Hi there,

This is my first try at English paper-piecing. I'm really enjoying it, and it's great to have a take-along sewing project for times when I know I'm going to need to sit and wait somewhere for a while.

I'm ready to start the next "row" ("round"?) of diamonds, and I have a question: Should I leave the basting and the papers of the "inner circle" in while I keep going, or can / should I take them out?

Thanks!
Jan

I have no answer for you, but wanted to say- these look REALLY nice!

you can take out the basting and paper of the rows you will not be sewing to

Thanks chewboo!

And thanks Lisa and Loretta for the feedback. It's not as hard as it looks, it's fun to do, and I love the fact that is uses tiny scraps that wouldn't be useful for anything else.

Jan

I have no idea what the answer to your question is, but WOW, that looks gorgeous!!

I have done english paper piecing and I chose to leave the card/paper in until I have completely surrounded a shape--then, I take it out. If you take the pieces out before they are surrounded they sort of flop around and can curl up--it's just easier to leave in.
As your project grows, taking out the centers gives the project more flexibilit.y.
Hope this helps/makes sense :).

I leave them in. You might take out the "inner pieces", but definitely leave the papers in the outer ring until they're attached.

do what works for you. that's the right way. :wink:

I'd bought some of those diamond forms - I see from the picture how you fold the fabric over them - I was trying to tuck all the ends in and that didn't work out very well

Pretty.

I took a class a few years ago and was told to take the papers out ONLY after you have added pieces all the way around. I am still working on that project..Grandmothers Flower Garden, it has been a great take along project.

Yours looks great...I haven't tried that technique, but I think I read somewhere the same advice you've been given.

YOU'RE GONNA LOVE THIS!! Go to hexagonquilt-along.blogspot.com and you will learn so much about this. The site got so full they started a second one at hexagonquilt-along2.blogspot.com. I spent days on there when I first started my paper piecing. And it's not just hexagons there as the name implies. Have fun!

I am a "paper-piecer" and I was taught to leave 'em in. I believe traditionally the papers are left in 'til the entire top is put together. It does stop things moving around or distorting. I know a lot of people remove the inner papers so they don't have to cut too many extra papers. Thanks Janetd for posting the link, sounds interesting.

PS: nice work!

Yours is wonderful. I just started doing a Grandmothers Garden quilt using the same method. I love it. It goes everywhere with me. Don't you love it.

Not quite sure what you do next...but it sure is gonna be pretty!!! Keep us posted ok...we love "as you go pics"!!!

Beautifully Done!!! Love the fabric Choices :D :D :D

Me again....I only baste from the back, not through the papers. So if you look at the work from the front, you don't see basting. Am I the "lone ranger" in this regard? I learned this way when I was quite young (when dinosaurs roamed the earth) and it works well for me, but I am curious to hear what everyone else does.

Janet....I checked out the link....a whole hour went by unawares!!! Thanks.

I really enjoyed eveyone's comments.

This past weekend, I was lucky enough to go to the Long Beach
Quilt Show and saw a demonstration of English paper piecing and
was immediately hooked.

My DIL and I bought the templates they sold. (for grandmother's
garden).

Based on everyone's comments, I think I'll leave the paper templates in. It just makes sense.

Now on to the suggested website. HAVE FUN!

Thanks everyone, for the very helpful tips on English paper-piecing and the kind comments about my project. I'm going to leave the inner ring of papers in for now, and only take them out if it starts to get difficult to handle.

I'm taking it with me on a camping trip this weekend, so depending on how much time I end up having to sit around and sew, I might get the next "ring" done. If I do, I'll update with a pic on Monday!

Jan

I just love english paper piecing. I usually leave my papers in until I am finished sewing but have been know in a pinch to rmove the centers if I was running low on pre cut papers. Also love your colors.

Hello - question for "earthwalker" -- pls explain "baste from the back not thru the papers". Sounds like something I'd like to try but I'm not quite sure I understand what you mean.

What got me started on English paper piecing was a quilt show give-away from www.paperpieces.com which sells pre-cut pieces in many sizes and shapes. They have a weekly half-price sale on one item; I purchased large diamonds and have been loving doing tumbling blocks ever since. So easy with the pieces all cut for you and such fun. Lots of pictures and highly recommended to anyone who enjoys EPP.

What a wonderful website. Thanks so much for posting it. I absolutely love tumbling blocks and will have to get some of those templates to try them.

You know, this could be addictive!

I got started the same way. I love their website and the give-away I got at a quilt show said it could be addictive. Boy were they right.

Mrs Fitz. I am not very good at explaining but here goes. I pin the fabric to the paper template, fold the fabric over, but just "catch" the corners in a big stitch, then move straight to the next corner with no stitches in between. I do not pierce the papers at any stage. As you can see from my slightly crumpled papers, this method does hold everything together during construction. I love the portability of paper piecing. I have attempted to provide photos....hope it works. Oh the completed ones still have the papers and basting in.

I'll just give the photo's one more shot....fingers crossed x

Earthwalker, thanks so much for the explanation and photos. I see exactly what you mean and I'm going to try your method. Maybe I should have breakfast first? But right after that.............

Your work looks great! I have been wanting to try epp also. I just bought a pattern for a small project that has 4 blocks. Each block uses a different piecing method and I thought this would be a good way to try the different techniques. There is an English paper pieced block, a hand appliqued block, a foundation pieced block and a strip pieced fan block. I bought some pretty oriental fabric on sale that I plan to use. This along with all the other projects on my list to do! :roll:

Hi Jan - I love your star! EPP was how I started quilting aged around 9 and I still love this method. I've got a WIP GFG that I work on now and then and have just finished a star top in Dutch chintz, waiting to be quilted. The beauty is it's so portable and I find it so soothing to do - I'm taking my GFG on hols next week and will probably do some sitting on the beach even! :D Re the papers - I leave them in until surrounded then take them out really just so everything becomes more compact for travelling. I get hex papers from an English website laser cut out of old envelopes - they're really cheap, around 3USD for a few hundred I think. Earthwalker - thanks for sharing your basting method, I'll definitely try that! :D

Thanks k! Would you be able to post the name of that website? I'd be very interested in taking a look at what they have available.

Thanks!
Jan

This thread got my interesting going. I just couldn't comprehend it all. So, as all modern women do, I did an internet search and found a fantastic tute. Here is the link. http://sunshinescreations.vintagethr...r-piecing.html Let me know what you think of it!

Tut was informative. I was taught EPP by my nanny (Grandma) in England when I was 7. Brought back lots of memories (:)) Good ones :). Thanks.

Here's the link Jan http://www.threadsandpatches.co.uk/a..._Hexagons.html

:D

Very pretty star, and I love all the additional info here! :lol:

Since a couple of people said they would like to see my progress on this project, here's a picture of the next "round" of diamonds. Some friends came over for the weekend and my friend knits, so we sat around chatting with her knitting and me quilting. It was really nice and I got a lot done!

Jan

Very pretty...love the colors.

Lovely colors! It is always nice to see progress! :lol:

I WOULD LEAVE THE BASTING IN...

I know nothing about paper piecing, but your's looks great!!!