Best method to make a Storm at sea
 

After thinking for a while about the quilt model I should make for my daughter room, I have finally settled for a Storm at sea. I've always found this model absolutely gorgeous, but when I saw the rainbow Tula Pink version of it here, I knew it was the one my daughter should have:

I'm also due for a little technical challenge, so I feel excited to set this kind of goal for myself in 2019. However, I would like to complete the quilt within a reasonable amount of time, so I'm looking for any advice to help me in the process.

1) Pro and cons of paper piecing for this model? (I've done one twin size paper piecing quilt and loved the precision of the result, but found the ripping of the paper extremely tedious)
2) Is there any special technique, ruler or tool to help with the cutting and assembly process (I have an Accuquilt studio cutter)? In the free pattern provided on Tula Pink blog, there are instructions to cut the pieces with fraction (like 2 3/8 inches) I'm definitely the kind of girl who will get better results if she construct an oversize block and then re-cut it ;)
3) Anyone ever done this model with scraps? How did you manage the organization of the colors?

Thank you so much in advance for sharing your expertise!

Deb Tucker's Studio 180 template, hands down. You need the Diamond Rects and Square2 tools.

https://www.sagercreekquilts.com/sho...a-x9851949.htm

If you're not familiar with Deb's tools, you make slightly larger sub-units and trim using the tools to get perfect blocks.

Michelle

I paper pieced mine. I have Deb's rulers but didn't want to deal with the bias edges of the diamond without the stabilization of paper.
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Indycat32, what a beautiful quilt!

I love the Storm at Sea quilt block. It is really just an Economy block, and a Diamond. I agree with mkc, Deb Tucker's rulers make it very easy. I can't compare to paper piecing as I have never used that technique. To me, the difficult part is color placement if you make multi-colored quilt. Best of luck!

Thank ladies, I didn't know these rulers. Now of course they cost 40$ each in Canada (every quilting supply is X2 here). Sigh...

Deb Tucker ruler is wonderful - makes the block a bit smaller - I loved using the Creative Grids Storm at Sea ruler - this makes a beautiful 16 inch block... All you need is that one ruler.

I am also a Deb Tucker fan but I don't have the ones to make SAS. I think I would PP it. You mention doing a rainbow one so I would highly recommend downloading a diagram sheet and coloring in to help you with the color placement of the pieces. This blog has a free one you can download for both styles, single and double sashed.

http://quiltinspiration.blogspot.com...ree-block.html

I haven't made a SAS, though it's on my very long list of quilts I would like to make. (Well that's not true - I did make a log cabin version of a SAS, but I would like to make a real one some day.) If you haven't tried vellum for paper piecing you might give that a shot. Using vellum and a short stitch length, I haven't found it at all difficult to remove the bits of paper.

Love your quilt!! I love red and white quilts and yours is spectacular. I did a SAS and used Deb Tucker’s rulers. No problem at all. Love this pattern.

Here's one that I did .... It was totally PPd.
I made it smaller than the actual pattern, simply via % on the printer.
https://www.quiltingboard.com/pictur...s-t259838.html

For your concerns of removing the papers.
I use regular copy paper, and very tiny stitches (1.0 or even less).
For this one, I left all the papers on til it was fully assembled.
Because of the tiny stitches, I find they come off fairly easily.
... I just turn something mindless on the TV and pull them off, keeping a garbage can right beside me!

The easiest way to keep your sanity when developing your design and/or colour placement
is to use a colouring sheet. Thanks to FelineFanatic ... I've now saved that for future use.

Good Luck ... and enjoy the process!

QuiltE, I LOVE your wall hanging!!!
Thanks to FelineFanatic, I've put my daughter on the coloring job. She's on it for the last one hour LOL Now I'm wondering if she would not love to rip the papers...

Has anyone made one using the accuquilt dies?

Thank you ... while it is definitely Christmas fabrics, I purposely chose ones that were not in-your-face Christmas so that I could enjoy it for much longer. It'll stay up now til I switch it out with a Valentine's quilt.

Great plan ... have her do the design .... and take off the papers!!
No reason why she can't stitch the PPd blocks too!

There are so many SAS quilt layouts around .... that take on unique looks.
So many possibilities ... and so many more to create!

I made a SAS and used the PP method. I found it so much easier to line up all the points. Regarding the paper in the back ... well, if you want a fast and easy way ... a bit messy (not too bad tho). Once you're done your quilt top sew a seam as close to the edge as you can. Put your quilt top with the paper on it in a mesh bag (very small holes in the mesh bag) and toss it in the washing machine. The paper will be gone! It's miraculous! And it's all held together in the mesh bag. I lay it flat to dry and then iron it. It's a bit more work having to iron it, but in my world, I would have left the paper on it LOL I adore my hobby, but pulling off that many tiny pieces? NOPE!!!

