Gladys, yes I think I understand. Thank you for taking the time to explain AND post pictures! I will try it for the block you did in green and white.

A big hug back!
Cindy

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This is my first Engligh Paper Piecing. I liked it and I think I was able to be more accurate. It did seem to take me a long time to complete one block, though.

Is EPP where you do a 'whipstitch' for the seams holding right sides together and having paper basted to the wrong side of the two pieces - with the paper ending at the seam line?? I know this is what you do with hexagons and grandmothers flower garden. In my very first quilt class - back in 1978 - Judy Mathieson taught this method in a quilt sampler class! I had made a few quilts as a teenager for close family friends before that, but this is where the method was taught. I think it is the same?? It really does give you precise piecing!

All of your blocks are wonderful - as was your explanation, Gladys!! thanks :)

I will add a small note - whether you decide to actually make individual templates or not... I have found cutting to be one of the most critical parts of making your block accurate. Obviously, you cut wrong the mistake continues on to the sewing. First you need to know just how you and your machine if using one determines the 1/4" seam. Sew one and measure it with your ruler. You want to measure your typical seam and cut seam allowances accordingly. If you are too generous with your sewn seam and it is more than 1/4" you need to make some sort of adjustment. You either need to find a marking on your machine - plate or foot edge, etc - that will result in the right width ---- or ---- you need to cut your pieces a little bigger. Measuring properly is critical. You should be including the line on your ruler when you measure how large to cut a piece - what I mean is the width of the line is important and lots of us dont count it by putting it against rather than on the line - you lose a few threads which translates into 1/32-1/16 of an inch and with four or five seams across the block, this becomes 1/4" or more that your block will be too small.

Oh there I go again!!! babble babble.... :) pictures like Gladys put up would be better!

At any rate ladies - you are doing far better than I!! [three family birthdays, bum knee, and taxes... it will all pass soon!]
Gus

Here are 2 more of my blocks
jazs2

Cindy A - Glad you enjoyed the EPP. I too am learning how to do it and am enjoying how it allows you to sew some pretty ruff angles easily. A lot of preparation to the block...but fun. Did you EPP the curves arond the melon also? On that particular block, I EPP'd the block and then appliqued the melons on.

Yes, Gus, that is EPP. I cut a regular piece of typing paper (oops, I guess I just showed my age there :o
) exactly the size you want the piece to be. Then you cut a piece of fabric, eyeballing a little wider than 1/4" seam allowance. Then finger fold the fabric over the edge of the paper and actually baste the fabric onto the paper. Then, with wrong sides together, whip stitch seams between two of the pieces. I found a tutorial on youtube, there should be plenty there if anyone googles for it.

TymeToShine - I guess I did both EPP AND applique for the melons! I prepared the melons the same as EPP but then appliqued them onto the white. It worked pretty well. It took less prep than one of my favorite methods with liquid starch and I'm happy with the results.

Gus, you're so right about checking seams. On one of my recent blocks I added about 1/8" extra on all the pieces because my blocks kept coming out just a little smaller than the size I want them to be. Well, unfortunately, that made the block significantly larger. Every little bit adds up (or decreases) the final size!

oooo.. Cindy! :) I don't know where you fall but I turn 60 in two days!! hard to believe, but then my brother will be 75 in a month and I lost my Mom 4years ago and she was two days shy of 94!!! so I guess it does add up doesn't it. I can no longer claim I'm too young when my own "babes" are 30 and 33 [34 tomorrow]

I noticed you said to whip wrong sides together??? isnt EPP done with right sides together?
Gus [havent done in a long while...]

Cindy A - Oh I remember typing paper quite well! ...and \Gus - guess I am right behind you, I also turn 60 this year.

Cindy, I used freezer paper for the EPP and it worked well since the paper stays in place while you baste the edges of the material over.

Just taking a little break from trying to catch up on my DJ. I was zipping right along on one of the triangles that was "due" this past week-end and was almost done with it when I realized it was too small because I had printed it without hitting the "print to size" selection....so back to the "drawing board"

why is it that I can put an intricate square together and match all the points, etc only to discover that a middle section is turned wrong when I finally trim it to size. You would think that the boo-boo would have been obvious.

I spent yesterday afternoon making another square. Whoever invented the seam ripper was a genius!!!!
Off to maine at midnite tonite!!!

Mim

have a safe trip Mim!!
Gus