Pretty blocks!

I’ve saved a few of the blocks but lost track of where I am in that process. I haven’t made any because I have some other projects in the works & haven’t gotten to these yet. So far the colors used in her blog don’t inspire me. I like bright colors & hers seem dull to me. Maybe I’ll try one with my own color combo once I’m through with current projects. I like the shapes she uses just fine so I will probably experiment with some test blocks.

Conchalea - I hope you get a chance to try the design with your own colors. I have seen a few examples where modern colors and fabrics have been used and the design really pops giving a crisper look. When I saw the design I liked the concept using the different triangles and rearranging them into different blocks.

I am going to skip Block #6 right now and move on to #7. I ordered some fabric for #6 so that I would have a bit more variance for my "light" and "medium" values. Should arrive next week - hope they work out ok - if not I will have to rethink my fabric placement.

I like these blocks but where do you sign up to get the patterns for each block?

Homecaregiver - Patsy - There really isn't a sign up. I hope you join us and try the blocks!! :) It is an interesting design and can be done in reproduction fabrics to very modern.
The blocks are part of a "sew along" on one of Barbara Brackman's blogs called "Material Culture". She gives a block each Saturday along with historical background on each of Queen Victoria's children. This week it was Block 7 - There are links in the right margin for each of the blocks. There are 9 blocks plus a border.
http://barbarabrackman.blogspot.com/

A summary of the info for the first 4 blocks is given here in this discussion in Post 26.

As I'm working on Block 7 I came across a situation that I had encountered with a few other blocks - just so you are aware......

1) On the block patterns sometimes the end of a sewing line for a point doesn't go exactly to a corner or to a meeting end point line - some are ok but some are not and are slightly off. It may be a printer or photocopying problem - not sure but there are lines that are sometimes off and not lining up. Try to look at the sewing lines ahead before you sew and determine where you think it should go and line it up and possibly draw in a line to follow so that if you want a sharp final end point you can make the adjustment. I played "rip it" a few times because I took for granted that things lined up and didn't like the result of the lines not going into a corner or losing the point under another piece.

2) I may be wrong in changing the sewing order for the following Blocks but it has worked out ok for me and I found it easier to piece. I'm sure you will find what works best for you.

In Block #4 it is easier to join B, C, & D together first. After cutting the quarter section on the diagonal, what I did next was cut off part A from the halved diagonal section first and then joined pieces B, C, D and E. After that I taped piece A back on, snuggling it up to the line with B, C, and D and joined it on meeting the end of E. There may be another way to do it but it worked out ok for me.

Looking at Block 6 it may require joining B and C first and then adding A and D.

With Block 7 although the order given could be followed, I am joining B, C and D first and then adding A.

Hope this info makes it easier for you sewing the blocks together.

Wow was it ever a nice day here today!! Lots of sunshine instead of those cloudy grey skies and not too cold! It was a good day to run errands and get groceries. Tomorrow we won't be so lucky :eek: - forecast is cold, freezing rain and then snow! But hey!! Spring is just around the corner and hopefully it will get here soon!! My tulips are just waiting to poke their heads out! :)

The fabric I ordered for my Block 6 hasn't arrived yet so I moved on to try the next one. The hardest part with this block was deciding which fabric to use for the different pieces and how to arrange it.

Block #7 Arthur

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Yeah!! :) The Northcott fabric I ordered arrived and is going to work out fine for Block #6 Louise. Will post results when it's finished!

I did some reading about Princess Louise and found her a very interesting and talented person. Not only are her paintings, sculpting and designs amazing but she did a lot to foster education and independence for girls and women along with many other humanitarian endeavours. She was quite a survivor as she battled against the "norms" of the times for Victorian women and the expectations of Queen Victoria.

Block #6 Louise is finished :)

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For this block when working with the half diagonal of the quarter sections, I did join pieces B and C first, then D and then did A. It went together fairly smoothly.

In retrospect, I could have done the same for the half diagonal of the quarter sections for Block 4 - sew together first pieces B, C D, and E and then do A.
I had posted that I had cut A off and then re-taped it on but cutting it off was not necessary - just extra work.
I could have done the same as for #6 and it would have worked out the same and been easier.
LOL I blame not doing paper piecing very often and my inexperience. Now I will know better when I do a second set of these blocks to make this a larger quilt.

Does anyone else have any blocks to share or any comments on doing Paper Piecing? I must admit some blocks were a little finicky but overall fun to do.

Block #8 Leopold is on BB's blog this morning!!

http://barbarabrackman.blogspot.com/...d-duke-of.html

The sew-along is almost over and there is only 1 block left after this and then the border!!

February has seemed to have flown by - only a few days left!! As I look out my window I can see frost on the roofs of the houses in my neighbourhood - Winter is trying to make a last appearance with a dull cloudy morning and rain coming tonight. It will be a good day to get errands done and a start on Block #8!!

