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| So, haw many would be interested in trying a paper pieced block for the December lotto? I know it's a busy month and so many won't participate anyway, but if you're OK with it and I post the instructions this weekend, then you would have time to do it long before the Holiday season starts.
I have found a stunning Color Wheel pattern and made one block on Wednesday evening. It's a simple pattern and I think a good introduction to paper piecing, even for those who have never tried it. One of the joys of paper piecing is that the end result never looks simple; it looks intricate and complicated, but only the quilter knows how easily it went together! I'm in the middle of a work crisis this weekend so I'm not going to post all the details now, but I would like to know if there's any interest. If there is, I'll post a picture of my completed block, a link to the pattern and beginner instructions for paper piecing. So, what do you think? Kate |
Follow-Up Postings:
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| I am willing to try it. Theresa |
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- Posted by littlehelen (My Page) on Sat, Sep 8, 12 at 14:52
| Count me in... V. |
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| This might be just the thing for this 'wanna be quilter' who keeps trying stuff. |
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| While I do not enjoy paper piecing, I do know how to do it. And I'm a huge fan of the block lotto! I will commit to one at the outset. If time and materials are available, I will do three. |
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| Count me in. Lois |
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- Posted by quiltingfox (My Page) on Sat, Sep 8, 12 at 18:40
| I think I'd like to try it. Glad you'll be giving us some beginner instructions. Best to you, |
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| Sounds good to me. |
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- Posted by sunnycentralfl (My Page) on Sat, Sep 8, 12 at 20:01
| Sounds like a great idea! Thx for ALL you do ! Gwen |
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- Posted by jackier123 (My Page) on Sat, Sep 8, 12 at 21:21
| Since there is not a Birthday Block in December I would be up for it. Jackie |
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| Not a fan of PP--have never done a lotto--but the color wheel shounds interesting I might try this one. |
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How awesome is this?!? I'm going to post it to the lotto as our December 2012 block.  It's done in 4 easy (trust me!) sections, then sewn together. I think we should do it in black like this sample I made, with a graduation of colors. Your colors would not have to match my rainbow but should be bright enough to show up against the black. Use one color or shades of one color or a limited rainbow or the full spectrum. I used Kona black solid for the background. Black or black-on-black would be OK. Consider this an EXPERIMENT OF FUN. I'll post the regular lotto thing but feel free to start now because the instructions will be the same. 1-3 blocks, etc, etc. If your first attempt doesn't turn out to be what you want to send in, make a pillow out of it! [Just think how cute this block would be done in a white or muslin background with retro fabrics for the 'goose' parts! Plan on seeing that next year as a lotto block.] Here's an excellent tutorial with very detailed pictures: Sometimes Crafter paper piecing instructions I would like to see everyone succeed at this and enjoy their paper piecing experience so please email me directly if you have any questions. I didn't write this tutorial so I can't take credit for it but it's really good and is probably all you need. The weird part of PP is that you are looking at and sewing on one side of the paper but actually working your design on the other side. You place fabric on one side along the 1-2 seam line, the flip and sew. Then iron and place more fabric over the 2-3 seam, then flip and sew. Then iron, etc. Sounds weird but works great. And here's the instructions for this block. You'll have to print out at least 4 pages of the clockwise pattern. You'll make 4 six inch blocks and sew them together to make a 12" (12.5") block. Circle of Geese pattern. No matter what you are thinking right now, this is less hassle than it sounds like and far easier to put together. Along with that, the results are amazing. How can any of this be bad??? Kate |
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| Oh my goodness. That will make a gorgeous quilt. I'll give it a try. You'd think after doing the PP wallhanging, I would be more confident, but it was just the same pattern over and over, so I don't feel like I have mastered it by any means. And I concur, thank you for all you do, Kate! |
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| Wonderful idea. It really looks like fun. Thanks for all your brain storming. |
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| Great block Kate. I'm in on this one too. I'll bring it to camp Kristene |
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| Oh yeah! A fun camp project! |
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- Posted by magothyrivergirl (My Page) on Sun, Sep 9, 12 at 8:20
| If I may add - It is very important that the RED LINE measure 1" after printing the pattern, and you do not reverse the counter-clockwise spin. Also after printing, hold the paper pattern pieces up to the light, stacked, matching the lines to make sure each section printed out the exact same size. This is a fun block! I love PP. Great choice Kate! |
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| Grinning, since I just KNEW this was the wheel you were considering and it would make just one awesome quilt. Yeah, I'm game on that one as well. Paper piecing is not hard, and so many folks won't even try it, but starting out on one this easy would be pretty painless. Marsha posted a picture a few months ago of some gorgeous PP blocks on black background. My eyes popped. |
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| OK, Can you tell me if I use both of the pattern pc. in ea block?? One says "clock wise" the other "counter clock wise". Like the pattern and will join if I can figure this out. |
