How I Paper Piece

I was working on a paper pieced project this weekend and thought I'd show my method. After taking classes from some of the nationally well-known teachers and a few locals, I put together a scheme that works well for me. My tale is how I do it and not meant as beginning instruction or a tutorial. Yes, it's my story and I'm sticking to it.

First off, I take the patterns, perhaps 3-6 (depending on the paper and pattern) and pin them together. Make sure they are stacked well--hold up to the light and double check. Then pin the stack together.

Using a Jeans or larger needle in your sewing machine without thread and bobbin, stitch on the lines--it doesn't need to be exact. This is where I use a long stitch. Below you can see the holes poked in the paper.  This works as a guide on both sides of the paper and for a simple pattern, it takes a few seconds.

The perforations are not only a guide but make the paper fold back easier. Below you can see how I have used the "holes" for a guide for placing my first fabrics. They rest right sides together one quarter inch over the line. You should be able to feel the holes made by the needle through the fabric. Pin, change your needle to whatever you usually use and stitch. When sewing on the line, use a small stitch. I set my machine at 1.80.

As with most quilt blocks when there are many, chain piecing speeds things along and saves thread. However, I do like Peggy Martin's method of strip piecing as well.

Open the fabrics and press. Then fold back the paper on the perforations and trim one quarter inch beyond the fold.

Now the next piece of fabric can be added.

There are several different papers that can be used. If the pattern is not too detailed, plain copy paper is fine for me. When tiny pieces are involved, I prefer Carol Doak's paper for easy removal.  I've not tried vellum but understand having some visibility is worthy. There are lots of papers on the market. You just have to try and see what works best for you.

Thanks for stopping by.

 
Marcy

 

Philanthropy Quilts

Heavens to Betsy, I am not missing. I wanted to finish up on these philanthropy quilts before I start anything new. The tops are made by someone else and only need some straight line or stitch-in-the-ditch quilting. These tops are amazingly pieced and easy to work on. Our group  does the "pillowcase" or "birthing" method rather than using binding.  How fortunate to have the opportunity to work on a project that costs me only for thread.

 

What's Your Superpower?

How's this for a challenge? Superpower? Maybe not super but I can be powerful. Give me a needle and off I go.

What a fantastic dare this has been. Thanks to our great leaders Madame Samm of Sew We Quilt  and Pauline of Quilt 'n' Queen for providing us yet another outlet for creativity. Not an easy task but again well done by both of them.

The first project I am sharing is actually the second project I made for the event. After reading that the project had to say what your superpower was, I had to quickly change gears. At first I thought it was just to show your superpower.

No. 1--Second Project

Anyway, here is second project--the first project is below. I stitched out Superpower Cupcakes, since that is a love of mine, on a dishtowel.  I used variegated DMC thread but should have used a darker color to make it stand out. Then I added cupcakes, colored them in with crayons and then outlined with DMC floss.  I used a machine feather stitch using variegated thread for the edge of the hem.

To get some authentic look to the cupcake papers, I used corrugated card stock underneath. Yes, just rub the crayon over it and you get this neat effect.  Using a yo yo as a cherry on top I then added a button for more color.



I tried something I saw on a sample at the quilt shop.  Stitching over rick rack with embroidery floss.  The look is good, but next time I'll use more floss.

No. 2 First Project

The next project is the first project.  A friend brought me a panel from Sisters Oregon Outdoor Quilt Show so long ago I was embarrassed it wasn't hanging when she visited. This would be my superpower--machine trapunto and embroidery. If this wasn't a perfect piece for both.

Using DMC floss around each and every flower was what I call super fun. It's all printed and waiting for you. With my stockpile of DMC floss, I had no problem matching colors. I also embroidered the date line.

Okay, now on to the machine trapunto. This was the perfect piece giving a variety of ways to emphasize the important parts. Look how the trees are so puffed out. The tight stippling makes them stand out even more.

Hand quilting was done on the center quilt on the green circles only. However, both of the other quilts are stitched on the lines by machine.

Since the pattern went all the way to the edge, I thought if I stitch the binding on the back and bring it to the front for hand stitching, I might have better control of keeping it even and with the pattern. Wrong! But maybe only I would know--and now all my blogger friends will know too.

As I head over the mountains, it is time for you to visit the other bloggers scheduled for today.

 

THURSDAY APRIL 17 

Kathy's Quilts 

Made by Me in Red

 life, quilts and a cat too 

Quilt Doodle Doodles... 

Quilting My Way-5th Generation Quilters Blog 

 

Edited to add some before pictures.

 

 

 

Have fun looking at all the goodies completed by such talented superpowered stitchers.

Come back again.
Marcy

Wedding Keepsake

Last week I started on this project for my niece's wedding.  The design only covers about 6.5" x 9.5" of the fabric. It was a pattern from the most recent Quiltmaker magazine and I thought it to could hold a wedding card. Perhaps something else could be made from it but by making a simple envelope, the bride can use it for whatever she'd like. If you have ideas, let me know.

It is all fusible applique and the added wedding date is a bit of backstitch hand embroidery. The project began last Sunday and I added the final stitch last night.

So first thing this morning I decided I'd link up with Daryl's new Weekend Linky Party. Daryl blogs at Patchouli Moon Studio and she is such an artist and great inspiration for me.

Let me know your ideas. I do not want to make a pillow.

Marcy

 

Apron Quilt Coming Down

This quilt has been hanging in my office for several years and I just began to notice the tabs on top for hanging are causing a bit of stress on it.  So  I'll take it down and make a proper hanging sleeve for it.  In the meantime, I'll find another quilt for its place. Even quilts need a rest now and then.

It is all hand applique and hand embroidered.

It is about 50" by 60" and has hung in two quilt shows--one of them juried.

Some of the rick rack is from my oldest stash and has yellowed a bit.  I like the effect.

Here you can see the very tight/small stippling on the background. It kind of puffed the aprons out.  There are quilting circles on the red with white dots inner border and stippling on the black/red/white outer border. Using the same border fabric for the binding helps the eye move across the aprons.

I think I used a single thread and a straw needle to applique the apron above. The stitching is teeny tiny.

The upper apron on the dress hangs loosely from the quilt.  It, too, was stitched in the same manner.

It's a Lori Holt pattern. She blogs at Bee in my Bonnet and here is  her pattern at her Etsy shop.

Tea Towels for Easter

I had some fun this week working with yo yos.  They have never been my favorite type of hand work to do, but needed something other than embroidery to work on at night.  Yo yos don't take much thinking and are quick, but the tiny ones were tricky. A friend had made these adorable bunnies in pastels for spring.

I made one in similar colors and sent it off to my daughter today. Her kitchen is gold and the other towel had a gold background. These were the only tea towels I could find locally. I figure it is not just for Easter but all of spring.  Heck, nearly year around.

 

My neighbor does machine embroidery and can sew anything. She brought me this tea towel because she knows I have a passion for old embroidery.  This looks just like it was done by hand.

 

 

Someday I'll have to get some of my older embroidered pieces out to post.  There is something comforting about hand embroidery.  It is probably one of the first sewing we ever did.