Paper Piecing tutorial

I have been playing in my Electric Quilt software designing a new paper piecing pattern. It looks complicated but mostly that’s due to flipping and rotating the blocks. It’s actually very easy, you do have to think in reverse though.Here’s the way it looks on paper.

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When you paper piece the most important thing is to make sure when you cut your fabrics you allow for extra and try to look at the fabric with the pattern through a light table or use a window.Then always stitch on the printed line.I love this method because of its accuracy.

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This particular pattern was subdivided into three sections. When you go to stitch the three subdivisions together it is very accurate. Points are never chopped off!
I use an Add a Quarter ruler which I really advise you to purchase if you are planning on doing a lot of this sort of piecing. I also recommend buying paper piecing papers, which are available through Carol Doak, C&T Publishing and I’m sure others. Ricky Tim’s sells paper that you don’t have to remove. When it’s washed it remains in the fabric as a scrim.
I hope you give it a try! It’s lots of fun and you can be very accurate, and can also make very small blocks using this method.

What I have been doing to get my fabric under control

This summer when the weather has been distracting to my working on my projects, I’ve instead been on a campaign to organize my scraps of fabrics to make them more usable for a later time.
I’ve been stashing my scraps of bits and pieces in containers as I’ve been making quilts.
I have gone through containers,(we all have these, right!)and I separate the pieces that are large enough to actually do things with. I was figuring I could make loads of half square triangles, flying geese etc.

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From this point, which actually looks like a big clutter, I have organized the fabrics to look like this

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The longer strips that I found in my containers I’ve decided can be used as borders or bindings, so I’m leaving those as is .
Loads more to dig through, and I’m figuring this will be an ongoing project.
I will at a future time update you on what I end up making with all these lovely scraps.

Mariners Compass quilt using Electric Quilt

I love paper piecing and decided to teach myself how to draw a Mariners Compass quilt using software called Electric Quilt. I am enjoying the aspect of this design in bringing together the elements like a puzzle and just figuring what to do as I go along.

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Paper piecing is probably my favorite way to quilt. You need to plan out your design and then organize the fabrics, I usually allow a generous bit of lee way in doing this. My favorite quilters to look at are Carol Doak and Judy Neimeyer. In fact I have been working on Judy Neimeyers Feathered Star this summer. Judy’s technique was at first challenging, but I found organization was the most important aspect in getting started.
Carol Doak has a new book out that I recently bought and its a great way for paper piecers to find elements that they can put together.

Getting back to my Mariners Compass Quilt, since I just got off topic, here are some more photos.

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I will keep posting pictures as I move along with this quilt! As you have probably figured out about my style, I usually have a few projects in the works at the same time. Keeps it interesting!

Why I want to blog

I am an avid quilter and enjoy all things quilty. This summer I’ve been between two projects, I’ve been working on a scrappy quilt that incorporates using a 60degree triangle by Creative Grids. Basically all I did to make these shapes was to cut my fabrics into strips , and who doesn’t all ready have some of these lying around.From there I used my triangle ruler and cut these wedges out. I used white as the main color. I am posting a small section because I am in the process of working on this, and will post it when it’s finally done.

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This quilt was pieced using a scrappy method and a traditional pattern. I used Anita Solomon’s method of quick cutting and really enjoyed the technique. I had taken one of her classes at CityQuilter in NYC several years ago.Its 41″x41″