I love to have a hand work project for trips, appointments, etc. I learned to quilt by hand piecing. Wow, it seems like it was a million years ago!

It looks like I may have somehow left out a whole load of steps? Like adding paper, and then tacking, and then sewing? I just draw the lines, pin it and sew it! It didn't occur to me to do anything else.

Not for me. I love machine piecing. Hand piecing would be too slow.

I like hand piecing blocks that have Y seams. I also do paper piecing and some appliqué. I like hand work.

I love hand piecing and like others I do it when I have Y seams. I am working on a 30’s now as a side project. I find it very relaxing. I saw Jinny Beyer last year in Shipshewana. Her work is outstanding and her use of color is unmatchable.

I made 4 quilts that were hand pieced and hand quilted. I found it doesn't take that long. I put the pieces for one block in one baggie and I could take it with me. It was a fun process.

I do both. sometime there are things need especial attention! Today everything goes with everything!

The adding paper, tacking, and sewing steps are part of EPP, or English paper-piecing. I don't bother with that; I either draw lines or I use the template-and-starch method.

My first hand project was sewing squares together. It was extremely basic and all my corners nested. :-) I was told to use a 1/4 inch ruler - it's like a 4x4 but only 1/4 inch and is about 6 inches long - with a pencil to mark the 1/4 in. to sew along. It was easier to follow and only had to mark one side as I sewed. Then I did GFG - they are the 2 in size and I did not paper piece, just drew the line on them. (One time I decided to use one of the disappearing fabric pens - thinking it was the water soluble and it was the one that disappeared 20 minutes after it was applied. Oops!) Then I discovered EPP and love it. My problem is so many other projects pop up and get finished ahead of the other.

Oh, I think the Irish chain is easier by hand than by machine - but it takes much longer. It all depends on how much you want to accomplish.

I believe that Jinny Beyer hand pieces all of her quilts.