upfront fee of around $36, you would thereafter receive patterns for 7 paper pieced blocks every Friday for an entire year–365 total block patterns. There were also layout suggestions and supply lists. I was impressed with the blocks I saw online and was very tempted to join in. I rationalized that 1) I wanted practice with paper piecing, 2) the price was more than fair, and 3) it looked like fun.

The owner of Sentimental Stitches, Gay Bomers, has a very good YouTube video tutorial on how she paper pieces these tiny blocks. I also highly recommend that you take a look at #littleblocks365 on Instagram and see some of the wonderful blocks participants have made. The comments from each participant uniformly stated how much fun they were having making these blocks.

The deadline for signups was Friday, January 29, so I got in just under the wire. I have received my first five weeks of block patterns by email, so I now have 35 blocks to make to get caught up. Obviously, this could take a while! If you think that you have any interest in joining in this sew-along, I suggest you email Gay Bomers directly at [email protected] and ask if she might be willing to take on any additional subscribers.

I had a nice weekend with my father. He is continuing to do very well. My sisters and I are going to start pulling back a bit with our care of him. One of us will still see him each day and prepare his meals and do other household tasks, but we will not stay all day or spend the night. My nephew lives with my dad and is present in the house every night. I still plan to go next weekend, but after that I don't think it will be necessary unless he takes a turn for the worse.

Hope you all had an excellent weekend! Let me know if you are able to squeeze into the Sentimental Stitches Little Blocks 365 sew-along!

30 responses to “New Paper Piecing Adventure”

  1. So funny I just signed up on the last day also, Nicole. I thought how fun and it’s not like I don’t have tons of scraps. I’m ordering more Carol Doak foundation paper from FQ. It will be fun a sewing adventure. I do enjoy when the blocks come out perfect. Debbie

  2. So funny I just signed up on the last day also, Nicole. I thought how fun and it’s not like I don’t have tons of scraps. I’m ordering more Carol Doak foundation paper from FQ. It will be fun a sewing adventure. I do enjoy when the blocks come out perfect. Debbie

  3. So funny I just signed up on the last day also, Nicole. I thought how fun and it’s not like I don’t have tons of scraps. I’m ordering more Carol Doak foundation paper from FQ. It will be fun a sewing adventure. I do enjoy when the blocks come out perfect. Debbie

  4. I have paper pieced before. IT does make perfect blocks for sure. I am on a mission to finish some tops I have completed. Time to get them together. It is so nice to hear about your Dad. You are so blessed to still have him. Enjoy every minute with him. Have a good week Nicole.
    Mary

  5. I have paper pieced before. IT does make perfect blocks for sure. I am on a mission to finish some tops I have completed. Time to get them together. It is so nice to hear about your Dad. You are so blessed to still have him. Enjoy every minute with him. Have a good week Nicole.
    Mary

  6. I have paper pieced before. IT does make perfect blocks for sure. I am on a mission to finish some tops I have completed. Time to get them together. It is so nice to hear about your Dad. You are so blessed to still have him. Enjoy every minute with him. Have a good week Nicole.
    Mary

  7. I’ll have to take a look at the sew along website. But I know I won’t keep up, so will be an observer from afar. I agree with Mary that your family is lucky to have your dad. I’m sure he wants to be independent, but realizes he needs a little support from you & your sisters. It’s also peace of mind that you have your nephew right there with him at night. Stay well!

  8. I’ll have to take a look at the sew along website. But I know I won’t keep up, so will be an observer from afar. I agree with Mary that your family is lucky to have your dad. I’m sure he wants to be independent, but realizes he needs a little support from you & your sisters. It’s also peace of mind that you have your nephew right there with him at night. Stay well!

  9. I’ll have to take a look at the sew along website. But I know I won’t keep up, so will be an observer from afar. I agree with Mary that your family is lucky to have your dad. I’m sure he wants to be independent, but realizes he needs a little support from you & your sisters. It’s also peace of mind that you have your nephew right there with him at night. Stay well!

  10. I am so glad to hear your dad is doing well. Thank goodness.
    I sent Gay an email asking to join. Maybe? I’ll let you know. Those blocks are so tiny and wonderful.

