All I can say is THIS IS REALLY FUN! Oh sorry, I was shouting. But seriously, this Little Blocks 365 is a blast. I was pretty busy with homeschooling yesterday but managed to squeeze in the time to make the first two blocks. I was in no hurry and completely took my time. I probably spent an hour and a half making these two blocks. I listened to a podcast and was completely lost in what I was doing. I actually found it very relaxing. All the thinking is done for you. All you have to do is sew on the right line.
GREAT NEWS! Gay Bomer of Sentimental Stitches has reopened enrollment in the Little Blocks 365 sew-along through this Thursday! Thanks to Ina for letting me know! So go on over to Sentimental Stitches and sign up!
There is a super generous seam allowance given, so I never found myself having sewn on a piece of fabric that was too short and didn't reach the edge of the paper. And that is a mistake I frequently have made when doing paper piecing in the past.
I ordered the Carol Doak foundation paper and like it a lot. It went through my printer just fine, and the block patterns all printed out at the exact size they were supposed to be. The paper is very easy to sew through and I can tell it will pull off easily when the time comes to do that.
The only dumb thing I did (and I did it twice) is when I was trimming the seam allowance to 1/4" I accidentally cut off my piece of fabric that I had just sewn on. I don't think I will do that again. Well, I might, but I am going to try really really hard not to.
If these fabrics look exactly like every other pull of fabric I have done lately, it is because I am totally using my stash. So these fabrics have absolutely been in past projects. I just can't see buying anything new when I have ten thousand yards of fabric sitting around. At least the finished quilt will coordinate with half the other ones I have made. It's ok. I never get tired of red in anything.
I've heard from a couple of you who are sewing along but would love to know if anyone else is doing this project.
Oh! One more question for you fabric starchers out there: Do you think I should starch the fabric for these paper pieced blocks? About half the ones above are starched, the rest aren't. Does it matter?
45 responses to “First Two Paper Pieced Blocks”
I’m so happy to see that Sentimental Stitches has reopened enrollment for this sew-along. I emailed them yesterday and hadn’t heard back, so I was thinking she wasn’t taking any new participants. So this is good news.
My best to your family-I’m so glad to see that your father is improving and hope he continues to feel stronger each day.
I’m so happy to see that Sentimental Stitches has reopened enrollment for this sew-along. I emailed them yesterday and hadn’t heard back, so I was thinking she wasn’t taking any new participants. So this is good news.
My best to your family-I’m so glad to see that your father is improving and hope he continues to feel stronger each day.
I’m so happy to see that Sentimental Stitches has reopened enrollment for this sew-along. I emailed them yesterday and hadn’t heard back, so I was thinking she wasn’t taking any new participants. So this is good news.
My best to your family-I’m so glad to see that your father is improving and hope he continues to feel stronger each day.
I would starch the remainder just so that you’re working with the same texture consistently. Hope that makes sense! Our fiber arts group met yesterday–socially distanced & not passing projects around. We decided to use materials we already have for this year’s monthly challenges. That concept seems to be an overall theme for more & more quilt makers & fiber artists right now. Stay well!
I would starch the remainder just so that you’re working with the same texture consistently. Hope that makes sense! Our fiber arts group met yesterday–socially distanced & not passing projects around. We decided to use materials we already have for this year’s monthly challenges. That concept seems to be an overall theme for more & more quilt makers & fiber artists right now. Stay well!
I would starch the remainder just so that you’re working with the same texture consistently. Hope that makes sense! Our fiber arts group met yesterday–socially distanced & not passing projects around. We decided to use materials we already have for this year’s monthly challenges. That concept seems to be an overall theme for more & more quilt makers & fiber artists right now. Stay well!
You are off to a beautiful start, Nicole, but if you get tired of any of your 10,000 yards of fabric, you know where to send them!!! I’d vote to starch your remaining fabrics.
You are off to a beautiful start, Nicole, but if you get tired of any of your 10,000 yards of fabric, you know where to send them!!! I’d vote to starch your remaining fabrics.
You are off to a beautiful start, Nicole, but if you get tired of any of your 10,000 yards of fabric, you know where to send them!!! I’d vote to starch your remaining fabrics.
Hmmm..might have to reconsider this SAL. Nicole, you absolutely do not have to starch with paper piecing…I have paper pieced a lot and never, ever starched. Also, to save yourself a bit of money, instead of using the Sewline glue stick, Elmers washable glue stick comes in multipacks , washes out, and is less expensive.
Hmmm..might have to reconsider this SAL. Nicole, you absolutely do not have to starch with paper piecing…I have paper pieced a lot and never, ever starched. Also, to save yourself a bit of money, instead of using the Sewline glue stick, Elmers washable glue stick comes in multipacks , washes out, and is less expensive.
Hmmm..might have to reconsider this SAL. Nicole, you absolutely do not have to starch with paper piecing…I have paper pieced a lot and never, ever starched. Also, to save yourself a bit of money, instead of using the Sewline glue stick, Elmers washable glue stick comes in multipacks , washes out, and is less expensive.
Your first two blocks are cute as can be. I’m so happy you posted that signups had been extended. I went to the site yesterday and was disappointed that it was already closed. But I signed up just now. I’ve spent the last 2 weekends going through my considerable stash and I’m still not sure which fabrics I will use, but I have many options available to me! I will check out the Instagram link to see what other quilters are using. Thanks for the inspiration!
Your first two blocks are cute as can be. I’m so happy you posted that signups had been extended. I went to the site yesterday and was disappointed that it was already closed. But I signed up just now. I’ve spent the last 2 weekends going through my considerable stash and I’m still not sure which fabrics I will use, but I have many options available to me! I will check out the Instagram link to see what other quilters are using. Thanks for the inspiration!
