Well, I am jumping in with both feet! I'd just love to join y'all in doing this beautiful project. Paper piecing is kinda new to me as is the curve sewing but darn it, I'm in. Have been working on "block 0" and noticed my one inch size is a bit smaller than an inch. I'm in a tizzy as to whether I should start over again...... Hmmm, will figure this out soon. :)

It will be fine as long as when you print off the other blocks the one inch size is the same as on block 0. Your final project will be slightly smaller, but your blocks will all fit together.

amh
Saskatoon SK Canada

Welcome! Can't wait to see your blocks :-)

A couple of you have said you've had issues with the curved piecing. I took some pictures I hope that they help. They show the stitched seam allowance, the clipping of the seam allowance, marking the pieces by folding in half (for alignment) and using LOTS of pins. I also will sometimes split the paper when needed for aligning the pieces together.

Thank you Kristen. These pictures are very helpful.

WOW, those pictures are going to help a lot!

(PS. Decided to re-print the couple of blocks to get my true inch :) so I am starting over )

OH CRAP! I forgot about this thread and me wanting to do this! I want to do so much I cant keep up! SOOOOooo
I guess I'll be playing catch up this weekend! Love the blocks shared so far.

Oh you stitch the seam allowance! I never thought of that! When I'm ready to start these blocks I will try that. Thanks Kristen!

SulaBug, I really like the ones you've done.

Sustraley, It gets much easier. You did well on those.

When I find a downloadable pattern that I like, I download it right away. They have a tendency to go away.

Now that I've gone through the whole thread, what I have to say is WOW! everyone is doing a great job!

Thank you QM for the nice compliment about my blocks. I love to paper piece & they have been really fun to do. I have already started on my third pattern for November. So far I have three of them made!! When you posted your smaller NYB piece of work, you really inspired me.
:D :D :D :D

It really helps :-) how is your other project coming along?

Finally, my life has settled down a little bit. Car accident, car totalled. Good news is, I'm just fine. It has, however, been busy what with working, dealing with all the red tape of an accident, etc. etc.. I now have another vehicle, thank goodness -- taking the bus for 3 hours a day to get to and from work was somewhat annoying -- caught up on some reading though. My sanity breaks consisted of laying out the NYB blocks and sewing for a few minutes every day. Caressing fabric does have a calming effect. It's that or Valium, and I prefer fabric.

As I was sewing Block one together, I really didn't think that I liked the blocks, but they were all cut out, so I forged ahead, and when they were all together I was really quite happy with them. I made 5 of them, because I am going to make a quilt 6 block by 7 block quilt, so I need to make 5 of two of the blocks.

Here's the photos. One is the combination of Block Zero and Block One, and the other is Block One.

WOW!! I love your blocks set together this way. All of your colors are so pretty. It looks like you have been having fun making these beauties. Keep up the good work!!
:D :D :D :D

AMH - so glad things are settling down and that you weren't hurt badly in the car accident! I LOVE your blocks they are beautiful! Thank you for sharing

Your blocks do look GREAT!! Are they batiks?

I haven't done any actual sewing lately. But I am getting my vintage Singer machine to sew!! I am working on the tensions to get the stitches just right.

Yummy New York beauties!

Wow looking at these blocks is killing me. They are all so pretty. I absolutely can't let myself start anything else until I finish a few things. My baby quilt just needs binding. I made a tetris quilt it just needs a label and I am only 2 behind now on my paper pieced stars. I should be able to start soon. Can't wait. A New York beauty has been on my list for some time.

Thanks for the compliments. I'm really glad that I decided to piece along with some of you. Someone asked if the fabric was batiks. Yes, most of the fabrics are batiks. I had quit afew batik fat quarters from some project that never got started. I hope to use this as a stash buster, but it is possible I may have to purchase a few pieces.

I'm finding the blocks a challenge, as I don't paper piece very much, but I like the results. NYB is one of my favorite patterns. The last one I made it was the same block for the entire quilt, and it turned out very pretty, but I like the challenge of all the different blocks.

amh

amh

Those look great...good job.

AMH, those look great...good job.

I'm still practising I found a video on youtube that made perfect sense I think I'll be ok now. I really am a visual learner.:p

I've spent some time watching video's on YouTube as well. One always learns tricks from others. I don't do much paper piecing, but have found this group is a good resource. The quilters here are willing to share. Can't wait to see photos.

amh

I am going to the LQS today to pick up a couple of FQ and hope to start next week. I am planning on using my stash for most of this. I am finishing up the 50 paper pieced stars project on here and also used my stash for that. I am low on purple and greens so I will buy a couple of each. I have banned myself from fabric stores for a while because my stash is getting out of control. Beautiful work everyone. I check here almost every day to see all of the pretty blocks.
Pat

Good luck! All I replaced it with is the internet and craigslist. LOL

My Block 0
 

I finally said, "that is it, I am spending the day in my sewing room". It was one of those nasty, rainy, windy PNW days with the fireplace going and homemade bread in the oven.

