Today is just one of those days where you’ll have to bear with my shoddy iphone photography. This is my latest quilty endeavor, and I want to share.
The blocks are for Ms. FreckledBeauties of the Live Piecefully Quilting Bee, and man, they were fun to make! I used the oft-shared instructions over at Film in the Fridge, an, truly, there was nothing to it.
I know everyone’s got her own preferences, but I do feel obliged to say that my favorite base for paper piecing is by far the tracing paper that comes in a tablet at the art store. My tablets are 9×12″, so the sheets are large enough to accommodate most of the piecing I do, and they’re very transparent, cheap, and tear perfectly.
I also want to mention that, if you think you like the look of string piecing based on photos you’ve seen around the internets, you don’t know the half. In person, the colors and patterns just become so breathtaking when cut down to thin strips and seamed with other fabrics.
Do yourself a favor: try out the tutorial and make yourself a throw pillow or something. Then, bask in the stringy glory. It really is fabric bliss.
On the internet, so much can happen in so little time. It’s no surprise that, for as long as virtual quilting bees have been all the rage, flickr has exploded with block photos, and, sadly, it’s taken much longer for the Quilting Bee Quilts Pool to reach a critical mass.
Thankfully, some diligent quilters are changing that. Here’s my latest favorite from the pool, a group project for a new baby:
Photo by mamamary2.
What a colorful way to be welcomed into the world! I especially love the few fussy-cut squares that jump out, like that sweet cupcake, and red apple.
I’m as guilty as anyone when it comes to lagging behind on sashing my Bee blocks, but I’m happy to report that my husband is willing to to learn more about machine sewing, so here’s to a more productive 2010!
One of the possibly unintended but definitely cool side effects of the Quilting Bee Explosion is getting a chance to try out a bunch of blocks and learn what you like to make. Accent on the “to make.” Once upon a time, this is what sampler quilts were for – but we all know it’s easy to lose interest in such a big project.
Anyway, I want to take a moment to sing the praises of blocks we love to make. I personally love anvils, log cabins, and Aunt Addie’s Album. These are things to keep in mind if I ever want to make a whole quilt out of a single block.
And why would I want to do that? Well, here’s one reason:
Mary’s Ohio Star quilt was made in just a few days’ time as a wedding gift. And if you think about it, it’s as traditional as it gets. But if you just look at it and enjoy it, it’s wonderfully chic and modern. Using a small slice of the color wheel certainly updates the overall look, but I think the use of just one block contributes a great deal to that as well.
What are some of your favorite blocks?
If you’re looking to start or join a virtual quilting bee, this discussion is the place to bee. Er, be.
Do you view the “wonky” patchwork craze with fear and suspicion? Have you ever attempted wonky blocks only to create a hot mess, while everyone around you free-pieced to her heart’s content?
I sure did.
It seems impossible that one would require instruction for something that’s supposed to be improvisational. Then again, I couldn’t do improv theater without pointers and rehearsal, so maybe a pattern is emerging. At any rate, once upon a time, my wonky blocks looked really stupid. But now, thanks to this tutorial from Quilt Dad, I was able to come up with this:
Like it? I’m seriously in love. And possibly addicted. November is my month for the Live Piecefully Quilting Bee, and I’m almost jealous that the other ladies get to get wonky with all my fabric, while all I have to do is sit back and relax!