Thursday, February 28, 2008

I can't .........

Yesterday was Redwork club at my LQS and while there I decided to look for the fabric for my Spring Fling Swap starting block. I found a paper piece block that I want to do....

Problem??

I can't paper piece.

Well, really, how hard can it be?

HARD!!

But, I was determined....

I won't show you the horrible results. There are four sections to this block. Each section is identical. Let's see how many ways can I screw up....
1. cut off ALL the fabric, not just the part I am supposed to cut off
2. place fabric wrong side up
3. place wrong fabric in wrong place

That's really pretty much all you CAN do wrong....I did it all... sigh......

I am determined though, so if anyone does paper piecing, please help me!! I beg of you....come to my house and help me. I will serve lunch.. I will buy chocolate...I will beg.......
If you can't travel, then email me with some guidance....

Here is what I did.....
I used regular printer paper..
There was a little inch square that printed on the paper and YAH!! it was an inch square when I measure it, so I am guessing that means that the block should have finished the size indicated which is 8 1/2 in. NOT!! It finished 8 1/4 or thereabouts....

(not so) Happy Sewing
Nancy

3 comments:

PiecefulChaos said...

Awww, I wish I could come over and help you - but its too far. Paper piecing is really something you need to be shown to learn. There are some DVDs out there - I think Carol Doak has one that must be good. In the meantime, how about youtube? There are a lot of little tricks that make it a lot easier.

Deborah in Atlanta said...

I took a class at our local Arts & Crafts and failed miserably. So even the class didn't help me. But I'm going to make an honorable try again. My daughter decided she wanted a calendar quilt. What a challenge she has given me. It's supposed to be a small wall hanging. But she wants a full-size quilt. But it still has to be paper pieced. I've enlarged the patterns, but haven't tackled the actual fabric/pattern/frustration yet. I've put it off for five months. I did the same things you did and more. I'll check back in and see how you progress. And maybe you'll be my inspiration. I know I can't be yours.

Osage Bluff Quilter said...

Paper piecing is my addiction. Next time try tracing paper. Go to hobby lobby and in the kids crayon isle, buy the kids tracing paper. (It's cheaper then the art supply trcing paper) You can cut it down to 8 1/2 by 11 and run it through your printer.

There is a washing disolving brand, but it is very pricy.

I found your blog and have been reading it all morning. I live in Jefferson City. If you get this way (I see you go to Columbia and Mexico shops) Jefferson City has a nice quilt shop. It is having a grand opening this saturday as it is expanding. http://www.specialtyquilts.com/

Happy sewing
Osagebluffquilter