I am having difficulty managing those center seams when putting the blocks together - they are so bulky - perhaps it will be better when the paper is removed but I don't want to do that until I join the blocks together. I am debating whether I should press them open to help flatten them out a bit. Again I'm wondering if I should purchase a wool pressing mat to make it easier. I do have a Clapper somewhere from my garment making days but haven't pulled it out in a long time.

If you have any Paper Piecing tips or Pressing tips that will help others out in navigating through a project please share!

After I searched around the internet for pressing tips, I am definitely going to dive into my cupboards to find my "clapper" that I had used a lot during my garment and costume making days - I worked for many years as a costume designer in the costume/wardrobe department for a few semi-professional theatre companies and for two different university theatre departments. LOL Yes you are right that's how I got my log-in name! It was lots of fun and I loved it!

I know there is a thread here on QB discussing using a clapper and I found this video. I think I found a solution to those bulky seams and will pull out my clapper to flatten those seams!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vKVAoUeK6U

Please do share your Paper Piecing tips or Pressing tips to help the rest of us achieve better results!

Here is my Block #8 - Leopold

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Overall this was an easy block but I had first used a different medium valued fabric for the centre pinwheel and didn't like it so ripped it out and tried this other fabric - I think it plays better with the other colours. I also had to join in a small sliver of fabric along the edge of the bottom right quadrant so that it will fit better when I join the blocks together - the sliver will be hidden in the seam when it is joined to an adjacent block.

How is your progress with your blocks? Anyone else working on these?
All comments or piecing tips most welcome :)

Do you have a link for block 8? I can't get the one on the blogspot to work. I can get to all the rest (including 9) but not that one.

Thanks

Macybaby - here is the link for Block #8 Leopold - for some reason the link in the margin on BB's blog is showing an "error" - here is the link I got after a search

http://barbarabrackman.blogspot.com/...d-duke-of.html

Here is BB,s link for Block#9 Beatrice

https://barbarabrackman.blogspot.com...-princess.html

This is the last block and on Saturday, March 9, BB will give the border.

**Note - when I printed out my template for Block 9 I noticed that the point for Piece B wasn't very sharp so I drew a line on both sides of Piece B to remind me to sew it as a point.

Here is my Block #9 Beatrice

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When I did Block #9 I changed up the order for the pieces in the quarter sections because I was debating between two different fabrics for Pieces B and A.

I began by sewing together the quarter section for Pieces E, C and D and sewed them together in that order starting at the bottom of the quarter section template.
I finally settled on my fabric choice for the matching quarter section and I started at the top of the section sewing Pieces D, C, B, and then A in that order.

I am mentioning this because I found that when I sewed together these two quarter sections they matched up so easily with the seams of the pieces for the section nesting beside each other.

It was so much easier than when I had sewn each of the other quarter sections for the other blocks in the same order and had to fiddle with laying the seams on top of each other trying to make sure that everything was perfectly aligned and matched up.

I was surprised that by reversing the order it was easier to match up. Previously when paper piecing I have always done each section in the same order. It reminded me that when sewing regular blocks together we nest up the seams to make it easier. I don't know if this will always work in paper piecing because it depends on the design but I'm certainly going to keep this in mind when I do a second set of these blocks.

Costumegirl, you did a great job w/ your blocks. I haven't paper pieced in a while, been doing other stuff. I do want to try the freezer paper method though, folding the paper back instead of sewing through it, I need to watch a video or two to refresh my mind on how to do it. It is late now since you have finished all the blocks but wonder if that would help your bulky seam problem.

I am babysitting my Grandson this week at my daughter's - I've had soooooo much fun playing with my entertaining 3 year old!! He has so much energy and is always telling me about something he has seen or wants to do - I am loving every minute!! Tomorrow we are going to make puppets out of paper bags and decorate them with all kinds of scraps, yarn, buttons, trim, googley eyes, and pipe cleaners that I had in my sewing room - LOL should keep him busy for at least an hour or so (at least I hope it will!)

I will try to post a pic in the next few days of all of the 9 blocks that I made placed together. I want to make this a bigger quilt so I won't be sewing them together until I have made another set of blocks.

It has been fun trying these blocks and reading about the interesting lives of each of Queen Victoria's children.
I'm looking forward to BB's final instructions for the border next week.

If you are making these blocks or are planning to do so please share your thoughts and fabric choices. It would be great to see or hear about what others are creating.

Kassaudra - I agree - I had seen a few videos using that method and think that I might try it for some of the blocks when I do the next set. I like paper piecing but find that sometimes there is lots of waste when doing the traditional method. The freezer paper method is supposed to reduce that and possibly reduce the bulky seams.

I did find my clapper and used it on the last block and I think that it made a huge difference in making things flatter along with the nesting of the seams.

As I was looking at the blocks I wondered if making templates (freezer paper) wouldn't work even better, that way you could orient those seams to nest or open to reduce bulk. I do alot of freezer paper template work since I am addicted to fussy cutting.

