Storm at Sea: To Paper Piece or Not? That is my question.
 

Hello,

I've decided to take the plunge and make a Storm at Sea quilt (it's on my quilt bucket list). One article I read online suggested that paper-piecing was the best way to tackle this quilt and most of what I've come across seems to take for granted that the quilter will paper-piece.

I had not necessarily planned on paper piecing, but I'm not really opposed to it either. Thoughts? Is paper-piecing really the best and/or only way to approach Storm at Sea? If so, why? If not, why not?

Thanks (in advance) for reading.

Best,
Aso

One of my first quilts was storm at sea. I started with making templates out of kitchen cutting mats using a print out from my quilting group but didn't think the 'drawing around the template method' would be accurate (I'd cut a couple!). What I settled on was using strips. I measured across each shape, straight edge to edge not point to point, and cut strips to that measurement. By taping the paper template to a ruler, I worked along the strip cutting the shapes.

With pieces cut by that method it went together perfectly. . . . the quilting left a lot to be desired!!

This is also on my bucket list, but I will be using Deb Tucker rulers for its construction, I really like her method and her rulers. Looking forward to seeing your project.

Don't plan on doing a Storm at Sea in the near future, but if and when I do, it will be done with paper-piecing. I really like paper-piecing, already do a lot of it, so just seems like it would be easier for me.

I bought the Deb Tucker ruler. Made a beautiful Hunters Star with one of her other rulers and loved it. So, I'm planning a Storm at Sea. It looked doable. I'm taking my time, a longer term project. I've saved several Pinterest colorings. Haven't settled on a particular one yet. It looks easy enough without paper piecing.

If you have an Accuquilt GO cutter, they have just released a die for the Storm at Sea.

I just found a new die available to cut it all.

https://www.accuquilt.com/go-storm-a...ished-die.html

Plus you can use the new app to see your fabrics. We just had a demo at the LQS all about it. Quite fun!

https://learn.accuquilt.com/go-quilt-tutorial

This quilt has been on my list for a while too.

I did my Storm at Sea as traditional piecing. If I did it again, I'd probably do the diamond shaped unit as paper piecing. In the guild show mine was in there was another Storm at Sea, the other quilter did do paper piecing and instead of a diamond used triangle units. It also was brighter and more modern fabrics.

Edit: Forgot the part about how I put all the first round of the long skinny triangles on all the diamonds and sewed them wrong. So then I took them off and proceeded to sew them wrong again! All I can say is that it was a learning experience and my vision was better in those days...

Did this about 20 years ago now, was visiting and snapped a picture as it hung over the stairwell. This was queen sized and sewn and quilted on my little old vintage machine.

I made a storm at sea using paper piecing but with the dis solvable fusible. It doesn't fully go away but it does get soft and it's almost impossible to tell that it's still there. I used the Ricky Tims paper that can be run thru a printer. It was great not having to pull at papers.

Iceblossom,

Beautiful quilt and pretty fabric choices for the design. It is interesting to see how different fabrics work up in each one. Thanks for showing yours!

Wish I had a picture of the other one, but that was all pre-digital. It was very bright and graphic and bright red and yellow and black and white. Fun to see two different interpretations.

It's a fun pattern and I think on most people's piecing bucket list. All sorts of things you can do with it, I went the traditional route for the fabrics and the "Stars at Sea" layout and had to wait years before I had enough stash to begin. 20 years later and I don't have that problem. One of my friends incorporated the heart motif into her quilt.

The other "funny" story about that quilt is one of the center squares is inside out and it was not a deliberate design choice. How many times did I handle that block? I think I count it up and it was something over 20 times between piecing and pressing. Not to mention setting the top and quilting it down. It wasn't until it was hanging in the show that I saw it. No one ever mentioned it. As I like to say, I've never had to put a mistake into a quilt, I make plenty of my own.

Creative grids ruler makes a beautiful 16 inch block!

Storm at sea is on my to do list but I just helped a friend do a storm at sea wall hanging - it was paper pieced and she had never done any paper piecing. It finished out perfectly. When I do one it will be paper pieced (esp the diamonds!!).

I got the Storm at Sea die for my Accuquilt Go two days ago. I cut four 12" blocks in one pass testing it for accuracy. Looks great.

I highly recommend using Deb Tucker rulers for Storm at Sea. Blocks are precise, and it is easy. I have made Storm at Sea, and variations using her rulers with great success. I have not tried paper piecing, so I guess it depends on your preferences.

I have the Deb Tucker ruler but decided to go with paper piecing when I made my SAS. I didn't want to deal with the bias edges and my 1/4 seam is not always perfect. I used the Tucker ruler to cut my pieces one size larger than her instructions gave for the size I wanted and used those for PP.

