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paper piecing

Old 04-03-2008, 05:36 PM
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well - i just about think this isn't for me. there must be a secret. i made a million mistakes. i can't seem to get the shape in the right place cuz i can't visualize it upside down. I finally made a plastic template and placed it each time, then flipped it and laid the fabric on top, removed the template and sewed. but there is alot of waste. i had to cut the pieces so much larger than the actual shape in order to be sure to cover.

secondly, getting the paper out is no easy task. i used typing paper. i think after this i would prefer using stabilizer and leaving it.

any suggestions would be most welcome.
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Old 04-03-2008, 05:41 PM
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I have read many webites on paper piecing. I just don't understand. I need someone to physically SHOW me and walk me thru it. I'm the sort of person who needs hands on.
I want sooo bad to make a Mariners Compass, but it says it's paper pieced, so I guess I'll never make one.
I did, however, find a pattern, need to find it again, that was supposed to be paper pieced and I just did it my way and it turned out just like it was supposed to. So, if that was/is the thing...they why do they paper piece?
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Old 04-03-2008, 08:20 PM
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Okay you guys....breathe deep!!:)Here's what I want you to do...just follow me...forget where you have been or done at this moment...you will get this...and, you will LOVE it!! It really is so much fun and when you master it (in minutes!) you will all of the sudden realize how easy it was in the first place. How do I know this??Because I've been there too!! Here we go..go to: http://www.quilterscache.com/StartQuiltingPages/startquiltingthree.html and print off this block...heck, print off 4 of them...you might as well make a pillow top:))And, use your regular printing paper...it is fine.
Now...figure out your basic 2 colors for this simple square in a square...nothing else. Decide on your center color first...let's say the center is blue...always a deep blue, that is what I like...:0)...hold your paper w/lines looking at your eyes...not the back of paper...you are to see only the lines in this paper at all times...if you have a window in this room...hold paper w/lines in front of your face...w/light behind paper...then hold your blue fabric behind this paper...you will see in the light that you are waaaay over the lines...that is fine(You will work on cleaning up that later)...and, if you peek around to the backside of this paper...you are looking at the correct side of this blue fabric (not the underside/or wrong side of fabric)Now, while you are holding this paper up, seeing a bit of light thru it ,seeing that #1 blue fabric over the lines (perfect so far!)(use a lamp if you don't have a window)lay next fabric face down (now right sides together) of the fabric you would use inthe number 2 fabric we'll say is yellow....all you care about right now...is this....to cover your 1 lines, (extending over it's square lines) and now at least 1/4"(more is fine)over your #2 line. So, think....2 fabrics together now, extending over the line between your 1 and 2 line....carefully set this down to sew under presser foot...once in position and ready to sew, I drop my presser foot to hold in place for me. Now...most IMPORTANT....take your stitch length waaaay down. I keep mine at about 1.5. This will make smaller stitches...and, at the same time perforating your paper....so, when ALL done...paper will rip easily. Sew on that line between your 1&2....when done...I always double check that when fabric is flipped over, it (yellow)covers now over all of the the 2 lines all the way around....I press fabric down, so you are now looking at 2 right sides of fabric sewn together,pressed...then I flip it back over.....and,cut what would have been a 1/4" between the two to clean it up on the underside. Make sense?? Now, lay your #3 fabric over #2, right sides together make sure you are over now between your 2and3 lines 1/4"...And, you continue until all are done in the same way as above. If you want, print this....sew this w/this to follow instructions. It is fun...don't give up. Most of all, know you aren't silly for not necessarily understanding at first...just keep trying. Quilters are very smart people!! And, you all are! Now, here's something to laugh about....I taught myself after someone verbally told me how to...only I sewed my block w/lines down the whole time I sewed...I just couldn't understand how this is a good thing....then I had my 'aha' moment and realized I had just sewed it upside down:))But, not until the block was done:))LOL You will get this...don't give up...:))Sometimes people go for a too hard of a block to learn on...go simple til you master it. It is no different then fixing your hair in a mirror....it's the same thinking. No question is silly...and, for some, starting out, they might use a piece of double sided tape to hold only the first fabric down in place so it won't slide on them till they get the hang of it. Put all other glues, etc away:))Keep us posted...and, I hope this makes sense...or I will try again...Skeat
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Old 04-03-2008, 08:33 PM
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skeat, you are too smart! That is exactly what i was going to suggest, diamond in a square pattern. That's the easiest pattern to learn to paper piece with. You guys can do it, i know you can, give it a try :)
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Old 04-03-2008, 08:35 PM
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Thanks Barb!! You are always such a dear!! Skeat
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Old 04-03-2008, 08:38 PM
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stay-at-home, i use regular computer paper, or photocopy paper, the paper comes off real easy. The trick is using a real small stich, then its just like tearing apart perforated tickets :) If you have trouble seeing it backwards in your mind, you can lay the fabric piece down on the seam line, then put a horizontal pin in the seam line, and fold the fabric back, and see if it's right. Or, you can just fold the pattern back on the line, and see if it covers the piece of fabric
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Old 04-03-2008, 08:45 PM
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Awe, thanks skeat, that's how i taught my sisters to paper-piece. They knew how to sew, but had no idea how to quilt, never-the-less paper piece. For our parents 50th anniversary, i planned a quilt, and i wanted us all to make it. My sisters all lived out of town, and i wanted each of them to make some of the paper pieced roses for the quilt lol so i taught them each the diamond in a square pattern first, over the phone, then i sent them each paper rose patterns, and fabric, and by golly, they did it, they each made 6 paper pieced roses, and never quilted a day in their lives! That's how wonderful paper piecing is, just once you "get it" Here is the quilt we made, and they eqach made some of the roses, see guys, it's easy :)

paper pieced roses my sisters learned to do over the phone lol
[ATTACH=CONFIG]67950[/ATTACH]
Attached Thumbnails attachment-67945.jpe  
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Old 04-03-2008, 08:45 PM
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Ok, I'm going to try this after I finish quilting the rest of this heart.
Yes, I am machine quilting it again!
It took me 2 days to tie it, but I didn't like it. I decided to do an all over quilting on it and it's coming out great! Yup, wasted the floss in tying it, but I don't care, it's looking really nice now. Once I get that all done, I'll let it sit, then do the binding and post pictures.

Skeat...I'm going to trust you and if you hear cussing, it's only me! ;)
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Old 04-03-2008, 08:49 PM
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Beautiful quilt!
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Old 04-03-2008, 08:53 PM
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Thanks, and there's 50 diamonds around the quilt to represent 50 years, and the flowers in the diamonds were all fussy cut, then they were also paper pieced as diamonds in square. This quilt was all one inch squares too, really hard! But we did it. Really looking forward to seeing your heart quilt finished, it's looking so beautiful already!
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