I had a lovely telephone chat with my cousin René yesterday. She lives across the country from me, but we have so much in common! We talked for over an hour and I know if we lived closer we'd be in real-life contact constantly. She is a talented quilter and after catching up on each other's news, we got into a "quilty" conversation.
René is making a quilt using this block from the Judy Hopkins book "501 Rotary Cut Quilt Blocks". I have this book and use it all the time, as evidenced by all the Post-it flags marking my favorite blocks. The block she is working on is on page 66, called "Christmas Star".
Take a look at the top row. That unit is darn tricky to make the way the instructions show. All those triangles with bias edges are such a pain. She wanted to simplify the construction and was considering drafting a paper piecing pattern and assembling that top row unit that way. Have any of you done that? Create your own paper piecing pattern?
When I looked at the block I first thought to simplify things by making the dark triangles into a half-square triangles on either side of the green flying geese unit. But of course, even better (fewer seams) would be to make two flying geese units. I really liked the look of the block and decided to see if I could redo it and simplify the construction.
Do you see what I did there? Instead of the awkward to construct top row unit as shown in the pattern diagram, I made two flying geese to achieve the same look. Of course, now I have a seam going through that center green triangle shape. It may not be quite as "clean" a look, but it sure does eliminate the construction frustration. The seam doesn't bother me, and I think once quilted, it wouldn't be very noticeable.
I got the best results pressing seams open for a nice flat block. I was making a six-inch block and those pieces were tiny.
I think Christmas Star is my new favorite block. I will add this block to my Moda Blockheads sew-along project. It's a great choice as all the blocks in that sampler project have a star theme.
So let me know in the comments if you have ever drafted your own paper piecing pattern. Would that method be preferable to my choice to make two flying geese units for the section?
45 responses to “There’s Always Another Way To Do Things”
Beautiful! And you are right – once the top is quilted, the seam won’t be noticeable. Sometimes when I’m making a scrappy quilt, I’ll seam to small bits together in order to cut a piece the size I need. Isn’t that what our ancestors would have done? And I don’t find it in the finished quilt.
I have a cousin who is a beautiful quilter, and she lives an hour and a half from me. We go to retreats together, and I just love spending that time with her. When I shop for fabric, I consider what I think she’d buy because her taste is so good. She says the same about me, but I don’t know where she’s coming from with that thought!
Beautiful! And you are right – once the top is quilted, the seam won’t be noticeable. Sometimes when I’m making a scrappy quilt, I’ll seam to small bits together in order to cut a piece the size I need. Isn’t that what our ancestors would have done? And I don’t find it in the finished quilt.
I have a cousin who is a beautiful quilter, and she lives an hour and a half from me. We go to retreats together, and I just love spending that time with her. When I shop for fabric, I consider what I think she’d buy because her taste is so good. She says the same about me, but I don’t know where she’s coming from with that thought!
Beautiful! And you are right – once the top is quilted, the seam won’t be noticeable. Sometimes when I’m making a scrappy quilt, I’ll seam to small bits together in order to cut a piece the size I need. Isn’t that what our ancestors would have done? And I don’t find it in the finished quilt.
I have a cousin who is a beautiful quilter, and she lives an hour and a half from me. We go to retreats together, and I just love spending that time with her. When I shop for fabric, I consider what I think she’d buy because her taste is so good. She says the same about me, but I don’t know where she’s coming from with that thought!
So beautiful! I think that no matter which way this block is made, it would be time consuming and tedious and that would have to be the mindset a quilter would need to have going into a quilt made from this block. It would have to be about the finished product and not the making of the block…if that makes any sense! If you ever come across a copy of 501 Rotary cut, please buy it for me! I’ve been wanting that book for ages.
So beautiful! I think that no matter which way this block is made, it would be time consuming and tedious and that would have to be the mindset a quilter would need to have going into a quilt made from this block. It would have to be about the finished product and not the making of the block…if that makes any sense! If you ever come across a copy of 501 Rotary cut, please buy it for me! I’ve been wanting that book for ages.
So beautiful! I think that no matter which way this block is made, it would be time consuming and tedious and that would have to be the mindset a quilter would need to have going into a quilt made from this block. It would have to be about the finished product and not the making of the block…if that makes any sense! If you ever come across a copy of 501 Rotary cut, please buy it for me! I’ve been wanting that book for ages.
