Piecing a Spool Quilt. Anyone know an easy way ?
 

I went to an estate sale and picked up several quilt magazines and odds and ends. There was a pattern with the plastic template for a spool quilt. I thought the picture was beautiful and decided I might like to make this. I was rummaging around in a drawer in my quilt room this morning and came upon two pieces of spool blocks that were hand sewn, I had bought these somewhere last year and put them away. I thought I would try sewing them on the machine to make a table topper. I pinned them and was surprised at how difficult it was. I must have used 10 pins on each spool. Sewing them on the machine was difficult but I think it would be just as hard to sew them by hand too. I have so many scraps and would really like to make this spool quilt, it's really pretty. Any ideas from the board are welcome. BTW, I do know how to sew curves, can put in a sleeve in a dress easily. I did match up dots etc to get this right. It turned out perfect, but I stuck my finger on one of the pins and bled all over the fabric. Also worried about all those pins falling into my sewing machine. Any and all suggestions welcome.

I made a spool and sewing machine wall hanging. Let me see if I can find the pattern for the spool blocks. I find it on line and it was FREE!!!!!

Found it!!!

http://www.allpeoplequilt.com/projects-ideas/throws-wall-hangings/sewing-spools-wall-quilt_1.html

Is it an apple core block, not a spool?

There are many different "spool" patterns. Just google and you'll find lots of variations that are not very hard to do. For starters, I know there's one on QuiltersCache.com.

Some require Y-seams, which might be why you are speaking of the difficulty? In modern times, many patterns have simplified that with HSTs.

If you want easy pieceing use 1/2 square triangle blocks in the corners. That way you have no y seams and every seam is straight, you just have to match the seams.

Here's one with empty spools - http://quilting.about.com/od/quiltpa...s_spools_2.htm


The empty spools pattern is traditional, but I like the spools to look more like the modern ones: http://www.debbiemumm.com/Projects/Quilting/2009/01/ This is very easy to piece too.

http://www.craftybev.com/psmt.html - Perfect Spool Marking Template

They have a 4 1/2" finished block size also for $10.95. I love this system - I never use more than 4 pins at any time.

I too am thinking you are talking about an apple core..not spool as there are no curves in a spool but there are in applecore pieces.........sometimes too many pins stop the fabric from stretching into itself......remember that curve is a bias and you have some stretch room to get those edges to meet. If you fold in half, crease with finger....match the two creases and the two edges, the rest will just wiggle itself into place, sewing very slowly helps the process.