QuiltE, yes, I totally agree, this is more a winter time quilt. I doesn't feel at all like a Christmas tree sitting in a corner in January.
Although my daughter is very a very artistic and creative 9 years old kid, she doesn't have the slightest interest in sewing. I was the same until 35 years old, so I don't despair :-) My 7 old boy, on the contrary, have impressive sewing skills for his age.
She created an awesome diamond pattern with the coloring sheet. She have very clear ideas in her head when it come to colors.

Marion, what paper are you using??? I guess it might affect the "solvability" of the paper. When you forget some piece of paper in a jean pocket, you sometimes find just a nice paper ball in a corner of the washing machine, and sometimes thousand of tiny shreds everywhere on the clothing.

I just use normal paper. Easier to tear off, and easier to pick up round balls!

ha! you had me laughing about the Christmas tree in a corner in January ... end of January! :)
Not here though, as mine will be down before the 12th day.

Great that you have a designer in the making!!!
And too, perhaps once you start stitching and she sees it starting to come to life with the PPd blocks, she'll want to do some of the stitching too.

That's the joy of PPing, two can sew and know the blocks/pieces will fit together.
And you can get some pretty impressive results, which may help her to fall in love and want to do more sewing after her quilt is made.

Maybe now, you need to turn your son loose, to create his very own design too? :)

I love this one!!!
https://www.quiltingboard.com/pictur...p-t257266.html

Kirsten

Isn't that "Snail Trail", rather than "Storm at Sea"?

Oh, I love the points hanging over the borders. Such a nice detail.

Yes, it might give her the "illumination", seeing this coming together. This is the idea of getting her involve in the design in the first place.

My son is not at all interested in the design. As a baby he was spending hours putting his little cars in row, and now he loves to sew rows and rows of blocks, without caring at all about the result for a single minute :-)

A sneaky Mommy you are ... she may see this in a new "light".
I'll look forward to following her progress!!
(......and your further sneakyness!! :))

I paper pieced my SAS and am glad I did so. I wanted it all points and seams to be perfect and they were! I use blank newsprint paper which rips off easily. If I made another, I would PP again.

I have the same question.

I love the Hunter's Star die and wondered if the Storm At Sea die is as good.

Yes, I think you are correct!
OOOPS!
Kirsten

Here's is another vote for Deb Tucker tools. They might be a bit pricy up front, but they make several sizes of blocks, so you should be able to use them for multiple projects. And the results can't be beat.

Having said that, I made one SAS quilt with the Wendy Mathson trimplates and was very happy with the results. I bought her tools before I knew about DT. I liked the process and the results, but her tool only makes one size of block. My SAS is here: https://www.quiltingboard.com/person...s-t209159.html

SAS is my favorite pattern and I'm looking forward to seeing pics of yours.

take it from someone that used the Tri-recs rulers and rotary cutting to make one for my daughter--paper piece it!

I used Marti Michell's templates which would make several sizes of blocks, but I did find them a little confusing at first. The Deb Tucker method of cutting a bit larger than needed and then cutting the pieces down to exact size would be useful for SaS. And if you don't mind paper piecing a whole quilt (which I loathe!), that would be the way to go. Pay close attention to how you press the seams, though, because you will want them to nest as you put them together.

I'm also wondering the same question! I have the Ohio star die and it did improve a LOT the appearance of my blocks. I would say they went from 75% perfect (with some ripping) to 95% perfect (without ripping).

I saw your post (and beautiful story!) when I did some search on the forum for SAS post. I'm not a purple lover but your quilt is truly gorgeous. I bet you little girl still love it.

I will most certainly buy Deb Tucker rulers because I agree they look useful for all kind of projects.

Thank you so much for your comment :thumbup:

I'm not a very good piecer, so that's my main concern. I think this model NEED to have a perfect alignment to create the wonderful illusion of curves.

I did SAS using a freezer paper-piecing method where you don't sew on the paper but closely along the folded edges. It worked wonderfully and you can use the same pattern several times before needing to replace. No need to pick out paper! This site gives wonderful instructions: http://www.twiddletails.com/images/FPFtute/FPFTute.pdf

Sara Lawson of Sew Sweetness says she uses fusible applique paper for paper piecing and it stays in - doesn't have to be removed. she sells it in her shop. I didn't think it'd be okay to link it.

HANDS DOWN - Use Deb Tucker's tools - and she has a pattern too! Well worth the cost of each! No "Y" seams and everything matches perfectly when you follow her easy-peasy video tutorials for each of her tools !!

I think Marti Mitchell also makes a Storm At Sea ruler set.