Brilliant Nicole! What you came up with is perfect! I’m thinking this is an older quilt book when quilters were using plastic templates?
Brilliant Nicole! What you came up with is perfect! I’m thinking this is an older quilt book when quilters were using plastic templates?
Brilliant Nicole! What you came up with is perfect! I’m thinking this is an older quilt book when quilters were using plastic templates?
I do love that block (and the fabric)! I have this book but haven’t used it much. I would use the FG method myself, because I don’t have much experience with paper piecing. I don’t have any close friends or family that quilt, which is why I follow and interact with many blogs.
I do love that block (and the fabric)! I have this book but haven’t used it much. I would use the FG method myself, because I don’t have much experience with paper piecing. I don’t have any close friends or family that quilt, which is why I follow and interact with many blogs.
I do love that block (and the fabric)! I have this book but haven’t used it much. I would use the FG method myself, because I don’t have much experience with paper piecing. I don’t have any close friends or family that quilt, which is why I follow and interact with many blogs.
What a good idea! I’ve never drafted a block for paper piecing but I have cut up paper piecing patterns to make a regularly sewn block. My brain doesn’t do paper piecing! Drafting patterns? I’ve successfully made patterns bigger…to avoid pieces that are 1 1/2 inches or smaller! You love the tiny…and you’re so patient with it…kudos.
What a good idea! I’ve never drafted a block for paper piecing but I have cut up paper piecing patterns to make a regularly sewn block. My brain doesn’t do paper piecing! Drafting patterns? I’ve successfully made patterns bigger…to avoid pieces that are 1 1/2 inches or smaller! You love the tiny…and you’re so patient with it…kudos.
What a good idea! I’ve never drafted a block for paper piecing but I have cut up paper piecing patterns to make a regularly sewn block. My brain doesn’t do paper piecing! Drafting patterns? I’ve successfully made patterns bigger…to avoid pieces that are 1 1/2 inches or smaller! You love the tiny…and you’re so patient with it…kudos.
I like that Christmas Star block a lot! I’ve never attempted paper piecing & would need a detailed in-classroom course to learn it, I’m pretty sure! The flying geese solution is more in my comfort zone, so I could definitely ignore the middle seam! I’ve been pressing seams open more often than not for the past few years because it gives a much flatter result. I have friends who are beautiful quilters, but no family members…those are the ones who GET my quilts because they won’t be making any for themselves!
I like that Christmas Star block a lot! I’ve never attempted paper piecing & would need a detailed in-classroom course to learn it, I’m pretty sure! The flying geese solution is more in my comfort zone, so I could definitely ignore the middle seam! I’ve been pressing seams open more often than not for the past few years because it gives a much flatter result. I have friends who are beautiful quilters, but no family members…those are the ones who GET my quilts because they won’t be making any for themselves!
I like that Christmas Star block a lot! I’ve never attempted paper piecing & would need a detailed in-classroom course to learn it, I’m pretty sure! The flying geese solution is more in my comfort zone, so I could definitely ignore the middle seam! I’ve been pressing seams open more often than not for the past few years because it gives a much flatter result. I have friends who are beautiful quilters, but no family members…those are the ones who GET my quilts because they won’t be making any for themselves!
Beautiful block! I’ve changed up blocks for ease of construction but I’ve never reworked or drafted a block for paper piecing. Paper piecing would probably give me more precision. Your block looks mighty precise to me! That is a great book to have in your quilt library.
Beautiful block! I’ve changed up blocks for ease of construction but I’ve never reworked or drafted a block for paper piecing. Paper piecing would probably give me more precision. Your block looks mighty precise to me! That is a great book to have in your quilt library.
Beautiful block! I’ve changed up blocks for ease of construction but I’ve never reworked or drafted a block for paper piecing. Paper piecing would probably give me more precision. Your block looks mighty precise to me! That is a great book to have in your quilt library.
Love that block – and I’d have done the geese too because I just do not like messing about with ripping paper bits off. But there are no rules in quilting, regardless of what the quilt police might have to say!
Love that block – and I’d have done the geese too because I just do not like messing about with ripping paper bits off. But there are no rules in quilting, regardless of what the quilt police might have to say!
