About this blog

I am Amy, but here on the web I go by A.J. Dub. And hey, I like to craft!
Sometimes things turn out well so I will share with you how I did it.
Sometimes they don't turn out well and I will share that with you too! This blog is not currently active. Links may not be current.

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Adventures in Paper Piecing

Today I dipped my toe into the waters of paper piecing. I have had this on my list of things to try for quite a while. I did some research over the last week or so and found a tutorial on YouTube that looked like something I could manage. It was made by Vanessa of Crafty Gemini. She created a template that you can download that she put in Google docs and can download here on her tutorial post. It was originally on Scribd (that I hate), and Scribd was insisting that I pay them a monthly fee and would not allow me to set preferences for privacy for Facebook. I hate that you have to log in through Facebook! Not a fan of Scribd.

ANYWAY... I downloaded and printed the new doc, put Littlest Miss down for a nap and got busy.

I had a few bumps along the way, like slicing off a corner somehow, or maybe I missed it when I was checking seam allowances.






And I also kept laying my fabric on wrong so I would get nothing left when I trimmed.

What happened???


Right?



Wrong!

 But eventually, after deciding to use the same size squares for all the pieces to make sure what I was doing was covered, I made 4 blocks.

-
Block that is ready for a trim.

Ta-da!

Still not very precise. :P


I don't know if this is something I will use often if at all. It was okay, but it requires a lot of thinking and going to the window and back, and I did not really enjoy the process like I do with piecing.
There is also a lot of waste.



It might be that I just need to practice and get used to the process. I have 3 more blocks I want to try, and then I will have a better idea of how I really truly feel about paper piecing.



  
I am trying new things and sharing them at:

 

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6 comments:

  1. Melissa CorryMay 3, 2012 at 12:55 PM

    It took me a while to wrap my head around paper piecing. It is just so backwards. And now that I haven't done it for a while I will probably have to totally relearn :) Way to give it a try thought and stick with it :)

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  2. TeresaMay 4, 2012 at 11:00 AM

    It took me a while to catch onto paper piecing too. The best video I've ever seen was by Carol Doak (the queen of paper piecing) but I don't think it's on youTube. In it's place however, this video, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xv2gKMx9CCM&feature=related is also quite clear. I really find using the card to fold the paper, and the Add-a-Quarter ruler essential tools. Practise some more and you're sure to find it fun, and start going for the smaller, more intricate patterns. They're amazing when you've got one done and it's perfect!

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  3. A.J. Dub. (Amy)May 4, 2012 at 11:28 AM

    Thanks Teresa! I will have to check out the video at naptime.

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  4. Kate RMay 4, 2012 at 6:10 PM

    Paper piecing was actually one of the first quilting techniques I learned when I was young and (as only kids can do!), once I knew how to do it, I didn't stop and made hundreds of blocks. I do understand how it takes a lot of thinking though and, even though I like it for certain things, now I use the regular piecing method much more often. Still, it is certainly great for getting accuracy. Great job with your block!

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  5. KristenMay 5, 2012 at 8:28 AM

    Nice block. I trim the attached piece first by folding the paper along that line. Then I know where to line the new piece up. Working and thinking backwards is the hardest part. I know the technique, but I am not it love with it. It is super useful and give beautiful corners!

    Amanda Jean showed a method her I think might help with fabric waste. That was my biggest problem too. working on my flying geese project. :)

    http://crazymomquilts.blogspot.com/2012/01/paper-piecing.html

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  6. CapitolaQuilterMay 5, 2012 at 9:18 AM

    I'm still trying to give the process a fighting chance myself. Printing out so many pages for one little block is something I have a hard time getting past. I see found you from amy lou who but I see your supernova, 1mil pillows and sewing summit buttons so maybe we've bumped into each other before!

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