Now I remember why I don't do paper piecing. I am terrible at it. I just have the hardest time wrapping my head around the fact that I am sewing upside down on a reversed image. It makes me crazy. How I struggled with this LOVE block at first!
The hardest thing for me was figuring out how large a scrap of fabric to use for each step. I was consistently, reliably short most of the time. I would think I had it right then after sewing and flipping, my scrap didn't cover the entire area it needed to. Then I started using huge scraps where I couldn't possibly be short. And then I fretted about how much fabric I was wasting.
And then I would do something like this:
A couple of times instead of trimming my seam allowance, I cut off the piece of fabric I had just sewn on.
I am happy to say I finally got the universe to line up and got my four letters together.
And my block measured 8 1/4" rather than 8 1/2'.
All was not lost, however. I made my too-small block into a mug rug for Sara for Valentine's Day! Heaven knows I needed more practice with the paper piecing, so I made four more letters for another block, which came out just the right size. And you know something? By the time I had made the eighth letter, I was pretty darn good at it, was having fun, and starting thinking about doing more paper piecing.
I told you these sew alongs were skill builders! Thanks Moda.
Happy Valentine's Day everyone.
18 responses to “Well, That Was Interesting”
Even “LOVE” can be a 4-letter word when you are in new territory with your quilting. The results turned out great.
Even “LOVE” can be a 4-letter word when you are in new territory with your quilting. The results turned out great.
Even “LOVE” can be a 4-letter word when you are in new territory with your quilting. The results turned out great.
Kudos for persevering! The mug rug and the new block look great.
Kudos for persevering! The mug rug and the new block look great.
Kudos for persevering! The mug rug and the new block look great.
Happy Valentine’s Day! You conquered those blocks & gained a great new skill! 💕💕
Happy Valentine’s Day! You conquered those blocks & gained a great new skill! 💕💕
Happy Valentine’s Day! You conquered those blocks & gained a great new skill! 💕💕
yep! I do the same thing with foundation piecing. Triangles are the worst. I turn the piece over, fold the fabric out, and it’s not covering the right piece or it’s turned wrong…Good job for sticking to it though!
yep! I do the same thing with foundation piecing. Triangles are the worst. I turn the piece over, fold the fabric out, and it’s not covering the right piece or it’s turned wrong…Good job for sticking to it though!
yep! I do the same thing with foundation piecing. Triangles are the worst. I turn the piece over, fold the fabric out, and it’s not covering the right piece or it’s turned wrong…Good job for sticking to it though!
It turned out well! As with any unfamiliar technique, practice and practice some more. (Our guild BOM for two different years featured paper piecing which provided some of that practice.)
It turned out well! As with any unfamiliar technique, practice and practice some more. (Our guild BOM for two different years featured paper piecing which provided some of that practice.)
It turned out well! As with any unfamiliar technique, practice and practice some more. (Our guild BOM for two different years featured paper piecing which provided some of that practice.)
I am trying to make the pretty valentines runner. I have the center hearts done. My problem is adding the flying geese. The finish size is 1 1/2 by 3……5 on the sides. It doesn’t work for me. What am I doing wrong. Any help you could offer would be appreciated. Claire
I am trying to make the pretty valentines runner. I have the center hearts done. My problem is adding the flying geese. The finish size is 1 1/2 by 3……5 on the sides. It doesn’t work for me. What am I doing wrong. Any help you could offer would be appreciated. Claire
I am trying to make the pretty valentines runner. I have the center hearts done. My problem is adding the flying geese. The finish size is 1 1/2 by 3……5 on the sides. It doesn’t work for me. What am I doing wrong. Any help you could offer would be appreciated. Claire