Love that block – and I’d have done the geese too because I just do not like messing about with ripping paper bits off. But there are no rules in quilting, regardless of what the quilt police might have to say!
oh, I love that block! your color choices are so soft and beautiful. I can’t imagine an entire quilt made from that block. when she has her top done please ask if you can share a picture on your blog. I would love to see it!
oh, I love that block! your color choices are so soft and beautiful. I can’t imagine an entire quilt made from that block. when she has her top done please ask if you can share a picture on your blog. I would love to see it!
oh, I love that block! your color choices are so soft and beautiful. I can’t imagine an entire quilt made from that block. when she has her top done please ask if you can share a picture on your blog. I would love to see it!
I have never drafted a paper pieced pattern! Only once did I ever quilt a paper pieced block (only one block) and it about drove me batty!! I had to have the teacher help me with every step because my brain couldn’t handle the backwards way of constructing it. The end result was a beautiful block, but I’ll never try that technique again!
Your flying geese solution seems like the perfect option and the block is beautiful.
I have never drafted a paper pieced pattern! Only once did I ever quilt a paper pieced block (only one block) and it about drove me batty!! I had to have the teacher help me with every step because my brain couldn’t handle the backwards way of constructing it. The end result was a beautiful block, but I’ll never try that technique again!
Your flying geese solution seems like the perfect option and the block is beautiful.
I have never drafted a paper pieced pattern! Only once did I ever quilt a paper pieced block (only one block) and it about drove me batty!! I had to have the teacher help me with every step because my brain couldn’t handle the backwards way of constructing it. The end result was a beautiful block, but I’ll never try that technique again!
Your flying geese solution seems like the perfect option and the block is beautiful.
The block is beautiful! And I love the colors you chose!
The block is beautiful! And I love the colors you chose!
The block is beautiful! And I love the colors you chose!
Greetings from Australia,
I have that book but. I love the tags down the side,that made me smile.
I’ll have to start doing that. There’s nothing like a well used quilt book is there
Regards
Suzanne
Greetings from Australia,
I have that book but. I love the tags down the side,that made me smile.
I’ll have to start doing that. There’s nothing like a well used quilt book is there
Regards
Suzanne
Greetings from Australia,
I have that book but. I love the tags down the side,that made me smile.
I’ll have to start doing that. There’s nothing like a well used quilt book is there
Regards
Suzanne
Electric Quilt(computer program) allows you to print a block for foundation (paper) piecing. It is also an option in Block Base which is all the blocks in The Encyclopedia of Pieced Blocks (used for identification). I have not had the opportunity to use that function but use their rotary cutting choice often.
Electric Quilt(computer program) allows you to print a block for foundation (paper) piecing. It is also an option in Block Base which is all the blocks in The Encyclopedia of Pieced Blocks (used for identification). I have not had the opportunity to use that function but use their rotary cutting choice often.
Electric Quilt(computer program) allows you to print a block for foundation (paper) piecing. It is also an option in Block Base which is all the blocks in The Encyclopedia of Pieced Blocks (used for identification). I have not had the opportunity to use that function but use their rotary cutting choice often.
That is a small block to have so many pieces! You do such nice work. I often draft blocks as paper-pieced when a pattern calls for a regularly-pieced block. They come out so accurate, and I like the process. I use EQ8 — I draw the block and then print out the foundation paper pattern on thin paper (32 lb newsprint). Works great for me! Another quilty blogger wrote last year about foundation paper piecing feeling like a super power, and that is how I feel about it too. Yours came out beautifully, clearly, so no need to change methods if you like yours!
That is a small block to have so many pieces! You do such nice work. I often draft blocks as paper-pieced when a pattern calls for a regularly-pieced block. They come out so accurate, and I like the process. I use EQ8 — I draw the block and then print out the foundation paper pattern on thin paper (32 lb newsprint). Works great for me! Another quilty blogger wrote last year about foundation paper piecing feeling like a super power, and that is how I feel about it too. Yours came out beautifully, clearly, so no need to change methods if you like yours!
That is a small block to have so many pieces! You do such nice work. I often draft blocks as paper-pieced when a pattern calls for a regularly-pieced block. They come out so accurate, and I like the process. I use EQ8 — I draw the block and then print out the foundation paper pattern on thin paper (32 lb newsprint). Works great for me! Another quilty blogger wrote last year about foundation paper piecing feeling like a super power, and that is how I feel about it too. Yours came out beautifully, clearly, so no need to change methods if you like yours!
I like the flying geese option!!
I like the flying geese option!!
I like the flying geese option!!