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| Yes, just looking at it quickly, you will need two of each to complete one 12" block. |
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| Nope, not two of each. You'll need 4 of the clockwise for each block. Or, I guess, if you are more of a counter-clockwise person it would be OK to make 4 of that pattern. But for each block you make you'll need EITHER 4 clockwise OR 4 counter-clockwise. If you mix them your goose points will be running into each other! For this you could say it's important to have your geese in a row! |
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- Posted by magothyrivergirl (My Page) on Sun, Sep 9, 12 at 11:46
| Kate~please specify the direction of the block, so the geese are flying in the same direction for all the blocks. When I clicked on the geese pattern the counter clockwise portion opened - MY APOLOGIES for being confusing. I shouldn't post without coffee in the morning! |
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| I am having trouble printing the page to the correct size. I have tried several % and still get the same print. From dashed line to dashed line. I get 6 inches. That can't be right, can it? Theresa |
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| Ok! Ignore the above. I disabled page scaling on the printer and it prints correctly. Theresa |
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| Actually, I don't think it's important that all the blocks spin in the same direction. Combining blocks should make for a interesting "gear" type pattern so I will be OK with clockwise blocks and counter-clockwise blocks. But as I said, each single block must be all one way or the other. Theresa, not sure why your printer is not giving a good block. The printed piece should measure 6.5" x 6.5" to the outside dotted line. The solid inner square is 6x6. Did you measure the line at the bottom of the pattern? It should be 1". |
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- Posted by sandlapper_rose (My Page) on Sun, Sep 9, 12 at 12:02
| I haven't done paper piecing in awhile and I definitely like it in small quantities. I'll sign up to make one block. Jeanne |
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| My bad....... one who should have their 'geese in a row' before answering. |
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| One of the things that may need to be checked if the pattern isn't printing to size is if the printer is printing at 100%. The first ones that I did measured 6" on the out side and I checked to find that it wasn't printing a 100% but 93%. Just a thought if you have a problem. |
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| This is my trial block --counter clock wise. Everything that can go wrong with PP is found in this block. That said I will try and do another in hopes I will do better. |
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- Posted by quiltingfox (My Page) on Tue, Sep 11, 12 at 13:27
| What computer program do you need to use to open the Circle of Geese pattern pdf file? Cause right now I am unable to open the pattern file. Best to you and appreciate your help, |
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- Posted by littlehelen (My Page) on Tue, Sep 11, 12 at 13:49
| Nanajayne.. I know you know what is wrong, but I can't see it from my I phone, even when it's enlarged... Looks great. Sandra... If you don't have adobe, it's a free public program you can down load to open any PDF file. Just search on adobe via the Internet, you will find it available free.
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| NanaJayne - It looks good to me! What went wrong? |
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| Looks good from here too. I have the template printed out. Now to go through the fabric boxes and find just the right colours. First time to PP. Hope it turns out as good as Jayne's. Theresa |
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| If you haven't done paper piecing before, you may want to consider using just a little tighter stitch (smaller) than you routinely use for piecing, or at least tac back the last stitch in each row. The stitches do tend to pull apart at the edges of the seams when the paper is removed. I've done several full-sized quilts in paper piecing and ask me how I know. LOL. Kate, shall we leave the paper on it for the block recipient to remove? I sew my quilts together, or at least large segments of them if I'm doing it that way with the paper intact before I remove it. But, it adds postage weight. |
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| I have had many issues with opening PDF files but have finally down loaded Fox reader which was free and appears to be working fine. I did use their tool bar but not sure that was necessary. The issues with PP are ME. One issue was placement of the colors, found it wise to note on the pattern template which order they need to go. If you cut 2 1/2 x 4 1/2 rec. they work for most spots but # 5 requires a bigger pc. I used 3 1/2 x 3 3/4. Others may not work this way so just a heads up. |
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| I don't really pre-cut any pieces except for maybe the goose parts. For the black I just used one big piece,then trimmed it on the lines after I sewed it on, then used it for the next piece. Less waste for me that way. But it does mean flipping a fat quarter sized piece of fabric around. |
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- Posted by quiltingfox (My Page) on Wed, Sep 12, 12 at 12:57
| Thanks Littlehelen, I got the adobe program downloaded and was able to print the pattern pages. :-) Best to you and many thanks, |
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| Here's my December block. This was a great lotto block, because I think anyone would go crazy trying to make a bunch of them. I would, anyway. Many times I didn't line up the piece properly and had to rip and do it over. Then I would forget to trim every seam as I went along, and that means you have some strange trim lines. I enjoyed making it however, and I think it's a beautiful block. I hope I win. Lois |