I have made the blocks both ways and kicked myself for not starting with the paper piecing. It was mistake after mistake doing the blocks without it being paper pieced. You have much better control and crisper seams with pp'ing.

I'm pretty sure Quilter's Cache has a paper pieced SAS pattern, is this the one you would use or is there another?

Does Deb Tucker have specific rulers for the Storm at Sea as I have quite a few of her rulers so hopefully it will be one I already have? Thanks.

Wow. What wonderful anecdotes and suggestions for SAS. It seems like either way will really work and I think I will just have to try it both ways. I saw a great youtube tutorial on the Creative Grids ruler here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3QifeXERhs. Have never seen the Deb Tucker ruler but can't wait to check it out.

SAS would require the Diamond Rects and the Square Squared rulers.

I am another that recommends the DT tools. All her tools make multiple sizes so you can decide what size your blocks are going to be based on the prints you are using (if need be). I made my daughter's baby quilt using a different method, and it worked great, but the next time I make SAS I will use the DT tools. As Feline Fanatic says you will need two separate tools, but the u it's they make are so versatile that you are not buying a tool for one quilt or block.

I made one about 20 years ago before they had all kinds of tools to make it easier but honestly, it's not hard. Just take your time.
I would use available tools now, though, if I make another one because why not do it easier if you can?
Such a great pattern.

Check out David Sirota's no more tears method for SAS. He is a great teacher and all his designs work perfectly. Find him at Quiltmavendave.com

I paper pieced my storm at sea. I found it very easy to do with paper piecing. [ATTACH=CONFIG]616269[/ATTACH]

Deb Tucker! I was pleased with my accurate points.

Thanks for posting this. The way he matches his points is very interesting.
Check it out.

https://www.quiltmavendave.com/how-t...perfect-points

Does anyone know a way to do a storm at sea and then to set it on point? I might try it using paper piecing because of all the points, I'm still planning it. I want to just use 2 colors of fabrics. Thank you.

The hard part about SAS is making those points match. I did it with templates but kept thinking that paper piecing would have been a little more accurate. The alternative of using dye cut pieces might also work better. My quilt was crib sized and was I glad to finish!
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Very Beautiful quilt!

i'm doing mine EPP. i don't do many big quilts anymore. I have so many and so little space. so, i decided if i was going to make a big quilt, it had to be EPP. The first 2 quilts i entered into a show, i won 2nd and 3rd best place in the show. the 2nd one was 6 pointed stars in aquas. held together with white diamonds, they were all 60 degree 2" diamonds.
the second which was the 3rd place overall, was 1" hexies,put together in a dog bone shape. i floated them on a white background. I appliqued a puppy on the bottom right side, and it took me 6 hrs to attach emb. floss fur in 6 different shades of browns.

I love EPP. it's very accurate, and if you want to hand quilt, it's perfect for you.

PS. If you're not sure if EPP is for you. call English Paper Piecing or e mail them, and they will send you out a small kit to try your hand at it. it has the papers and fabrics.

Since I love Paper Piecing that is my go to method. I have done some SAS blocks using templates- they turned out ok but seemed like a lot more work.

One of my very first quilts
 

I never realized it was supposed to be difficult!
Made it for my son and his wife for their wedding. I was complimented on my perfect points... I thought that was the idea... and I'd sewn for years.
My DH cut out templates for me from some wood sheeting that was used for floors - I believe it is mahogany - that he'd been given/scrounged from somewhere. And he drilled hole for the points on the diamonds.
My seams weren't always 1/4" but my points matched pretty well.
I thought it was fun! And I want to make a similar quilt for their 20th anniversary (4 years). DGD spilled pink nail polish on it a few years ago and their cat added her "mark" as well. We appliqued scrappy hearts over everything - one for each year at the time with two larger ones for the kids.

I made a storm at sea quilt for my mom after my brother died. There were 6 of us kids, only one boy so I made this quilt with the one blue heart to represent my brother.

But, I didn't have any templates back then and there wasn't accuquilt, etc. I cut and stitched the pieces by hand and it's not perfect. If I could have done it by paper piecing that sure would have been easier. If I ever do one again, I'll do it by PP.

I saw a Storm at Sea that was on point on Facebook. It was in an American flag design.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2861439906310
The creator of the quilt is Amy Pattillo Brown. She made a pattern and it is for sale on pre-cuts.com

http://www.pre-cuts.com/shop/c/p/Sta...fgadvQVr30UvXs

Mkotch your quilt is surely gorgeous

Nana up North, your storm at sea is exquisite and I don't see any mistakes at all. Love the idea of one blue block for your brother. I'm sure this quilt is a family keepsake