  11. I am so glad to hear your dad is doing well. Thank goodness.
    I sent Gay an email asking to join. Maybe? I’ll let you know. Those blocks are so tiny and wonderful.

  12. I am so glad to hear your dad is doing well. Thank goodness.
    I sent Gay an email asking to join. Maybe? I’ll let you know. Those blocks are so tiny and wonderful.

  13. I know the fascination of these little blocks all too well, Nicole! Years ago, during the whole Dear Jane/Jane Was Nuts era, I decided to try my hand at a few small blocks. I decided to use only units that were easy to figure out, based on 1″ or 2″ strips, with a finished size of 4″. I had the idea to make a queen size quilt…yeah, right! After a few months, I had made 30 blocks, and realized my dream probably wouldn’t happen. The blocks went into a pizza box for storage, and in 2020 I came across them again. Decided to put them together into a wall hanging…much better idea! Here’s a pic: https://flic.kr/s/aHsmU3vs9j

  14. I know the fascination of these little blocks all too well, Nicole! Years ago, during the whole Dear Jane/Jane Was Nuts era, I decided to try my hand at a few small blocks. I decided to use only units that were easy to figure out, based on 1″ or 2″ strips, with a finished size of 4″. I had the idea to make a queen size quilt…yeah, right! After a few months, I had made 30 blocks, and realized my dream probably wouldn’t happen. The blocks went into a pizza box for storage, and in 2020 I came across them again. Decided to put them together into a wall hanging…much better idea! Here’s a pic: https://flic.kr/s/aHsmU3vs9j

  15. I know the fascination of these little blocks all too well, Nicole! Years ago, during the whole Dear Jane/Jane Was Nuts era, I decided to try my hand at a few small blocks. I decided to use only units that were easy to figure out, based on 1″ or 2″ strips, with a finished size of 4″. I had the idea to make a queen size quilt…yeah, right! After a few months, I had made 30 blocks, and realized my dream probably wouldn’t happen. The blocks went into a pizza box for storage, and in 2020 I came across them again. Decided to put them together into a wall hanging…much better idea! Here’s a pic: https://flic.kr/s/aHsmU3vs9j

  16. Hi, Nicole…I signed up for the Little Blocks 365, even though I will not get started until I have a few other commitments out of the way. Perhaps in a few weeks I can sew like crazy to catch up! Have not decided what style of fabrics to use…toying with batiks or 30s. Considered Kaffe, but with such tiny pieces, I think the patterns and colors would drive me insane. I have made many blocks with paper piecing and especially use this method on small and miniature blocks, with great accuracy. I also use the special foundation paper so that it will tear away easily. Hope you enjoy this fun year of making Little Blocks 365. I’ll be watching your progress along the way.

  17. Hi, Nicole…I signed up for the Little Blocks 365, even though I will not get started until I have a few other commitments out of the way. Perhaps in a few weeks I can sew like crazy to catch up! Have not decided what style of fabrics to use…toying with batiks or 30s. Considered Kaffe, but with such tiny pieces, I think the patterns and colors would drive me insane. I have made many blocks with paper piecing and especially use this method on small and miniature blocks, with great accuracy. I also use the special foundation paper so that it will tear away easily. Hope you enjoy this fun year of making Little Blocks 365. I’ll be watching your progress along the way.

  18. Hi, Nicole…I signed up for the Little Blocks 365, even though I will not get started until I have a few other commitments out of the way. Perhaps in a few weeks I can sew like crazy to catch up! Have not decided what style of fabrics to use…toying with batiks or 30s. Considered Kaffe, but with such tiny pieces, I think the patterns and colors would drive me insane. I have made many blocks with paper piecing and especially use this method on small and miniature blocks, with great accuracy. I also use the special foundation paper so that it will tear away easily. Hope you enjoy this fun year of making Little Blocks 365. I’ll be watching your progress along the way.

  25. Yay! My friends signed up and two have already made the cutest blocks! I of course signed up after they did and am still trying to figure out what fabric to use…guess I better hurry!

  26. Yay! My friends signed up and two have already made the cutest blocks! I of course signed up after they did and am still trying to figure out what fabric to use…guess I better hurry!

  27. Yay! My friends signed up and two have already made the cutest blocks! I of course signed up after they did and am still trying to figure out what fabric to use…guess I better hurry!