English Paper Piecing
Showing posts with label English Paper Piecing. Show all posts
Double Wedding Ring block
The Double Wedding Ring is a beautiful, traditional block that is associated with love, romance and of course marriage. For fabric lovers, this is such a fun block to play with, plan layouts and stitch! This is a bucket list block, one that all quilters will recognise and want to sew. It works wonderfully with either traditional or modern fabrics and is open to lots of variation within the pattern. I have made two blocks, one English Paper Pieced and one hand pieced (they are two different techniques) and will be demonstrating both methods in my upcoming online class. I had so much fun stitching the blocks and want to share my process here. Keep reading to see my two very different versions of the block...
traditional + modern epp curves
Isn't it always fun to start sewing a new pattern or project? When I found out we were working with Paper Pieces for this months Aurifil Artisan challenge, which is English Paper Piecing, I was super happy. They have a huge range of paper shapes and you could spend a day browsing their website looking at all the possibilities, thinking up patterns and imagining blocks. As soon as I found the Joseph's Coat pieces I knew I had found my project. I have never made this traditional block and I enjoy sewing curves, it's also a pretty design that becomes more interesting as it expands. I'm going to show you my layout and how I handle sewing epp curves.
For shapes like these you can't beat the accuracy of machine cut paper pieces and when shapes are curved I really do like to use acrylic templates for cutting. It makes the job so much quicker with a rotary cutter and of course it's super helpful if you want to do fussy cutting, as you can reposition the template and clearly see the area you are cutting.
the seedling quilts book 🌱 peppermint
I want to make every quilt in this book. The Seedling Quilts book is one to be savoured. I was thrilled to be asked by Jodi of Tales of Cloth to join the book tour as she has been an inspiration to me since we became blogging friends. I have always admired her sewing style, the way she combines fabrics and I LOVE her writing (so much I have actually embroidered a poem she wrote). She is endearing, interesting and very talented.
It's no surprise then that this book is full of all that - gorgeous quilts, excellent advice, tidbits and stories of the herbs that the patterns are based on. There are 11 quilt patterns in the book but it's more than that, you can easily just make blocks or create sections based on the designs to use in other projects too.
I made the Peppermint pattern using Jodi's paper pieces, you can order kits of the papers for all the quilts in her shop. Choosing fabrics was not hard, they just jumped out of my stash at me. The grid print was the starting point because I thought the background of the pattern could look like a trellis for the plants to grow up.
The block were simple to sew, pre cut papers mean the pieces are super accurate. I took basted pieces with me on a train journey and snuck in sewing a block here and there. These could get addictive. Once I had made enough it was time to arrange the blocks and sew them together.
As I was making the blocks I realised that I didn't want to have to cut them top or bottom, which the original quilt pattern calls for. For a larger piece it makes sense but as this was a cushion I didn't want to lose any edges to the seam allowance. Appliqué is the best answer for me. I can keep the piece complete and it was a way for me to tame the (slightly busy) use of grid. The perfect background fabric was the one I picked up at the festival of quilts. Then there was the decision of how to do the appliqué and quilting. My favourite way is to quilt the background and then add the appliqué. It's something about the texture of doing it that way that I really like.
stitching progress + epp giveaway!
**Giveaway now closed**
Those quiet moments in the evening, a few stitches on my lunch break, this pick up and put down project is slowly coming to life. It is a soothing, mindful way to relax and all the colours together look very peaceful and calming to me.
I knew that the Kindness & Fortitude: A Quaker Sampler from Modern Folk Embroidery was going to be the first project I started in 2019. It was no coincidence that my word for the year is FORTITUDE, I did chose this pattern partly for that reason but also because it appealed to me and there is that Quaker connection.
Geo Diamond block 🌿 terrarium
As I was going through my stash to make this block inspiration struck. Isn't it funny how memories and things can suddenly come to mind and influence you. This wasn't my original direction but I am so pleased with how this came together!
The block is called Geo Diamond and designer Naomi Clarke has just launched the Geo Diamond English Paper Piecing Sewalong! Click the link to get all the details, parcels start shipping in March and there are lots of options available.
It's a 12" block, so a great size! There are loads of layout possibilities and it's even cooler to see it repeated. I really like sewing with larger pieces, not at all fiddly and the block was relatively quick to stitch. I always use Aurifil 50wt thread for English Paper Piecing.
I chose a selection of Art Gallery Fabrics for my block and I was drawn to the leaf prints. I kept thinking about a leaded glass terrarium my parents had. It had lots of angles, some green glass and it always puzzled me growing up how the plants got in there?! Turns out on one side there was a 'pane' missing to allow access (or maybe it opened I don't quite remember!). I couldn't find the exact one but it was a larger version, similar to the image below.