Your first two blocks are cute as can be. I’m so happy you posted that signups had been extended. I went to the site yesterday and was disappointed that it was already closed. But I signed up just now. I’ve spent the last 2 weekends going through my considerable stash and I’m still not sure which fabrics I will use, but I have many options available to me! I will check out the Instagram link to see what other quilters are using. Thanks for the inspiration!
Very nice blocks! They look perfect!
Mary
Very nice blocks! They look perfect!
Mary
Very nice blocks! They look perfect!
Mary
Your enthusiasm is contagious, Nicole. I had received the mailings from Sentimental Stitches and resisted. But your blog posts tipped me over and I succumbed… So glad to hear that your dad is imporving.
Your enthusiasm is contagious, Nicole. I had received the mailings from Sentimental Stitches and resisted. But your blog posts tipped me over and I succumbed… So glad to hear that your dad is imporving.
Your enthusiasm is contagious, Nicole. I had received the mailings from Sentimental Stitches and resisted. But your blog posts tipped me over and I succumbed… So glad to hear that your dad is imporving.
You’re a better woman than I! My brain will not work upside down and backwards…I’ve tried and tried…I’ll gladly support your success with the paper piecing!
You’re a better woman than I! My brain will not work upside down and backwards…I’ve tried and tried…I’ll gladly support your success with the paper piecing!
You’re a better woman than I! My brain will not work upside down and backwards…I’ve tried and tried…I’ll gladly support your success with the paper piecing!
Okay, I signed up, you enabler, you! LOL, your blocks are so cute, I could not resist. I’ve never done a sew along before but now I’ll be doing two as I also plan to do the APQ one this year. It was designed by Sherri McConnel (A Quilting Life) and is in the April edition of American Patchwork & Quilting that comes out on Feb. 12 (why don’t they call it the February issue?).
Okay, I signed up, you enabler, you! LOL, your blocks are so cute, I could not resist. I’ve never done a sew along before but now I’ll be doing two as I also plan to do the APQ one this year. It was designed by Sherri McConnel (A Quilting Life) and is in the April edition of American Patchwork & Quilting that comes out on Feb. 12 (why don’t they call it the February issue?).
Okay, I signed up, you enabler, you! LOL, your blocks are so cute, I could not resist. I’ve never done a sew along before but now I’ll be doing two as I also plan to do the APQ one this year. It was designed by Sherri McConnel (A Quilting Life) and is in the April edition of American Patchwork & Quilting that comes out on Feb. 12 (why don’t they call it the February issue?).
Those blocks are super cute! A very tempting project …
Those blocks are super cute! A very tempting project …
Those blocks are super cute! A very tempting project …
I agree with Patty… I have paper pieced a lot of quilts over the years and I don’t starch and I use the Elmers glue stick ( purple so you can see where the glue is). I also use the add a quarter ruler that was specifically designed for paper piecing as it makes it easier to trim! Good luck and have fun! Always impressed you can squeeze so many projects in!
I agree with Patty… I have paper pieced a lot of quilts over the years and I don’t starch and I use the Elmers glue stick ( purple so you can see where the glue is). I also use the add a quarter ruler that was specifically designed for paper piecing as it makes it easier to trim! Good luck and have fun! Always impressed you can squeeze so many projects in!
I agree with Patty… I have paper pieced a lot of quilts over the years and I don’t starch and I use the Elmers glue stick ( purple so you can see where the glue is). I also use the add a quarter ruler that was specifically designed for paper piecing as it makes it easier to trim! Good luck and have fun! Always impressed you can squeeze so many projects in!
why is small so cute? I can’t wait to start mine. gotta figure what fabric I’m gonna use.
why is small so cute? I can’t wait to start mine. gotta figure what fabric I’m gonna use.
why is small so cute? I can’t wait to start mine. gotta figure what fabric I’m gonna use.
Glad to see your off to a great start. Today I’ve going thru my scraps to use them up first. I’ve got lots of quilts from these fabrics and they all look different. I starch everything. It’s easier as you don’t need to press every seam. You can finger press and the block come out great. My first weeks are printed so I’m ready to start ❤️❤️
Glad to see your off to a great start. Today I’ve going thru my scraps to use them up first. I’ve got lots of quilts from these fabrics and they all look different. I starch everything. It’s easier as you don’t need to press every seam. You can finger press and the block come out great. My first weeks are printed so I’m ready to start ❤️❤️
Glad to see your off to a great start. Today I’ve going thru my scraps to use them up first. I’ve got lots of quilts from these fabrics and they all look different. I starch everything. It’s easier as you don’t need to press every seam. You can finger press and the block come out great. My first weeks are printed so I’m ready to start ❤️❤️
Ha ha ha ha, “when I have ten thousand yards of fabric in my house”… How many of us can say something similar? I know it’s true. Beautiful fabric pull from your stash.
Ha ha ha ha, “when I have ten thousand yards of fabric in my house”… How many of us can say something similar? I know it’s true. Beautiful fabric pull from your stash.
Ha ha ha ha, “when I have ten thousand yards of fabric in my house”… How many of us can say something similar? I know it’s true. Beautiful fabric pull from your stash.
I’m not a paper piecer but I’ve been doing this from the first week and I’m hooked. I look forward to Friday when the next batch gets delivered. No starch on mine and they’re ok.
I’m not a paper piecer but I’ve been doing this from the first week and I’m hooked. I look forward to Friday when the next batch gets delivered. No starch on mine and they’re ok.
I’m not a paper piecer but I’ve been doing this from the first week and I’m hooked. I look forward to Friday when the next batch gets delivered. No starch on mine and they’re ok.