I am not a PP'er so there was a learning curve here. I watched the video and took notes.
I was really excited when I did the center of the block. It sewed up quickly. Rippit only came out once because I did not get my lights and darks in the right order..

Then I did the center, rip rip rippit! My fabric folded over so many times and got in the way. It included some tucks too. I started pinning the excess fabric to hold it out of the way. That worked for me.

Then I did the outside, my dark fabric. It is two pieces and I sewed the narrow ends together, sewed it to the block, pressed it. Shhheessshh rip rip rippit! A few more times too! Oh dear, who folded that fabric over?? rip rip rippit!

The entire afternoon was spent doing ONE block as the rain streamed down my windows. I was thinking this was going to take me forever I am thankful we are not making a block for December, or are we? I will need the catch up month.

Now only 1 block 0 is completely done it is 4 pm DH is hungry....but wait...I loved doing this challenge. So back to my sewing room and I now have centers done to the other 3 block 0's. Maybe it took me 30 minutes to complete this. I think I have the concept down now.

I love that all my points are there! Precision with the PP'ing is terrific.

If anyone wants to leave me some pointers on attaching the other pieces please do.

More PNW weather for today, so back to the sewing room I go.

Rainagade I really like your block, and never even thought about doing really scrappy like you did, really like that concept. I have no trouble with the pp, but I do have trouble with the curving. And just like you I spent hours trying to adjust my stitching so it would look decent----so I have decided to go with the appli-curve method by Elaine Waldschmitt. She has a book out called "Appli-Curves-Traditional Quilts with Easy No-Sew Curves. It made my life easier in getting this done, and I still get the same results the spiked points and fun arranging the blocks. So I am pleased with my result. They now lay flat and no puckers.

Rainagade: I love your block. I, too, did not think of using different fabrics so it is really scrappy. I'm going to try that one. Thanks for the idea. Sewing curves is also a challenge for me, but look back in the posts as curve sewing instructions and helpful hints are also posted with it. Loved the recounting of your day. It sounded so very frustrating, but the ending was wonderful to hear.

My mind reverted back to when I sewed garmets and it is similar to putting in a sleeve. For me, I had to get the paper off before it would work for me, but I starched it well and used the stay stitching technique suggested earlier, and pinned it with lots of pins.

These are fun blocks, and they are so precise. I'm beginning to love the technique.

amh

Rainagade - keep up the good work they will get easier the more you do them the easier they get. Home made bread sounds wonderful. And your block looks great!

Wow finally a paper piecing tute that I understand. Thank you.

Garment sewing; yes, I have to admit that I did take the paper off to complete the the curved piece. It was self defense I think. i knew it had to fit so I went back to the basics, something I knew that worked.

I will keep trying to get some curved seams by PP'ing as I go along. I remind myself that I want this years project to be a "challenge".

The other thing I am going to do is: Pre-cut all my outer pieces so that's done. I am using all the same dark plum fabric for this.

I struggled with fabrics for a while. What has to match, what can be scrappy.... if I did scrappy the colors would balance when the block went together. Think kaleidoscope and I moved past trying to organize colors.

I will pick up more fabrics from the Kansas Troubles line. I am thinking 1/4 yard of ones I like. I have a cathedral windows type of blocks I am doing mostly by hand using the same fabrics.

Now, where did my rainy days go?

Renea you did good.Look at those points. I found that if you put the curved outer pieces on top of the arcs when sewing and pin it works better.

Ellen, did you do this without using the PP'ing technique?

After several attempts, I finally removed the paper from the curved piece and sewed it together.

You are right about the points, which is what New York Beauty is all about.

Well, I finally managed to finish the one block, I guess it can only get better from here. It is a little wonky & don't want to press it with steam until the paper is off later. [ATTACH=CONFIG]371977[/ATTACH]

I pp'd the arcs and found I had to remove the paper before sewing to the other pieces

Very nice thimblebug

Love your block thimblebug. The colours are great together. Thanks for sharing.

amh

Thimblebug beautiful block love the colors!

amh - - - just beautiful. I'm working on mine too. The #1 block gave me a migraine, so went back to #0. I might have a bazillion of the 0 block in mine. Ya never know - - - - -

Jane