So my Geo Diamond is an ode to that terrarium. I used the metallic feather print, from Decadence by Katarina Roccella, in the centre because it felt opulent and pretty. I envision large terrariums being in some magnificent Victorian property full of velvet and dark wood... probably completely historically inaccurate but that's my imagination!
I like how the plants create a frame all around the block and I chose the fabrics to intentionally create a contrast of soft and bold. It has whimsy but also strength.
The two leaf prints I used are Lamina, Fusion Rainforest by A Collaboration of AGF Designers and Cadence Winds Oliva, Virtuosa by Bari J.
The two leaf prints I used are Lamina, Fusion Rainforest by A Collaboration of AGF Designers and Cadence Winds Oliva, Virtuosa by Bari J.
The three low volume prints I used, for the background and top of the triangle, let the 'terrarium' stand out and also give a sense of calm. I also like how modern they are, in contrast to what I see as a tradition from my childhood.
Those prints are Aerial Blush, Gathered by Bonnie Christine; Marked Sights, Craftbound by AGF Studio and Fair Peonies Traced, Decadence by Katarina Roccella.
Those prints are Aerial Blush, Gathered by Bonnie Christine; Marked Sights, Craftbound by AGF Studio and Fair Peonies Traced, Decadence by Katarina Roccella.
In the bottom corners I fussy cut houses from The Gingerbreads Fondant, Little Clementine by AGF Studio. It seemed perfect as the terrarium was in the living room of the house I grew up in! I plan on making another block, perhaps continuing the theme or with a different memory. I love the repeat these blocks create but I'm so pleased with this one I might end up making a pair of cushions and let the blocks stand alone.
If you'd like to create your own blocks - CLICK HERE to visit Naomi's site for all the information about the Geo Diamond sewalong!
*** I am having a giveaway for a two month subscription of the Geo Diamond block of the month - open internationally, ends 12th February 2019 - go to THIS POST to enter!
Find UK stockists of Art Gallery Fabrics at Hantex.
catch up and 🐝 giveaway!
*GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED*
to save you some time, scroll down to the bottom if you're only interested in the giveaway 😶...
Everyone else, get comfy, grab a brew and I'll show you what I've been making recently!
First up was another lever arch file cover with some no drama llama EPP appliqué! I spent some time designing a pattern for the pieces that worked well with the fabric, the Llama Llama fat quarter bundle, for a demo on Sewing Quarter. I also decided to fussy cut the pieces making up the focal llama. Yes I could have used one big hexagon but I like to challenge myself a bit and it was for a small make, not sure I would do this if it was for a quilt because it's obviously more time consuming.
The great thing about using small pieces of epp like this is that you can use them for decoration and the apppliqué is really easy because the edges are already folded under. You can simple top stitch it in place or use any decorative stitch you like, I went for a small zig zag. The file covers are so fun to make and are great gifts. I also like anything that lets me combine my love of stationery and sewing!
I also made my Tree of Life quilt block into a cushion, using the Purple Mist fat quarter bundle. The finished 14" block is set on point with side setting triangles. I tend to always cut these larger and then trim them back. It might waste a tiny bit of fabric but it's easier to be more accurate that way and you don't have to worry about the bias edges too much.
There are lots of half square triangles (hsts) in this block but the cutting is much quicker with the Creative Grids Multi Size 45°/90° Triangle ruler. It also means you can sew them together quickly and with more accuracy. I use the ruler whenever I have to make lots of hsts, I definitely recommend it. For the quilting I used a fun wavy decorative stitch on my Elna 680 machine (mode 2 #1).
This week Pantone announced the colour of the year for 2019, Living Coral. I absolutely love it, it's such a warm and lighthearted colour. My favourite colours are pink and orange and in the past couple of years I've found myself buying lots of peach and coral fabric, it's a lovely mix of the two. I am hoping this means they'll be even more coral fabric available and coral everything because the colour makes me very happy!
Our local library reopened recently, after some renovations, and I am delighted to be getting back into reading. Books have always been a great way for me to escape, immersing myself in a story and also as a way to learn more or think about things differently. I admit to being a fan of business and self help books, I go through phases of reading them (not all of them, I'm kind of picky) and I have to be in the right mood. This is one of the books I borrowed, We: A Manifesto for Women Everywhere by Gillian Anderson and Jennifer Nadel, so far I'm enjoying it (and yes it is that Gillian Anderson). It has a gentle, conversational approach with anecdotes and exercises.
