Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Paper Piecing - A First :)

Last night I gave paper piecing a try!!  This is something I have wanted to try for some time and just never gotten around to it.  So when Katie asked for a "Star" themed block for her VIB block I figured it was the perfect opportunity to give it a try :)  I searched through my EQ 7 library (I am learning a little more about this program with each passing day) for a "Star" block that I thought I could tackle for a first timer.

So I took a deep breath and hacked into the beautiful Innocent Crush prints of Anna Marie Horner.  Can I just say I love these prints!!!  I want some of my own :)  It took me a little bit to get my head wrapped around this technique.  It just seemed so backwards to me and the whole "your fabric size doesn't matter" thing was really weird.  Not that it was necessarily hard, just different.  Once I got the hang of it though it became more enjoyable.

So with all of that rambling . . . I present my first Paper Pieced Block - The Spinning Star.  It isn't perfect, but I have to say I am pretty pleased with the outcome for having it be my first try at this new technique.


Oh, and just in case your wondering, I haven't made a final decision about if I like this technique or not.  There were parts I liked, and there were others I didn't.  My end decision is that I need to try it a  few more times.  So Paper Piecing . . . I will be working with you some time in the future :)
Pin It!

16 comments:

  1. For me, the deciding factor in paper piecing was the ability to make something that I would not have been able to make any other way. I made a wall hanging with sewing implements on it and they are all under 3" with itty bitty pieces and the center says "Quilting Zone". It is all black & yellow like a construction zone. It is not perfect as it was my first paper pieced item but is cute. I would def use the technique for that purpose again.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I've been wanting to learn the EQ "stuff" for paperpiecing. It seems that there are so many possibilities for paper-works. Have you been learning the EQ7 on your own? Did you take classes? Did you learn on early editions of EQ?

    hugZ,
    annie
    rubyslipperz106.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  3. I recently tried paper piecing, and I kind of liked it. The part that was frustrating was having to be really careful not to distort the blocks when tearing away the paper. I think that in the future I might use muslin instead, because I really like the idea of being able to piece impossible things.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love paper piecing. You didn't pick the easiest block to star(t) with. I like the flexability to get more 'pointy' and more definition into a block that regular piecing you can't - birds, animals, people, mariner compass, oh my , the NY Beauty blocks. EQ is on my B'day wish list.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I have never tried paper piecing! I'm a little intimidated by it! lol! I'll have to give it a shot! That spinning star is awesome!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I tried paper piecing for the first time in February and I really enjoyed it. You can really make some beautiful shapes and images....your first block looks great!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I too tried pp for the first time this month on a block swap. I'm just okay with it, seems to me as though it wastes a lot of fabric. Particularly when you don't get the piece the correct size the first time..lol.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I have never tried this either, and not really sure how to do it. Maybe a tutorial ???? Now that you are "experienced" !!??

    ReplyDelete
  9. I really like your block! Good job, Melissa. Since the first of the year I have taken two classes at my LQS where we worked with paper piecing. The first class was Edyta Sitar's Mosaic Tiles. For this quilt, we were introduced to Bear Paw's Triangulations 3.0 and Carol Doak's paper. We had to make 500+ half square triangles! The second class was Kaffe Fasset's Pickle Dish. Again we used Carol Doak's paper. I have to say that I really like the technique.

    Happy piecing!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I really like your block. I have a love/hate relationship with paper piecing. I like that it can help create blocks with tiny shapes that I would not be able to do with regular piecing. I find the positioning of fabric, trimming the seams and removing the paper annoying.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Your block turned out so well! I tried PP for the first time last month, and I'm with you. I love the perfect points, but it is slow and the waste!! Eeeekkkk! I am sure I'll do more of it eventually though, there are some blocks where paper piecing is a must, and I know I want to make some of those!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I've never tried! But you block looks great :)

    ReplyDelete
  13. It's beautiful! Thanks so much.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Love those Innocent Crush prints! Wow, your first try at pp and it looks great! I've never, ever tried it!
    Jacque in SC
    quiltnsrep(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  15. Paper piecing is great when you want great points. If I'm doing a block more than once, I measure what size pieces I need. You'll also have less mistakes if you use a rectangle when needing a triangle piece. A smaller stitch length and a larger needle will make the paper removing easier.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Paper piecing is a slow process for me. It is, however, SO precise and I was able to piece something that I wouldn't have otherwise been able to do. Your first block looks wonderful!

    ReplyDelete

Thank you so much for your sweet comments. I just love hearing from you!!
Have a Happy Quilting Day :)

Melissa