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| Good job Lois! Theresa |
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| "This was a great lotto block, because I think anyone would go crazy trying to make a bunch of them" I chuckled at that statement, because yes..........that's one JOY of winning the lotto blocks. Kate has done a wonderfully creative job of picking blocks this year and everyone has participated well and it's really been fun. It's going to make a very dramatic quilt for someone. |
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| You definitely wouldn't make dozens of these, just because of the time factor even if you were OK with the crazy factor. I suspect the participants will only make one block for December instead of three. But with just 6 blocks (and of course there may be lots more than that) these could be incorporated into a very interesting quilt. I've been looking at very modern quilts lately and am charmed by the wide spaces between colors and designs that allow for interesting quilting. |
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| My sun/moon/stars quilt was made by paper-piecing against a solid black background, so I can relate to these blocks in that respect. I enjoyed the process, They were even more intricate and consisted of perhaps twice as many pieces per block. The difficulty/craziness factor wasn't as much an issue and the boredom factor and repetition factor. I like foundation piecing with the flip and sew and do it often, even when I don't have to. I think the issue with paper piecing is that to do it on a computer printer limits your block sizes to about six inch. If I could do larger blocks than that, every one of my quilts would be paper-pieced. ;-) |
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| Kate, I think these blocks are going to make a fantastic quilt. I'm already planning what I'm going to do with them after I win them all in December. I also love the modern quilts with a lot of solid color space between the blocks. I have a couple of those quilts in various stages now. Calliope, do you have a copy center like a Kinko's near you. They can make larger copies for you. If you're near a larger city, you might also try a company that reproduces architectural plans and drawings. They have machines that make huge copies. The accuracy of paper piecing really appeals to me, and I'm sure once I did more of it, I would make fewer mistakes. I'm always trying to use a scrap that is just big enough, only sometimes it's not. Thanks, Theresa. |
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- Posted by geezerfolks (My Page) on Sat, Sep 15, 12 at 10:45
| I'm sure there's an easier way of making this block then how I'm doing it...even after going over the tutorial. Or it could just be my brain isn't working very well. I'm looking forward to the PP class at retreat. I don't usually work on black, but since it's on the other side of the paper, it isn't an issue this time. Although, will have to wait and see if it's good enough for the lotto. SharonG/FL |
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| Lois, I love the fabric you used. I haven't even finished this month's block yet. |
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| I'll be sending at least one. If I find more fabric, then maybe more. Don't know why the fabrics look so faded with my camera. It's washout from flash, because I never seem to think of taking a pic when it's really bright in the sewing room. ;-) |
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| I have made 2 but don't feel they are good enough and as I hate PP I decided not to join. Good lucky everyone. It is an interesting block. |
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- Posted by geezerfolks (My Page) on Sat, Sep 29, 12 at 19:46
| Mine didn't turn out good enough either. I really don't enjoy PP, but I keep trying because, who knows, some day I might. @:) SharonG/FL |
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| This is my Dec. block and as soon as I find an American dollar bill, it will in the mail. I don't think Paper piecing will be on my to-do list unless it is very simple. Theresa |
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| Reading that reminds me I forgot to include the $1. If it's ok I'll send extra in the next envelope!!! Sorry. I always get to the post office and forget everything but the address, gotta get organized! |
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- Posted by toolgranny (My Page) on Mon, Oct 1, 12 at 16:43
| Theresa/Nannykins, I'll see Kate at retreat and give her my block and will give her an extra US dollar for you. You'll pay more in postage than the dollar is worth anyway if you try to mail one. Don't worry about it. I'll use this block for a retreat PP project. Should be fun. And, it will be a treat to meet Kate in person. |
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| I was at our casino tonight and I was able to get some American money when I cashed out (lost overall but that is normal). So I can send the dollar. I am going to use someone else's idea of putting it in a greeting card, so postage won't be a problem either. I do thank you though for your generous offer. I think quilters are like that. And I hope you all have a terrific time. In fact I know you will. Thanks again Theresa |
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| No, don't send it! It's ok. |
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- Posted by beth7happy (My Page) on Tue, Oct 30, 12 at 15:51
| just found this thread....i'd totally missed it!!!! So, doing a 'bump' in case someone else might be as late as I am!!!!! Only today did I mail the October blocks and found "November - Depression Block in lights and darks of blues, greens, purples " what I was looking for AND the December listing!! I'd better get busy!!! |
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- Posted by polardream (My Page) on Tue, Oct 30, 12 at 18:29
| Thanks Beth! I just finished my November blocks, but Kate hasn't put up a signup for it yet. I need to take a look at this paper piecing ... not my favorite, but think I will give it a try since this is such a cool block. Sue |
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