I also borrowed a fiction book, Clock Dance by Anne Tyler. A few years ago I read a couple of her books and enjoyed them so I'm looking forward to this one. If you have a favourite title of hers please let me know, I like recommendations!
The staff at Patchfinders had a get together this week and we learnt to make fabric lanterns. Our teacher Lil was great - she will be teaching a class at the shop in the new year - and we had such a fun time. A huge thank you to Claire for organising such a wonderful evening!
I chose two of my favourite prints, Social Climber from Floral Retrospective by Anna Maria Horner and the Viewfinders by Melody Miller. There is no point keeping fabric treasures tucked away and I love that I'm going to be able to see these beautiful prints in my living room. Judith very kindly let me use some of her pom pom trim to embellish my floral lantern. I think it's so kitsch and granny looking but still modern - so my taste!
And lit up with battery fairy lights inside, they are so pretty! Very hard to capture but you get a sense of it here. The one on the right isn't quite finished, I still need to tuck the seam on the inside.
On to the giveaway...
I began using beeswax when I started doing English Paper Piecing, I was given a small piece to run thread through. It helps prevent knots, allows for smooth sewing and strengthens the thread. After I started using Aurifil for EPP, I found I didn't need the beeswax and subsequently lost that small piece somewhere. At a local market I discovered Foz-Bees, a Manchester bee keeper who has the most amazing products and delicious honey. The beeswax blocks called out to me and I thought it would be fun to try it with other threads, I have heard it works well for those sometimes pesky metallics! I'm wondering if I can use it on embroidery thread (if any one has please let me know your experience!) and fine thread like the Aurifil 80wt that I use for appliqué. I'm always keen to try new and old techniques, especially when it's with natural resources - even better when you can shop small.
I picked up some extra and am giving away this 100% natural beeswax block and bee.
The clouding you see on it is because I've been keeping it in the fridge! Due to the fact that it's fairly delicate, could possibly melt if it was near a heater, postage costs are crazy, and I'm not certain of international restrictions on this sort of thing: I am only offering the giveaway to UK readers.
*GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED* Congratulations to the winner, Kay!
TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY
Just leave a comment below - if you're stuck for something to write, tell me your favourite way to eat honey! Mine would be in porridge or to just eat a teaspoon of it!
If you don't want to sign in to a profile please leave your email in the comment, e.g. ilovebees (at) honeycomb dot com so that I can contact you.
UK entries only, the winner will be chosen on Monday 10th December. Good luck!
Hand Applique Stitches for EPP
Hand sewing is my happy place, time I can relax and take it slow. At one point I never thought I would say that, unconvinced that I would enjoy what seemed like laborious and quaint methods. Yet here I am, about to show you how I appliqué my hand sewn English Paper Piecing (epp) by hand. So if you're thinking to yourself 'it's not for me' or 'I am not about to do more hand sewing', let me assure you I have felt the same way and encourage you to at least read through this post...
I'm excited to be able to share my hand stitching as a contributor to the Kingfisher Stitch-Along, co-hosted by my talented friends Rachel at Stitched in Color and Jodi at Tales of Cloth! Of course if you've been joining in there's plenty of hand sewing taking place; if you haven't heard already we are sewing along to make the Kingfisher Quilt - to get all the info and schedule click here.
PREPARE TO HAND APPLIQUE
Before we pick up a needle and thread there is some basic prep to do. These are the little steps that make the process smoother and lay the foundation for neat blocks.
BACKGROUND FABRIC
Stabilise your background fabric - i.e. the diamonds for the Kingfisher quilt. There are a number of ways to do this; you could use a tear away / soluble stabiliser or light weight interfacing. Personally I don't think this is necessary and is extra cost and faff but if you prefer to stitch on a stiffer fabric then they are a good option.
My preference is to use starch (well technically starch alternative, I currently use Best Press). It is easier to stitch on fabric with a bit of body and starch helps reduce fraying and stretching. Ideally you want to starch your fabric before cutting but if you've already cut your diamonds just give them a little spritz and press!
The result is less floppy fabric that is easier to handle and you can appliqué on individual diamonds without worry of the fabric fraying or distorting. Of course you still need to handle the diamonds gently but that's simple when your hexie flowers are secured (more on that shortly!).
Another option would be to sew all the diamonds together (making the quilt top) and then begin the appliqué. For me this would be slightly too cumbersome. It's likely that while I'm stitching I would be tempted to grip the fabric as I hold the top or squash it out of the way, thereby crinkling it and that means more ironing! If you are using very delicate fabric or fabric that frays very easily for your background though this method might be worthwhile.
