Paper pieced?

[denise-nh]

Looking at step 1 and since I'm not a great piecer wonder if I can paper pieces these parts. May make one set the "regular way using scraps and then check my measurements against the template provided for the finished size. Any thoughts on this?

Denise

[seattlebarbara2003]

Good question. I won't be starting this quilt for a couple months, but I like paper-piecing. May try both ways and see what works best for me. It's good for me to try new ways.

I know when I did the 2009 BOM I did some blocks regular piecing and some blocks paper-piecing and they both worked fine.

[sewmarti]

I was wondering if I couldn't piece it without using a template. Maybe just cutting the strips on the angle rather than using the template. I'll have to think on that and maybe do a sample.

[judithrs]

I too thought about paper piecing...will try it today.
Judy

[Margo]

Very good question Denise! I was allowed early access to the Month 1 directions and I followed the instructions we were given and also decided to try paper piecing.

Because paper piecing requires more fabric than this technique, I seriously doubt that there is enough extra yardage in the kits to do paper piecing for all of the elements in the design, but if you are using different fabrics that may not be an issue for you.

Here is what I did to minimize wasted fabric.

First of all I printed my foundations and trimmed each unit right along the edges of the unfinishedseam allowances. I traced the triangle shape including the DOTS onto template plastic:



I added 1/4" seam allowance on all three sides:



Then, lining up the dots on the paper foundation and the dots on the plastic template, I marked the outside edge of the paper foundation for both the right and left side of the template.

[Margo]

Then I trimmed the template on the marked lines and I had the exact shape I needed to cut for the triangles and could line up the edges to be sure they were in the right position.





(I used a 1/4" ADD A SEAM ruler to determine where to line up the long edge of each patch of fabric.)

Hope that helps!

[Margo]

Thank you Margo.

[Margo]

I just found this youtube video showing how the add a quarter ruler works. LUV this tool!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XA-b4SCL2ZU

Please check with your local quilt shop for this ruler! We need to keep these folks in business!!

http://www.joann.com/add-a-quarter-o...lers/prd25320/

[denise-nh]

Yes I have both the add a 1/4 and and a 1/8 ruler. I bought the kit so I'm not to sure about enough fabric, since it does take extra. Will give it a whirl the traditional way. It's all a learning process. Thanks for the tutorial Margo,your always there to help us.

denise

[suehenyon]

I have to admit that when I looked at Month 1 directions, I got a panic attack. ops: I'm thinking about how to gracefully bow out & may offer up my kit for sale at a reduced price. I have a feeling this is more than I bargained for. I don't remember feeling this on previous BOM's and I'm thinking I should pay attention to my gut feeling. This looks like it requires a LOT of skill at following directions. No video backup this time?

Sometimes people offer alternatives for various parts of BOMs. I'll watch for those for awhile and continue to read the directions until I feel confident that I can do it.

[suehenyon]

Margo is my hero!

[Margo]

I have to admit that when I looked at Month 1 directions, I got a panic attack. ops: I'm thinking about how to gracefully bow out & may offer up my kit for sale at a reduced price. I have a feeling this is more than I bargained for. I don't remember feeling this on previous BOM's and I'm thinking I should pay attention to my gut feeling. This looks like it requires a LOT of skill at following directions. No video backup this time?

Sometimes people offer alternatives for various parts of BOMs. I'll watch for those for awhile and continue to read the directions until I feel confident that I can do it.

Susan, why don't you use some of your own fabric to try the technique in the BOM's directions for the first month. It may turn out to be something that works really well for you. If you REALLY don't like it, then you might consider selling your kit, or even using the fabrics for another project that you are more comfortable with.

This try-out would be a good use of some fabric you might have that you are now wondering "what was I thinking?"
Admit it....we ALL have some like that! :lol:

[denise-nh]

Oh Boy Margo! How can I thank you that pp method is great. I made my template and cut some scrap fabric and gave it a try. As you can see by the picture, it's pretty much near perfect. I actually used the template to trace my fabric and cut it with a rotary cutter. By having those extra lines where the 1/4 inch is suppose to be on the straight edge - it lined up perfectly. Not only is this a great tutorial for THIS part, it's a GREAT way to cut for future paper pieced projects - not so much waste. Thank you so much!!

[Margo]

Good for you Denise! It looks GREAT!!

[suehenyon]

Thanks Margo, good idea. Denise's success helps, too. I'll give the pp a try in other fabrics.