A few blocks more

When I started the Farmer's Wife quilt project, I had no idea how much I'd learn along the way. I knew I wanted to use my favorite fabrics in it, but my tastes changed dramatically through the year.  I thought carefully about contrast and value and scale when planning, but what makes a block interesting to me is very different now.  I knew I'd learn some block construction, but I had no idea that I'd decide to take out multiple block seams.


Here is my first block remake.  I loved the orange fabric but the fine stripe did not belong any more.  I replaced it with one of my favorite prints from Momo Freebird.

My first spool block has two American Jane fabrics.  One from Snippets and one from Punctuation.  I love those lines, but I no longer love them enough for this project.  I decided this was the perfect block to use some of my larger scale fabrics that wouldn't fit in another block.

I used Rashida's washi tape fabric and then took out the HST and 9-patch seams.  Instead I did four y-seams to complete this block with the least seams possible to keep the washi tape fabric uninterrupted.

The contrasts in my first evening star block never turned out to my liking.  I knew I would redo this block long ago, so I have already used the green DS Quilts gingham in another keeper block for the FW.  And the blue Snippets fabric will have to be saved for another project.

I fell head over heels for this camper and tent fabric from Dear Stella and I had to find a block pattern that would highlight it.  Evening star seemed like a great camping themed block so I made the dark star from Oval Elements by Art Gallery.

And, lastly, my first bowtie block always made me think of a circus clown's bowtie.  I knew the orange Ta Dot had to go. 

I think that using the Joel Dewberry as the background and classing up the tie with some Anna Maria Horner works much better.  I used some Y-seams again to take out all of the seams in the center block of the square.  I think the effect makes all of that work totally worth it. 

So, I know that the two blocks below are no longer my style, but maybe they are yours?  Leave a comment if you like them and if there is more than one person willing to give them a home, I'll randomly pick a name.  Both blocks are 6.5" unfinished and would like to go live with someone who will put them to good use.

All done!

Here is the last of the three giveaway pincushions promised.  This will head out to Sarah very soon.

Paper piecing an "S" may be the hardest block I've ever done.  

But, I learned a ton and am glad that I've done it.

The next time I have a giveaway, I promise a quicker turnaround on the prizes.  

Thank you for your patience, Sarah!

Two pincushions down, one to go.

Poor Vanesa has had to wait eons for her "V" pincushion from my giveaway.  "V" is an easy letter to paper piece so I spent way too long trying to figure out how to make it more complicated.

Seriously.

I have some issues....

This is the second draft.  For the first draft I made the same block to start, then I machine stitched around it to accent, and then I thought I'd try a curved corners triangle shape.  Disaster!  When I stuffed it, there were puckers all over the place and it was too big and hideous.  That was the first paper piecing I've ever done that went straight into the trash.

But this version I'm happy with.  I think the hand stitching around the letter suits it just fine.  Vanesa asked for blues, so I used a 30's repro print for the letter and a blue Hoopla dot for the back. 

(Charise's "C" pincushion is here.)
Sarah, yours is next on the sewing table.
The two curves in opposite directions for an "S" may be my most difficult piecing design yet. I have absolutely no need to further complicate that one.

One pincushion down, two to go.

I got so excited by the number of comments on my custom pincushion giveaway, that I decided to make three of them.  Well, I have one finished now.  Charise requested a "C" in red, aqua and/or mustard.

I used a mix of paper and improvisational piecing.  Straight paper piecing will give accurate results and a clean finished project, but I'm often too lazy to go to the copy store to reverse my drawing and also too lazy to wrestle with the paper for the tiny piecing.  So, first I start with a detailed drawing. 

Then I make at least two regular copies of my drawing (my copier at home can do this much) and I cut out piece 1 like a template and I cut out pieces 1-7 all joined as a second template. 

You'll see that pieces 6 and 7 have extra hash marks because the red fabric has to be joined to the aqua background fabric before joining it to piece 1.   So, next I prepare pieces 6 and 7 by sewing two small strips of the two colors together.  Then I use my template of piece 1 to cut the aqua background fabric adding a 1/4" seam allowance all around.  Next I sew pieces 1-7 together and use the 1-7 template to trim off the excess fabric (remembering to add a 1/4" seam allowance).  Then I continue piecing 8-16 on.  Then I trim that to a square and make it into a pincushion.

I don't know if that clarifies anything, but I thought I'd try to explain my process a little.  Someday I'll have to remember to take more pictures when I'm in the midst of this piecing.  (I think I turn into a sewing/cutting/ironing whirling dervish when I'm in the middle of making these blocks, so the photos may be awhile.)

I placed some plain white fabric behind the front and back squares of the pincushion before sewing them together.  I stuffed this pincushion with crushed walnut shells--otherwise known as "lizard litter" at the pet store.  Then I whip stitched the opening closed.

Okay!  This will be on its way to Charise soon!
I have a "V" and an "S" pincushions left to do for the giveaway, so stay tuned. 

For those of you that want to try paper or improv piecing and designing your own blocks, I highly recommend practicing with letters of the alphabet. Especially L, T, H, V, M, A or a squared-off O. Then you can try curved letters C, U, D or a curved O.  I'd save a curved S, B, G, Q, R and lowercase e and g for last.  I did other posts here and here about my designs for a couple of other letters.  Good luck to you!

Giveaway Winner(s)!!

I had such a tremendous response to the initial letter giveaway.  42 comments?!  This was so great that it was hard to pick just one.  So, I let the random number generator pick three instead. 

So, the winners are...

#15--Vanesa

#11--SoSarahSews

and #28--Charise

I'll be working on some fabric picks and block designs just for you.  Please be patient as my sewing table is always full of projects.  Three pincushions will be on their way soon!


In the meantime...here is a shot of my latest block design/work in progress for the cocorico bee:

Initial Giveaway

I've been busy with paper piecing letters since April.  I've also been really touched by getting more readers and more comments lately.  I know that a lot of blogs give away patterns or fabric, but I'd like to make a little special something to give away.  I'd like to make an initial block just for you.

So, if you'd like to enter, please leave one comment below.  Please comment with the letter that you'd like and your favorite color.  I'll pull one name and design a letter block and make you a pincushion (or a coaster for non sewists) and send it out to you.  I hope this will be a fun way to say thank you.

......

edited to add:  I'm obviously not experienced in giveaways.  Please be sure that I can get in touch with you.  If you are set up as a no-reply blogger, then please include your email address.  Also, I'll pick a number and announce next week Friday.