As you are ready to appliqué fold a background diamond in half and lightly press (you can finger press) to create a crease to centre your flower on.
EPP
Begin by removing the papers and give your epp a press, making sure the edges are neat and crisp. I find pressing from the back and then the front keeps the seams in place.
Now you want to secure your epp to the background fabric. There are several options; glue pen, fusible web, 505 temporary glue spray or pins. Each come with their own pluses and minuses. Fusible web isn't generally repositionable so you need to work fast and be accurate, it's also a little tougher to stitch through. 505 spray is a bit messy for a small project like this but if you're happy with it go for it, I would be mindful not to use too much as it can make your needle tacky. Pins are a simple option, though they can prick and get in the way. I find that my projects move around unless I use lots of pins so I tend not to. For me glue is the quickest and most effective way to keep the epp in place. I use a fabric glue pen, it's repositionable if I'm not happy but holds the epp in place.
Whichever method you chose, try not to get too close to the edge of the epp - you may want to lift the edges slightly, get the tip of your needle under or manipulate them as you stitch and you can't do that if it's stuck down!
You can see here that I've used glue in the centre and along the inner seams, enough to hold it in place (I used more than I needed so the glue would show up for the picture!).
Align your flower with the crease on the background diamond and secure in place.
APPLIQUE STITCHES
Everything is in place so we can start stitching! I have used three different stitches to show you options for hand appliqué. These are my favourites but of course there are many different decorative stitches that could be used.
For my first flower I have used ladder stitch (AKA invisible / blind / slip stitch) that I often use for appliqué. Unlike a more traditional appliqué stitch, where you catch the fabric and use a coordinating thread because it is visible, ladder stitch means I can use a neutral thread and you can barely see the stitches. I sew binding in the same way so I'm very comfortable using this stitch and it is nice and strong (as three kids and countless washed quilts can testify!). This post by Olena demonstrates both stitches really well if you haven't tried them.
I use Aurifil 80wt thread for this type of appliqué stitch, it's fine and lovely to sew with. I also like to use the Black Gold Appliqué Needles by Clover. This combination is a dream and produces beautiful stitches that you can't see! I will say that whatever stitches you choose to do, it's always worth trying out different threads and needles to find the ones that give you the best result and that you love to stitch with.
I use Aurifil 80wt thread for this type of appliqué stitch, it's fine and lovely to sew with. I also like to use the Black Gold Appliqué Needles by Clover. This combination is a dream and produces beautiful stitches that you can't see! I will say that whatever stitches you choose to do, it's always worth trying out different threads and needles to find the ones that give you the best result and that you love to stitch with.
For the second flower I did a running stitch, which is super easy and also looks like hand quilting! I recommend using perle cotton, Aurifil 28 or 12wt or similar to get that big stitch quilting look. Keep your stitches close to the edge of the epp so that the fabric doesn't catch or fold back easily, like a top stitch.
This was stitched with Finca perle #12 in colour 1072 that I got in a recent haul from Patchfinders. It's a beautiful warm golden brown, perhaps not an obvious colour choice for this flower but one that will work well in the scheme of the whole quilt. Also I like mixing things up and not being too coordinated.
Although it's relatively simple, blanket stitch can be a little tricky when it comes to the outer corners of the flower. If the thread isn't sitting nicely, I just do a little extra stitch over the thread running along the edge to hold it in place. It really isn't noticeable when it's all finished.
I hope this has given you a little inspiration to have a go at hand appliqué! The first two flowers took less time to appliqué than it did to epp the hexies together, the blanket stitch takes a little longer but the result is so pretty!
If you have any other hand appliqué stitches or methods you like to use, please let us know in a comment below. It's nice to hear how you stitch and may help others doing the Stitch-Along!
making and choosing
Ready for another catch up! I've been sew busy, it seems round up posts are becoming habit. This space is where I record my makes, share progress and any tips I learn along the way... it's my makers diary if you will. And like a hand written diary it can be days between entries. It's enjoyable keeping up and documenting as much as I can and you get to find out a little more about the projects!
Most recently I finished a commission, I had made a personalised cushion for her elder brother so it was only right she have one too. It was really nice to do a little embroidery, simple back stitch with #8 WonderFil perle thread. Perle is great for embroidery on quilted items because it's nice and strong so will hold up with washing and the chunky look of the thread works nicely on prints.
