My second quilt I am using Marcia Hohn's 6" butterfly pattern. I do not know how to do paper piecing. Could someone explain step by step for me on how to do this. I understand the practice block that she has but dot not understand the butterfly block how to get the center strips together. If someone could look at the block and explain it to me that would be great. It is in quilterscache.com. Kyia

There are several butterfly patterns there.
Is this the one you are talking about?


http://quilterscache.com./A/AnotherE...rflyBlock.html

No, sorry it is the 6" block that looks blueish/purple with tan background. Than one is nice though but if I can figure out the one I mentioned I'd rather do that one. I don't know how to put the link on here or I would. Thanks for the help. Kyia

Kyiav10, it looks like the center strip is just 3 pieces of fabric sewn together. You don't need to paper piece those. Just sew the 2 different fabrics together to make the 6" long body of the butterfly. Then you attach the right and left wings to complete it.

But if you want more help, there is a paper piecing lesson on her website and it is called Lesson 3.

Kyiav,
I think Wendy has it right. You're going to have to do some measuring to figure out what size width to make the body. Measure the finished width of the wings and plan accordingly. It looks pretty narrow so probably cut an inch wide strip that would become 1/2" finished.

If you're making several butterflies I'd make a strip of fabric with the top and bottom sewn on and then cut the bodies from that.

I'm really surprise Marcia doesn't have the body measurements posted there. She's usually very precise. Perhaps drop her a note and ask what she planned to use there.

This is the addy I think....

http://www.quilterscache.com/B/ButterflyBlock.html

I can't figure out how to do the little triangles in the cneter strip.

Thank you for all the help. Kyia

Kyiav10, you have printed out the paper piecing templates from that page right?

If you sew piece 1 (the tan triangle) first, then sew piece 2 to that (pale purple fabric) then add piece 3 (lavender fabric) you should have the center of each wing.

I hope that answers your question.

Thank you for the responses.

The problem is how do I know the measurements to cut the fabric. There are not triangle templates to cut to then cut the fabric from and no measurements to measure and cut.

I am giong to fool with it tomorrow night. I fooled around with some measurements and I'll see what I come up with, prolly crapolla, but we shall see. It is not like a normal pattern for me. I am just concerned I may be biting off more than I can chew. Wish me luck.

Thanks again for the help. Kyia

When I'm paper piecing I usually just cut out a hunk of fabric that looks like it'll fit the space and then add a little to make sure! I also dig around in my scrap basket a lot!!! You don't really need measurements. Just have fun with it.

I have no idea if this will help you or not but here is the paper piecing illustrations that I posted a while back. If you need more help let me know.

Yvonne, thank you very much. I searched and found your deomonstrations. I think once I practice it and follow by step a few times I will have it. Thank you very much for your time in doing that post. I am sure it will help me as I am sure it has helped others.

By the way nice name, it is also my mothers name. Kyia

Hi Kyiav,
I've just gone to the Marcia Hohn site and found the butterfly you are trying to sew. Check out the template no. 1 that she provided. You will see that it is in 4 parts. The long narrow section on the right is the body of the butterfly, so you don't have to worry about measuring or cutting out extra pieces for the body.

When I paper piece, I simply cut out a piece of fabric that I know will cover the section of the pattern that I am sewing. After the seam is sewn, then I can measure seam allowances and cut off the extra fabric. Make sense? Then you do not have to worry about templates or anything else. Neither do you have to worry about grain or anything else that can influence seams since you are sewing on a stabelizing paper pattern.

After the whole piece is sewn, then simply tear the paper off the back and the section is ready to sew to other sections.

Marcia is quite meticulous with her patterns and directions. Trust her. It will come out right in the end.

Connie

Thank you everyone for your help. I am posting a pic of the butterfly that I just finished about 20 minutes ago. I did not do paper piecing, I figured out the measurements. It may not be perfect but I am happy with it. Let me know what you all think. Thanks again for ll the help.

Very, very nice! Glad you figured out how to make it even if you didn't try paper piecing. I think you need to try one with paper just to say you did it! :lol: Are you going to make a quilt with the butterflies? How many are you making? Have some fun now!

Wait!

We want to see the first quilt. The one with the train cars.

tim in san jose

The train car one is almost ready to be put together. I have just a few more blocks to go. I'll post a pic once the top is together.

The butterfly one.. I am not sure how many I am going to do. I am going to use some light blue blocks also I think I am going to lay it out like this....


LLLLLL
LBBBL
LBLBL
LBLBL
LBLBL and so on until it is a twin size
LBBBL
LLLLLL

L = light blue block and B = butterfly block. Kyia

Your plans for the butterflies sounds great. It's going to be a beauty!

My only advice is to use something truely spectacular instead of those three blue blocks in the middle. That's the focal point of the quilt.

tim in san jose

Tim, thanks for the suggestion. I guess I can reverse it and put the three butterflies in the center and alternate outwards between butterflies and light blue. I just talked to my sister and she doesn't like the butterfly block. Are the colors ok?? Thanks, Kyia

Kyiav10,
My first large project was a butterfly quilt for a 5 year old. Here is a suggestion for a layout that is easy and effective.

Connie

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Connie, that is beautiful!