Wednesday, January 12, 2011

The Missing Days

I so wanted to do a little bit of sewing every day, but I should have known that wasn't going to happen, that I would be tripped up by marking and other obligations. Monday and Tuesday escaped me so I was determined to sit down at the machine tonight and put together some paper-pieced tree blocks to go with my little snowmen from Sunday.

Obviously, though, I am not a proficient paper piecer.


I got frustrated.


I cut my scraps too small.

I really should have known better. I started too late tonight.

After Kettlebells class, I took a bath (to ensure I will not be sore tomorrow), and while I was leisurely soaking, I realized with a slight panic that over the past couple of days, sewing wasn't the only thing I had neglected. I had completely forgotten about posting for my new master's course.

Egad!

That meant I had to devote some time to reading and writing for the course...instead of sewing. It wasn't until 9:30 pm that I even got to play with Bernice.

And that, my friends, is just a bit too late for me.

Tomorrow?

p.s. If you have any tips for paper piecing, I'd be happy to hear them. I've done very little of it - only when I made my second Union Jack Pillow, and that was a couple of years ago.

6 comments:

Sew Create It - Jane said...

One possible tip is to draft a second paper piecing pattern on freezer paper and then cut the shapes apart to iron on the fabrics as a guide for cutting (3/8" bigger all around)...That way your pieces should be roughly the right size and shape before sewing.

Good luck.

Pat said...

I wish I lived closer to you. I enjoy paper-piecing and have taught it to a few others. Once it "clicks" in your head, it's really easy.....but until it does click, it can be a beast and cause lots of frustrations. LOL

Thimbleanna said...

Yikes -- I hate it when I get so busy with the fun stuff that I forget the mandatory stuff. I'm not a paper piecer, so I can't offer any help. Good Luck!

Janet said...

There are a couple of things I find help. First fold your approximate seam allowance under and place it on the wrong side of the paper in the position it will be sewn and the hold it up to the light. Remember that your traditional 1/4" doesn't apply to your seams and I usually use a larger seam about 5/8". There is also a ruler "add a quarter"(most quilt shops carry it). When you use this ruler you can trim all of your seam allowance to the standard 1/4". I think we live in the same city and I taught at Earthly Goods so if you want help just e-mail me and I would be happy to help.

Sara said...

My paper piecing skills are fairly limited...so, I can't offer much good advice...

PunkiePie (Jen) said...

I don't know much about paper piecing to give you any tips. I hope you can get to do some sewing later this week.