At first I thought, "Oh, there's only six, and they're small. This won't take long". Then I spent a couple of hours just cutting out the pieces and thought, "Wow!!! There's a lot more to these than meets the eye".
I'm hand piecing my blocks. I wouldn't call myself a master hand piecer, but mine are satisfactory. Some people are trying to foundation paper piece and it's taking them as long as it's taking the hand piecers in some cases. I do think it's worth learning to hand piece. Jen says, "if you can hand sew the binding down, you can learn to hand piece".
Here's a link to a video by Becky Goldsmith on how to hand piece. The technique she demonstrates is the same method as I was taught to hand piece by Jen Kingwell.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNpSCsz-pzM
I know it looks painfully slow, but I think that's just because she's demonstrating. I certainly stitch faster than that!
This weekend I'm off to Tote and Gloat at Rose City Quilters at Palmerston North. People come from far and wide to take part in this event. There's huge show and tell, merchants, a guest speaker, raffles, etc. Everything to keep quilters busy for a day. The guest speaker this year is my good friend, Rachaeldaisy from Australia. I'm staying on to take a class with her on Sunday.
I'll be the one with the colourful bag.
Now to the Peacock Party. What's everyone else been up to? Feel free to link up below and perhaps meet some new online friends.
I'll report back next week with everything I learnt at Tote and Gloat and the class.
9 comments:
I think you're blocks look lovely! I'm a foundation paper piecer. I don't think it's faster, I do it because I'm more accurate this way. Obviously you don't have that problem, your block look perfect! Happy Stitching!
is the Dear Jen like a Dear Jane quilt - do you have to buy patterns monthly? I love your blocks and your fabric
I can sure imagine how much effort goes into each of those little blocks. Really, the smaller, the more time-consuming. It's great that you're choosing to hand-piece, as you'll end up with precisely-made blocks, and, as you point out, you're spending no more time on them than if they'd been FPPed. I love hand-piecing, though I haven't done any for ages. Machine-ing is still the most expedient way for me to piece and quilt. Have a super time on your weekend away! I'm sure you'll have a great time socializing, reconnecting with friends, and finding more quiltmaking inspiration.
Your blocks look awesome. The fabric choices are great. I'm thinking these would take even longer than if they weren't so petite because the amount of pieces is still sizable.
Oh these blocks are beautifully sewn, Wendy. And what vibrant colours. I hand piece and I know the time it takes but so enjoyable too esp. if all the pieces are fitting as they should! This is going to be a wonderful project for you.
Your hand piecing of those small blocks is simply amazing. Labors of love, for sure!
Your blocks are beautiful Wendy. Lovely fabrics. Cant really go wrong with Hand piecing!
Glorious blocks, but gosh, they are small!
hand piecing goes faster than some think....blocks are lovely...if my UFO list was shorter i'd dive in for this delish project!
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