I don't get it.Except with string quilts, I don't get paper piecing.
Here's the story.
I bought this pattern forever ago. To make a quilt for myself ( #53).
I decided it would be a perfect design for Natalia's Sampler Christmas quilt.
Those four star points call for paper piecing. I kind-of read the directions, didn't have a way to make copies of the paper pattern, and thusly proceeded to make myself a template, and cut and piece regularly.
It didn't work out perfectly.
Could someone please explain paper piecing to me?
Do you cut your pieces after? Do you sew on the line on the template?
I didn't get it when I read the pattern.
The block is still (mostly) pretty, but if you look at the top, it doesn't all line up quite right (sorry Natalia!). Some of the other seams don't line up either. I guess you could call it a Monet (you know, looks good from a distance)...
Anyway.
(just because)
11 comments:
I had the same problem when I tried paper piecing! I hear so many people say its easier/faster/etc but to me it was much more complicated! I ended up cutting "rough shapes" for my pieces ahead of time because I felt like I was wasting alot of fabric. :(
I thought paper piecing was sewing the fabric onto the paper and then tearing the paper away from the fabric when the block is finished...
Here is a great tutorial. It's really easy when do it a few times.
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art14116.asp
I ended up taking a class because it never made sense, now it makes sense but wow is it time consuming and some what wasteful in the fabric department. But it is accurate and very pretty.
Paper piecing is generally where you make copies of the pattern for each Piece or block. You sew the fabric directly on the paper following the lines and then you tear the paper away. Best advise I can give is shorten your stitch length to like 1.25. Otherwise the paper is a *bleep* to tear away! Try Jeannie's tute link. That may help too :)
Don't give up on it. Once I got it down, I loved it!
I took a class in paper piecing and love it. I looked on you tube, but wasn't impressed with the videos there. Ask at your local quilt shop. Have someone who is good at it show you. We made a little tree wall hanging in our class. Very fun!
It's fun and great to get perfect points on stars AFTER you have had a class or individual lesson from someone who is good at it. I don't know if you could do it from a book. I loved it once I learned how.
Love the picture of family btw.
Tracy,
I think it's awesome! I love everything about it and I don't care if it's not perfect! I'm not perfect!!! :)
okay Tracey girl, we gotta get together and have a class with Goldie...as soon as I get back from Sisters Quilt Show!!! I'm gonna get you over to Chico! Have a happy 4th you three! xo Pam
I am so NOT a quilter, so your square looks amazing too me!! So much detail goes into this sort of thing. I do more of the one to two sitting projects. Any more than that and I'm lost or frustrated. WOW. Good job. :)
I love the Grinch shirt... I have one that's similar.
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