Originally Posted by candlequilter
I know alot of people are looking forward to seeing the quilts that I will be making from the Candlequilter Star Blocks that members have been making after receiving my pattern for the block. So far I have received less than 20% of the promised blocks for the pattern so until I receive enough of the blocks to complete a charity quilt I am at a stand still. I do hope that more blocks will be coming as was promised but time will tell.
Thank you for all the help to the ones that did make a block.
Thanks again,
Sherryl
Candlequilter
Candlequilter ... correct me here if I am wrong or overstepping my bounds:
Hey, guys and gals .... it sounds as though there are a lot of pink faces out there -- and I am sure that is NOT what Candlequilter had in mind ...... It is nice to read the up-dates and explanations, but the bottom line is .... She designed this block pattern, she offered it to us, and she needs feedback ...
You've done a fair job of doing this; but, please: Think about it a little more: You CAN do it ... maybe not now ... but in time ...
I don't think she wants you to delete the pattern from your system ... - I think that she would like to have you try it in your own time as your skills level progresses ....... But she is also trying to do charity quilts and would like to have your appreciation of her pattern efforts by simply donating a substitute block that you are comfortable making in the desinated usable size and colorways. You may have orphan blocks or swap blocks hanging around that would do the trick ....
If you send her a substitute block, perhaps if you send her your first attemps she can adjust them to her needs, or give you tips as to where you or your pattern is going amiss ...
Perhaps your own more detailed explanation as to what went wrong in the piecing will help her more in taking another look at her pattern .... maybe a milimeter wrong-angle of line can throw things off? .... maybe you are using more or less than 1/4" seams?
I made two blocks for her - my first experience paper-piecing ... neither was perfect .... On the first I thought "oh, I don't need to cut accurate rectangles, I can just use odd-shaped scraps.... Well, maybe an experienced paper piecer could, but I should never have tried that method .... I got totally frustrated when I thought the "perfect" scrap did not want to turn the right way once it was seamed.....
The second was definitely better than the first ...... but far from perfect. I took the time to cut as directed and to trim back the seams as directed and to press as I went ... To have patience, and to be easier on myself.
Although the time frame between getting my first pattern and sending the first block was over two weeks, I sent it - warts and all . It took another week and a half to get the nerve and stamina to finish and send the second block ....
Candlequilter seemed very happy to receive both of them ....
It IS a difficult pattern .... I found that if I held the two printed sections up to the window, the patterns were not absolutely exactly the same. Perhaps it was my computer, my inaccurate resizing of the printable pattern, I don't know .... but it was close - close enough to proceed.
I ended up with humps and bumps the same as a lot of you seem to be talking about .... I just kept adjusting my seams as close as I could get ... if I had a hump, I cheated and took a bigger seam ..... if it was out-of-whack, I ripped and re-sewed .... spritzed-and-blocked-and-pressed-and-fumed --
and, yes, cried!!!
But they got done - and they both got sent ..... Whether she can use them or not is yet to be seen -- but she will need more of YOUR blocks before mine and all the others that have been contributed can make it into "The Quilt" ....
As a first-time paper piecer I am STILL working on my third and fourth candle star blocks ... I am coming closer to what I think is acceptable .. and I'm learning more and more about paper piecing specifically, and about myself in general ....
I considered giving up and going the alternate route to fulfill my comittment in having received the pattern: Candlequilter had asked that if I could not master the candlestar block, that I could send a 12 1/2" block of my choice .... either in patriotic colors of red-white-blue .... or an autumn- or spring-themed one ...... I understood that she would work these in with any successfully finished candlestar blocks to make a nice quilt to be donated to Quilts of Valor ...... NOT A SWAP....
To get the pattern, all I had to do was PM her .... If you are new to the board, you may or may not know you have to officially login to the sight and get the Private Message note in the top section menu part of the quilting board screen before you can send a PM (Private Message)
...... Candlequilter will then send you an email or a return PM outlining specifics ... i.e., how to get the pattern, and to ask for your exchange commitment .... As I said, she is NOT insisting that you send a finished
candle starblock -- just a 12 1/2" unfinished-size block that can be used for that purpose ....
However, since she designed this quilt block, you can see where she would like to know of your successes and frustrations in attempting the block -- and if you used another method other than paper piecing to get good results .... without feedback, designers cannot adjust their patterns to fit the different levels of quilters out here .....
So all of you guys and gals, don't back away ..... think it through ... put away your frustrations for now ... try it again at a later date ...... but keep her posted on your progress, both successful and mishaps.... notice I did not say failure - just mishaps ... - and just try to send her a usable 12 1/2" block for now....
Happy quilting, everyone!