The requested red and aqua combination works so well and I had fun choosing the fabrics. For the back I picked a seaside style red and white stripe, in nod to the one I made for her brother and embroidered it with her middle name. I'm pleased that the cushion has been happily received and hope they both use them for years to come!
rose gold epp folder
This little folder / organiser fulfils the need I have to store basted English Paper Piecing shapes. When I am working on a project I tend to baste a few blocks so they are ready to sew. It was getting a bit much having pieces in lots of plastic bags and I prefer to have things in one place. I bought this gorgeous rose gold fabric paper recently and decided to use it.
Rather than make something overly complicated, I kept the construction really simple. With four different pocket sections, that are staggered for easy access, the folder keeps the pieces separated and is large enough to store the blocks once they are complete. I'm currently working on 6" blocks that I designed but it also fits ice cream soda quilt blocks and mischief blocks so I can use it hold those pieces and blocks too!
why should you sew quickly?
My sewing has slowed WAY down, practically to a stand still. It wasn't really intentional, it sort of just happened and I've been wondering why. Of course hand sewing is slow, perhaps it requires a certain frame of mind or mood, but how do you keep up the momentum?
I started off making quilts quickly with my machine, then once I started doing English Paper Piecing I realised how nice the change of pace was. All types of hand sewing became my passion and the fact that projects are portable, easily picked up and put away, made them even more appealing. There are a couple of hand sewn quilts that are ongoing and obviously they are my longer term projects but that block above, for example, was started last October! And for someone that has been hand sewing every day, three months feels too long to not have even finished one block.
So why did I stop? Work is busy, a lot of sewing gets done and if I've been sewing all day I often don't want to do any hand sewing in the evening. Sometimes I am simply too tired, I would rather read a book or watch YouTube.
But it really started when I decided to listen to podcasts on my commute. I realised I was enjoying listening and wanted to concentrate. It felt nice to not sew at the same time. A nice break.
And here's the thing, I don't want to do more than one thing at a time. Life is hectic, three kids and work keeps me busy. So when I'm relaxing that is what I want to do. Shut off, zone out, take my mind of things.
I did (nearly) #100daysofsilentsewing and that was wonderful. In fact I might try to do that again, even just for a few minutes. Every stitch counts! It's not that I want to hurry up, in fact a couple of the projects I probably haven't finished because I want to drag them out a bit longer (I'm especially thinking of you Green Tea and Sweet Beans ♡). It's not a race and I know that, but I really am missing hand sewing and all the benefits it brought me.
There was definitely an element of overwhelm too, seeing so many beautiful hand sewn projects on social media, and how quickly people seem to finish them! I needed to take my own advice to restore my creativity, step back just a little and do some replenishing. Maybe it was just a break that was necessary.
Last weekend I did manage to prep some epp pieces during the #saturdaynightcraftalong and choosing the fabric combinations got me really excited. So the plan is to try and pick up some momentum and get back to some 'me time' hand sewing.
Having remembered the vision for my ice cream soda blocks I am motivated to finish that block above too!
It would be nice to get to a place where I have one project to work on and not move on to something else until I've finished it but I don't know that it will ever happen. I'm not sure that's my way. A mix of projects suits me but it has become a bit overwhelming. It might be nearing time to face my works in progress/unfinished objects list and gain some control (I know it needs doing!). Or just keep sewing what I fancy and taking it all slowly. Or maybe I should try to quickly finish one off my slow sewing projects.
Can you tell this post is a stream of consciousness?! There is no conclusion, I am going to go and sew now...
I will just post the picture of my Year in Colour - a fun tool created by Makelight to show the colours that you used on your Instagram in 2017. It's interesting to play about with and I intend on referring to mine for inspiration.
Fussy Cutters Club ~ We Are All Connected mini quilt
Angie Wilson AKA Gnome Angel is such a joy, her blog and social media are filled with gorgeous projects and the most wonderful fussy cuts! I was super excited when I found out she was writing a book and leapt at the chance to be part of the blog tour - or bribed her - either way I was thrilled to discover this book was even better than I thought it would be (and I had high expectations).
Fussy Cutters Club isn't a dry 'blah blah blah' book, this is like a clever friend explaining fussy cutting to you. With all those really helpful practical tips that you know they actually use. There aren't hard and fast rules, Angie is real and honest in her approach. It makes total sense.
"You need time to think and consider fabrics. Sometimes a project will come together quickly, and you'll know the moment you get the right fabric. Other times you'll need time to think, and that's not a bad thing".
The projects in the book are also all brilliant, with a good range of smaller makes and quilts.
I opted to make the 'We Are All Connected' mini quilt, knowing right away those Echinacea's would be the central hexies and then doing a big stash dive to come up with the right colours and prints for the 'rings'.
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