I've done quite a bit of paper piecing, but don't think any of these blocks really need to be done that way. I would probably use use templates and go that route, but I'd over size and trim down as I sewed.

When I do paper piece, I always trim and fully remove the paper before joining any sections.

I've printed a few of these out, but can not get them to print the correct size no matter what I try. I figure the only way I'll get them all to end up the same size is if I draft them myself. But at least they are very simple blocks so that would not be hard.

Macybaby- I had a great deal of difficulty with sizing. See post # 36, #46 and #49. I found problems with the original pattern on the blog and then even purchased it from her etsy store but there were still problems with the print out- some blocks were out by 1/32" to 1/4". I was very disappointed that it wasn't user friendly to print to the correct size from the blog and then also especially after purchasing it. BB had stated that this pattern could be either made using templates or paper piecing. I will pm you.

I haven't tried printing them but already knew if I was going to do this I would draft them myself. I also completely agree w/ you about going the template route. I'm not afraid of FPP, I have done several very complicated ones, but like you say these are simple enough to use templates.

This one is my favorite, I might just draft it out as a small block for the fun of it.

I like most of the blocks - Block 4 & 7 are my favorites.

Kassaundra -I know that you are always so creative with your designs and have such interesting results! I would love to see what you do with these blocks - When you are ready to do them please post pics of your fabrics, process and blocks :)

I agree with all the comments and if starting again I would probably do some differently to make it easier. I just jumped right in when I first started without thinking it through first & I know I will be fiddling around and re-pressing the ones that are made to get the seams flatter and less bulky.

When I placed the 9 blocks together DH made the comment that they were nice but the finished piece will not be big enough for our bed - LOL he thinks all quilts should be bigger ones to put on his 6'4" frame!
For my second set I will move around the fabrics and change their placement for variety and may add/change up a few blocks from other sources that will work in ok with the others.

Good Morning! BB has posted the border info on her blog :) I think that is is going to be the perfect frame for this! Be sure to check it out!

http://barbarabrackman.blogspot.com/...10-border.html

Here are all of my 9 blocks just placed together - they may not be put in this arrangement in the final piece.

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I won't be joining them together until I make 9 more to have a larger quilt - more blocks coming near the end of next week :)

Please comment on this design or show pics of your fabrics and progress on any of the blocks - would love to see them! :)
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I love your colors - that is going to be very pretty. I love the secondary blue stars.

Thanks Macybaby :) At times it was a struggle but I'm happy with the results so far. LOL I think my daughter is going to claim this one. I was going to add a small diamond in the middle of the blue stars but I think I might leave them as is.

The border that BB gave yesterday continues the secondary star motif into the edge.

I did draw up templates, but couldn't get as accurate as I would have liked, mostly b/c of how small I went. I believe if I had done the full sized block the templates would have worked better. However not all is lost I am using those templates to cut my shapes and using the freezer paper method to piece them. This is my first time w/ freezer paper fpp and I do like it a lot. Here are my fabrics.

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Here is 1/16th of my finished block, it is 3.5 x 3.5

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Kassaundra!! I really like your fabrics!! Your block is great! - so much fun!! I like your placement of your fussy cut green & white - it will look good in the secondary star. The teal makes it so dimensional - again your placement and fussy cut is so fun and creative!! The contrast to the gray and white works well.

Do show the whole block and other blocks that you make. This will be an interesting and happy piece!!

Nice I am making similar blocks right now

Tress - I saw the Ice Crystals project a few weeks ago - they are very similar and very nice :) I am going to be making another set of blocks to make this project bigger and was thinking of perhaps making some of those blocks to add to what I have.
Would love to see your blocks - Please show us pics :)

Here is 1/4 block, this is 6.5 inches. The fussy matching isn't as perfect as I am used to but I am not overly upset by it since this is fpp and fussy placed. I've looked at it in the mirrors and am very pleased w/ where it is going.

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Kassaundra - So so cute and creative!!! Great job!!! Please post your progress on the other blocks :)

Hi guys, I will have a problem in a few weeks. I've been using up my stash, sewing as fast as I can, with no chance of using all my fabric, but I will run out of batting. I use poly, thin to medium stuff. The last time I needed to buy any, I bought a whole big bolt of it. Now it's gone and the LQS got it from is gone also. Where is the best, least expensive place to get it?
Any suggestions?

Wal Mart has several different batting types, not sure about poly I don't ever get it. I see lots of posts about people using 60 and 70% off coupons for batting at Joannes.

SillySusan - As Kassundra mentioned Joanns and Hobby Lobby have a variety of types of batting and the cost is good with the coupons.

Best laid plans sometimes don't pan out - my weekend was a busy one taking care of one of our senior relatives who wasn't feeling well - my Aunt is 98 and is fiercely independent and never tells us when she isn't well and never asks for help but after a few incidents on Friday she needed care. There definitely was no sewing action taking place this past weekend. She is feeling better so maybe I can get my machine out tomorrow.

Hope you got a chance to sew on National Quilting Day :)