xsquilter

Okay, please help me! I'm feeling discombobulated & very hesitant now to start. I read each & every post & only get more confused. I keep flipping through my DJ book & get all excited to start. I know once I do, I will get caught up. But what I need to know is this: in a nutshell, can I paper piece all the blocks? Or is this a personal choice?
You are all doing great work & l'm loving all the blocks.....which makes me more excited to get going!
Thanks everyone for your help. I know we're here for the fun & you all make it that way!
Maureen

CindyA

Maureen, I am working from the book only (not using the computer software like many folks seem to be). I took my book apart and put each page into a sheet protector and then into a 3-ring binder. Then it's easy for me to pull the page out and either (1) trace the pieces or (2) photo copy onto paper piecing paper (I've been using the Carol Doak brand, but someone else recommended the kid's Crayola tracing paper from places like Wal-Mart).

It's personal choice which method you use, but some of them really require applique.

For the applique blocks I have tried different methods. Depending on which method I use I trace pieces onto plastic, freezer paper, or heat-resistant plastic and then applique.

Just dive in and start one of the easier blocks. Feel free to PM if you have any specific questions - or everyone here is so helpful. Good luck!

memereof8

What a great idea! I usually take my quilting books to Kinko and have them spiral bound. The spiral does cause problems when you want to copy. Do I have the courage to take the pages apart?

Cre8tvlwyr

Of course you do!!! it is the means to the end What I mean is - it is simply the instructions or pattern of what you want to make. The easier you make it on yourself, the more likely you will succeed in completing it. It really is quite fun!!

from zstore - ok now I'm curious.... the A11 story please?? [btw - you can have a break next week!! - your blocks are wonderful ]

Maureen - as Cindy said, some blocks can only be done with applique. I personally love to relax and do needleturn while watching the tube with my DH in the evenings. But if this is really really not your thing - you can always modernize and do fusible applique and completely work with machine. I have several friends that are making every single stitch by hand! Not me - although maybe something one day... my AOTH has only hand stitching as does Amelia's Rose Garden which makes me think hard about hand quilting attempts there. The quilts that have only hand work on them are so much softer... and only take a few more years to complete ;(
Gus

Anael

LOL Gus only a few years.........I wonder if I have enough years to finish what I have planned without handsewing and hand quilting!

Maureen, just start with the easy ones. When you feel confident enough try one of the intermediate blocks, you'll see it's not as hard as you think it is.

CindyA

[ATTACH=CONFIG]316054[/ATTACH]OK, I'm caught up!! Yeah for a week to have time to do this.

QuiltnNan

I've always been scared to try the technique. Thanks to Peggi and so many other members, I completed my first one. The pattern is from Carol Doak's website http://www.caroldoak.com/pdfs/IntrotoPaperPiece3.pdf . She offers it free to teachers to teach the technique. There's no instructions, so I relied on this thread http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...ml#post5013844 When putting the 4 sections together, I didn't get the design lined up right. Of course, Carol's is perfect. I think mine is off because of the squaring up I did each section. I had made them oversized to make sure the points won't get cut off when finished. So I squared up to those and ignored the base part of the design [sigh]. So now I will be trying the 45-piece Dear Jane A-9 which finishes to 4.5" - ugh! [ATTACH=CONFIG]316085[/ATTACH]

ann clare

Have been working away and am caught up. Hope that I can post a picture.[ATTACH=CONFIG]316099[/ATTACH]

hex nut

Great blocks ann clare - bright and cheerful!

CindyA congrats for getting caught up - love your blues

fromzstore - wow - great job on the new blocks - they are tricky

and everyone else too

I need to press and scan my latest blocks...

katybob

Wow, Ann Clare, what wonderful bright and happy colors. I see another DJ in my future!