I adore the look of tumbling blocks. The Y seams are so intimidating. I have tried machine piecing and it doesn't work well for me (I have made about 20 quilts so I have some experience). For those of you who do hand pieced quilts, is it difficult to learn? Does it work well for tumbling blocks? I thought I could bring a few to do during lunch break at work each day and slowly build a quilt. Let me know what you think. Thanks!

Have you seen the strip pieced tumbling block video on Youtube? It looks pretty doable to me.

I beleive you need to mark the seam when you are doing y seams or at least mark a dot at the y point.
I will make two templates - one for cutting out and another for the seam. Or if you cut with rotary cutter, I will be sure and mark the point where the y should be.
After awhile you will be able to eye ball it.

I agree, I watched the you tube video on strip piecing tumbling blocks the other day, it looks really easy to do. No y seams

To bad you didn't live closer...I would cut them for you on my studio

You can do it with half diamonds (triangles, duh!). That way there are no Y-seams, just strip piecing. I think Marci Baker was the first to promote this method. Here's her video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWpSETMbws4

Or, if you don't want to do traditional piecing and deal with Y-seams, another option is to do with the English paper-piecing method.
Then you just have to whipstitch the diamonds together, either by hand or by machine.

But don't run from those Y-seams. Once you figure them out, they're a breeze. Take your time, mark your pieces, know when/where to stop, sew slowly (if by machine).
I still mark the intersections on the back of every piece. And I've done dozens of them.

it's not hard. just remember to backstich at each end so the thread doesn't come out. Oh and if your doing tumbling blocks then stop a 1/4 in from each side but, you already know that lol. Have fun and enjoy that you can officially take your work with you!

hand piecing is not difficult, just more time consuming, obviously. y seams are way easier to hand piece, plus your lunchtime accomplishment will be very rewarding!

Thanks for the link to the video. I also am investigating whether or not I want to purchase the Accucut. I am leaning towards getting one. That would make cutting the pieces easier.

Jinny Beyer would argue that point. :wink: :wink:
In something like this block, though, done the traditional way, I'd have to agree with her. I was amazed watching her put together a few blocks.

i love the idea of hand piecing and taking with you to work for lunch breaks. maybe you could start a group on the board for those who would like to do it too!

If I decide to hand piece, I would use the accucut. If I stick with the machine, the Jinny Beyer method would probably work best for me. I think I tried to find her book (easier for me to follow than the video... books are always easier for me) but the book was no longer published. I may look for the book again. I have been toying with the idea of doing a quilt with tumbling blocks for a long while.

I think you misunderstood. Jinny Beyer is ALL about hand-piecing.
I was trying to say that she argues that hand piecing, in some instances, is faster.
And if you have an AccuCut or Go or whatever - you should use it to cut your pieces regardless of the method you choose to piece.

Oh. I thought she was the one on the video. Thx.

Done this block w/Marci Bakers technique...no y-seams. Really is a fun quilt when you use her method. Best of luck

i have made about 60 tumbling blocks by hand using jinny beyers' hand piecing techniques book. the reason she can sew them so quickly is because she stacks lots of stitches on the needle... similiar to her gathering a fabric for a skirt. we are retired and travel a lot and i always have something to bring along.
she gives the template pattern and some wonderful other quilt designs using the diamond pattern.