With lots of perseverance and the help of my trusty seam ripper, I managed to complete the block that turned me totally off paper piecing from my Sugar Block Club last year. Though not perfect, I think it looks pretty darn good and from a distance you wouldn't notice the imperfections.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQv-f16pz0aY16ivoj3GUO1uDgYU10rXt8Ufl-xY7s6aVKjFq4JKpPt_1SPW2xq_Wb7k6Mak89xDAcAHAm5YXPw3zxnZxAFlXGL8xxBoIajPLSlTqNHNzo8nBoNq6_jC8avZbh8nTQUxI0/s400/blogger-image--1124374504.jpg) |
This orange looks very red in the picture, but trust me it is orange. My daughter told me she thought this block was pretty. I'm glad she likes it because I am never making it again. |
And then, pleased with myself for finishing all my 2013 blocks, I laid them out to take a picture.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWw4iWuX7-oONzZyxYIAROGOgK6HMwTxZG4n5Htlun-xnqa1_eVNHnkJSF1cb8f47F_1b1QIEDt9VLvnYcFI5HAWmwCkL1JM_98VeI-DqXcYPs6cxPMVP7YHNMlwC2mWYtsbNWGcahNZF9/s400/blogger-image-1183419623.jpg) |
All...11 blocks?? |
That's right. Somehow I managed to forget a block and ended up with just 11 blocks. So I looked up which block I was missing. It turned out to be the Star of Wonder Block and...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzH_JWQehbBZeq-U9EDOAOi-gdXZDDglazZnoq4ej9Fqx-cOjT-m59cY4XcokwJOoCzfINHIdXrCxqoJo6ynCcS2SZe9U8C0s6kreqMCk9LE0IIZUvDlBc5ke9lZBwBiiZ92-RTI-6CHWR/s400/blogger-image-377335296.jpg) |
Pretty block from Stitchery Dickory Dock. |
...it is paper pieced! I wanted to cry. And laugh. And shout. And drink wine. Instead, I calmly printed out the templates and spent the next few days working on the last block.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6O_6yi93PzqKvQF3ufkIqKaw1iBlG8F3GY7UNPggPdMMij5tjXwdEt1F_joAEHkcTRDDFeR8Uvo_X_r7FAi0McSYm14xoTp0OhYDlNrmwEw9VdxxI5foWbo3nsWJ5LlVdKCf7pA1aF8Md/s400/blogger-image--837053570.jpg) |
I really like how this shows the before and after of paper piecing. For a newbie it was hard to imagine at first, but as I've done a few now this trimming stage is the most rewarding. |
The points weren't as finicky on this one and I was very, very careful with my pinning which is why, I think, this block was less frustrating than the other one.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicThGyRITFASMTDKICWPj69iiJ7wlhFoCqAQ-0m1G_Za81Q4NCiVnRnJO5id2RFfFrE9VTKpx1iZHldgI4g0GcOhRvJwrQvs3b25KLAtSuvzQkSqCG6IEvvOQhPaxTJUyNWsh8R0SR__rT/s400/blogger-image--1853770583.jpg) |
Final block! |
A few things I filed away for future paper piecing:
1. My quilty friend A recommended tiny pins for pinning the seams. She even bought me some. She was right, they helped.
2. My quilty friend C suggested I pin the block for precise lining up by looking at the front instead of the back. That helped a great deal!
3. My new machine is so awesome and I could more easily play with stitch length. On my machine a 1.4 stitch length ended up being perfect for the pre-perforating and piecing.
4. With time and experience comes greater skill. I think I also struggled less with this last block because I've been sewing for an extra year!
I'm glad I'm done, though I think this will remain a UFO for a bit still because I feel no inspiration to tackle the sashing. I know I am going to do a scrappy binding and use the famous IKEA nummer print on the back. This quilt will end up staying home...I picture it as a hanging-out-on-the-couch kind of quilt.
And I might do paper piecing again. But only for something really spectacular that I can't resist!
Lynn