Posts tagged: English paper piecing

Mid-year Progress

At the start of the year, I made a resolution to address all of my works in progress in one way or another. I cheated in a few ways (mostly unintentionally), as I only listed quilt projects and accidentally left off one entire quilt. Then, I spent most of the spring not sewing anything at all.

I haven’t made as much of a dent as I’d hoped, considering it’s the start of September (even my mid-year progress report is behind), but I have whittled down the list.

Finishes

Wheeling Ruffles (Sevillanas)—this quilt wasn’t on the list, but was one of my oldest planned quilts.
Altered Steps—my very first-ever quilt blocks (Altar Steps blocks) pieced into a finished quilt.

Progress Made

High-school T-shirt quilt—I pieced the entire top together in July, and the backing is in the mail. Status: plan to finish by the end of the year.

EPP Crosses (née Farmer’s Wife)—I’ve continued to slowly piece these EPP blocks together, although months go by between times I work on it. Status: long-term project, no estimated finish date.

Witches Bubble Brew—I sewed the background together, and added embroidery to the concept. There’s still a ton of qpplique and quilting to do. Status: plan to readdress in 2016.

Meta History quilt—I scavenged the scrap bin for 2.5″ squares from older projects, made sure I have squares from all of my recent projects, and modified my plan a bit. Now, the squares have a dedicated home and I’m committed to adding squares of the scraps of each quilt to this box before I call a project “done”. Status: long-term project, no estimated finish date.

Miniatures 9-patch—I’ve been using the strip-pieced chunks as leaders and enders for another project, and have 75% of the blocks finished. I can’t find the heart section that I pieced 5 years ago, so that will keep me from finishing until I figure out where I put it. Status: blocked, plan to finish by 2/2016 one way or another.

Still In The Box

Organic Spins
Drunkard’s Compass
Double Wedding Ring
2013 Sampler Blocks (Cottons, Etc. and Tiger Lily)

Two finishes, one more almost done, and progress on four others is a solid start. I have a couple of new projects I’d like to finish before the year is over, so we’ll see where the others fit in.

Perhaps 2016 will be the year of dusting off wearable projects that are as of yet unfinished.

Slow Crossing

Posted in Quilting

The last time I mentioned my english paper piecing project (blocks from Lucy Boston: Patchwork of the Crosses), I’d sewn together about fifteen pieces—not even half a block. That was two years ago. Unlike many of my once-mentioned (even twice-mentioned) projects, I have continued to work on this one, albeit unhurriedly.

Farmer’s Crossing piecing detail, a Lucy Boston Cross block partially finished — English paper piecing blocks, Rachael Arnold, October 2014.

I go through phases where I’m content basting the individual pieces to their paper foundations, and make a bit of progress that way.

Then, I go through phases of piecing some together, building blocks a bit at a time.

This is where it stands after a bit more work while we traveled to New Jersey to see family last weekend.

In another two years or so, I may even finish an entire block.

Lazy Work and Regency Workshops

Posted in Quilting

We took a trip to Trenton Falls this weekend. What was once one of the places to nature walk in the 19th Century is now only open two weekends a year. This is the first year I’ve been, and the short walk was definitely worth it. The falls and foliage were gorgeous.

Perhaps some year I can convince a group to go in 19th century clothing like in the days of old (granted, the trails are much improved and restrictive in modern times—we couldn’t see the falls further up stream this year). Carl just rolled his eyes when I suggested such a thing, however.

I think the changing seasons really got to me though, as I spent yesterday morning in bed, and the afternoon watching the second series of Sherlock, a bit of Doctor Who, and making progress on my first EPP block. It’s quite slow going, but fun nonetheless.

Finally, if you are in the northern New York area, consider going to the Women’s Day for the War of 1812 Bicentennial Workshops being held in Ogdensburg, NY on November 3. It’s a day of workshops including making a bonnet, chatelaine, and English dancing, as well as readings from women of the period. You can learn a bit more and get information about registering on the 1812 Quilt Challenge Blog. It’s a bit of a drive for me (2.5 hours or so), but it sounds like a good excuse to break out my Regency gown again (and take photos so that I can post all about it, finally).

I’m Jumping In: EPP

Posted in Quilting

… and possibly divorcing the Farmer, but more on that after I explain the EPP.

I’m really trying to get more involved in the local quilting community, and meet more local people. When the LQS announced that they are going to have a monthly sit-and-sew focusing on English Paper Piecing, I decided that it is a great way to do that, as well as try EPP, as I’ve been wanting to do lately, all in the cold winter months.

So I am, starting today.

It’s not something we have to pay for, but we are required to get one of two books and must work on an EPP project while we are there. The two books they specified are English Paper Piecing: Fresh New Quilts from Bloom Creek and Lucy Boston: Patchwork of the Crosses.

I bought English Paper Piecing, as it was the one in stock (and was cheaper, and struck me as a more general-purpose book, and “of the Crosses” didn’t seem my style, etc.), but I’m rather disappointed. For a book titled as a specific technique, one would think more than a few pages would be dedicated to that specific technique. But, that’s all there is. And, most of the projects in the book simply combine small bits of EPP with other techniques (mostly machine piecing and applique). I don’t have an alternative to recommend, but frankly, if you’re looking for a beginning EPP book, I don’t think this is the right one unless you’re particularly drawn to one of the projects.

Meanwhile, I looked up Lucy Boston. She was a rather interesting lady! Somehow, I made it through childhood having never read her books (a point I plan on remedying post haste). But, her patchworks are very interesting as well, so I think the second book may join my library eventually (although I have doubts that it is a great resource on EPP too). There’s a coffee table-style book about her as well (Patchworks of Lucy Boston), which I wish my local library system had, but alas.

As to my statement about divorcing the Farmer—I haven’t even opened the box in which my Farmer’s Wife project lives for over a year, yet I truly love the fabrics I was using. So, I think I’m going to shift them to this EPP project and plan a way to use the Farmer’s Wife blocks I did complete (perhaps minus a few I wasn’t happy with, plus a couple more if I feel motivated) in the EPP quilt. They could make an interesting border or a patchwork medallion—but most of all, they will get out of the box and into a quilt top someday.

These are the fabrics I started with for FWQAL

I think it’s a good compromise. An amicable split, if you will. Here the blocks are again, looking bright and happy last August before I put them away.

Now I just need to sort out the type of EPP project I want to make before the first event. I better get brainstorming!

Do you have a favorite EPP book?