Monday, January 19, 2009

English Paper Piecing

This past weekend was a cold one. With plenty more snow, being added to an already thick white blanket, that covers my garden.

As I prepared the teapot, I planned for a lazy day of thumbing through the new garden catalogues and dreaming of warmer days and beautiful flowers. Then, I started thinking about another garden. Grandmother's Flower Garden, to be exact. Over a year ago, I watched an English Paper Piecing demonstration and thought that would be fun. Then, last week I came across a wonderful blog, called The Great Hexagon Quilt-Along. Have a look at Julia's diamond blocks, so beautiful. Before you knew it, I was sipping tea and selecting fabric. Cutting out paper templates and fabric hexagons. At least 672 hexagons, maybe a few more. Enough to start, don't you think? I have an idea, it's not exactly a Grandmother's Flower Garden, it's, well, more like a Karen's Flower Garden.

Three of my quilting books, had great step-by-step instructions for making paper pieced hexagons. All three had slight variations. I combined the best from each and was extremely pleased with the results. Very accurate. This will be a great portable project.

Until next week.....happy quilting!

Karen

23 comments:

Quiltbirdie said...

Just beautiful!

Sharyn Mallow Woerz said...

You should try Linda Franz's Inklingo software. you print your sewing lines on the back of your fabric. No backing templates need be cut at all, and it is oh so much easier to sew together!

Pretty project, Sharyn/KalamaQuilts

loulee said...

Oh! So pretty, i could just eat that apple fabric

Stina Blomgren said...

Ahhh... they are lovely... and I have always wanted to do a grandmothers garden... so maybe some day I hop along too..;o)

Karen said...

Hi Sharyn...I have been thinking about getting the Inklingo software. I am seeing it more and more on blogs. Everyone seems pleased with it.

Betsy said...

Karen your hexagons are very nice.
Though I have the paper pieces i still love the mylar better.
I just need to see it done hands on.

Lori in South Dakota said...

old x-ray film makes the best templates for English paper piecing. I did a king size GFG with it. Ask at your local hospital. I live in a small town and know most the people, and they often save me the "blanks" they run thru the machine in the morning to warm it up and in the evening to shut it down.

Cathi said...

This snow seems like it's never going to stop! I couldnt' believe it when it started again today!
I second Sharyn's comment -- Inklingo makes a huge difference. Perfect lines, no whip stitching, no basting. Just print, cut apart and stitch.

Quiltplay said...

Just beautiful (the snow and the hexagons) I love the romantic tones you have chosen; I'll check back in to see how this goes. I have only paper pieced once and it was fun!

Unknown said...

Absolutely wonderful, beautiful colours!

YankeeQuilter said...

English paperpiecing is habit forming! Really like your choice of fabrics. Have fun with it!

Litamora's Quilt & Design said...

Thanks for your nice comments on my blog. I really like yours too. You do such nice work! I'll be back to visit you:o)
Laila

Carole said...

They are lovely. I remember seeing an episode on Fons & Porter regarding English paper piecing. It was also in one of their issues. thanks for sharing!

Anonymous said...

You are a whizz at paper piecing, something I have not tried yet. Love your fabrics.

Willow Lake Stitches said...

Karen,

Fun blog, in fact I enjoyed both your blogs ! Very nicely done.

Love these hexagons, what books are they from? Ever thought of doing a tutorial on YOUR method ?

Thank you for posting those BOM links. . . I may have to go over and check those out !

Happy New Year

Beth

Funoldhag said...

Such fun, Karen. What a great project for just working on any time for any amount of time. Your fabrics are beautiful. Also, love the snow picture - we are just covered with it here in Michigan, also. This has been a real winter - and a good one for quilting! Keep warm!

Quiltgal said...

looks great, I have been wanting to try a grandmothers flower garden for a long time.

RG said...

Hi Karen,
Thanks for stopping by and commenting on my kitty cat and quilt.
Love your fabrics too :c)
No snow here right now. It's very hot!!!
Have a great day!
hugs Robyn xx

Anonymous said...

Beautiful work! Love the colours you have chosen. I look foward to watching your progress.

Browndirtcottage said...

Hi Karen....so glad you liked my teapot..you should sew one up too!....This english paper piecing 'peaks' my interest...I have never done any of it...but would like to someday...yours looks great!
p.s. your emails to me show up 'dangerous and harmful'..don't know why, but i'll just delete them and come over here to your blog for my responses.

Anonymous said...

I have just started my first english paper pieced quilt...and i am new to this site..my first blog is the journey i am beginning with the quilt...I truly wish you well with yours...http://kydutchess.blogspot.com/

Stephanie - My Calico Heart said...

I love the hexagons and of course the fabric! I will be checking back to see how it turns out. Thanks for visiting my blog xx

Karen from Sew Many Ways... said...

Hi Karen,
Just wanted to stop by an say thanks for commenting on my blog. I started my Grandmother's flower garden long before I knew what "quilt shop" fabric was (like Moda). That's why I've started another one!! I love the fabrics you are using...I see alot of my favorites in there. Your is just beautiful.
~Karen~