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-   -   First PP blocks - Crossed Canoes & Mariner's Compass Starflower (https://www.quiltingboard.com/pictures-f5/first-pp-blocks-crossed-canoes-mariners-compass-starflower-t41842.html)

Rexene 04-07-2010 01:37 PM

Here's another link for the Crossed Canoes. It includes the actual paper piecing pattern you can print.

http://www.ciaspalette.com/patterns/05/pattern.html

salmonsweet 04-07-2010 01:40 PM

Thank you so much for your comments. I am so glad you like these! :oops: :D

Re method: I'll try and explain...

I used Judy Mathieson's instructions for freezer paper piecing, in her book Mariners Compass - Setting a New Course. Almost identical to this free online tute, except for small practical details that make life easier (e.g. instead of scoring each freezer paper foundation, Judy stacks several identical ones and perforate-marks them by sewing through without thread):

http://www.twiddletails.com/store/in...age=page&id=21

If you've never done PP, the tute may look complicated. It's not, it's just painstakingly explained step by step.

Re fussy cuts: The long yellow star points were the first to be ironed on to the freezer paper, so they were easy to position by peering through and around the paper as I ironed it on.
For the small triangles, the folding line of the freezer paper was soooo useful. I first positioned each triangles by matching it as well as I could to its match on the folded-back freezer paper, then folded up the foundation with the fabric already ironed to it to check whether the seamline would run where I wanted it to, and adjusted if I needed.
If I'd used a strict geometric print I might have added marks on the seam allowances to help with the positioning. The batik I used was a bit wonky in its pattern and so, rather forgiving.

Clear as, hm, coffee grinds? :)

Rexene 04-07-2010 01:40 PM


Originally Posted by fabricaholic
Beautiful and yes, paper piecing is wonderful.
My first paper pieced block was the Hunter's Star.

I love your Hunter's Star!

fabricaholic 04-07-2010 02:56 PM

Carol Doaks has a paper piecing book with CD which gives the sizes of the pieces to cut in advance to make the piecing a lot simpler and less wasteful of fabric. I also use foundation piecing paper to print the patterns.

swimer girl 04-07-2010 05:48 PM


Originally Posted by salmonsweet
I'm so proud. :D

These are my first square-based blocks.

Except for a grandmother's fan I made about 20 years ago. Plus I've been English-paper piecing hexagons and playing with OBWs, which don't really require precision for points and corners.

I drafted the patterns myself. I took the Crossed Canoes from quilt pictures I googled, and the Starflower from Judy Mathieson's mariners compass design tutorial in one of her books.

Done with freezer paper. There's no way I could have pieced these the traditional way. The freezer paper even lets me use fussy cuts, which I couldn't figure out how to do properly with sew-through foundation piecing.

I want the inner applique circle on the starflower to be smoother and the stitching smaller, will get better with practice. To get the outer circle to be actually circular (so I could use contrasting fabric if I want), I just bought a small PVA glue bottle with a tiny applicator for glue basting, so hopefully better success next time!

Overall, I'm just so pleased, and excited to share! And wanting to make more. :D

WOW!!! those are totally awesome...just beautiful....hugs SG

Sheree from Chicago 04-07-2010 05:52 PM

Your blocks and fabrics are beautiful. Do you not love PP???

zz-pd 04-08-2010 12:57 AM

those are beautiful, cant wait to see that one done. thank you for sharing. Penny

fireworkslover 04-08-2010 03:32 AM

A question on your Starflower block. Is the black background a square with a circle cut in the middle and then sewn to the pieced circle or is it 4 sections sewn on, one at a time?

jojo47 04-08-2010 06:00 AM

Beautiful blocks! I love the Mariner's Compass! Crossed Canoes also very lovely!

salmonsweet 04-08-2010 06:34 AM


Originally Posted by fireworkslover
A question on your Starflower block. Is the black background a square with a circle cut in the middle and then sewn to the pieced circle or is it 4 sections sewn on, one at a time?

It's four sections pieced into a square with a cut-out circle, then glue basted and sewn to the circle with the star.

The background fabric is actually a dark mottled green. Funny what screens do to colors. :)


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