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Sunday, July 23, 2017

Slow Projects

EPP project from Make Modern
In the last couple of week, I've barely made it up to my sewing room (except to sleep since it's also my bedroom!). I was wondering if it was a summer heat problem so I checked out what I was doing last July. Turns out my sewing machine was in the shop and I was doing hand appliqué and was going to try my hand at English Paper Piecing. This is pretty much what I'm doing now, except that my machine is running great.

Isn't the pillow project to the right lovely? I was going to EPP this project since it was made up of triangular pieces (back then I wasn't impressed with hexies - how some things have changed!)

Well I did attempt to make the pillow top. What a mess! It's really not the pattern's fault. I just love the Make Modern magazine from Australia. The problem was the fabric I used (not enough contrast), but mostly it was a combination of my accuracy-challenge and not having a clue as to what I was doing :-) Sometimes you just have to chalk things up to experience and learn from it!

It would seem that I didn't really learn my lesson from a year ago - although I had a gut feeling that this would happen!

The EPP  for Block 7
- just to prove that I made it!
I was thrilled when I got the latest block pattern for Growing Up QAL. There were two patterns for English Paper Piecing. You can probably see where this is going.... I do have a picture of this one. It's not a total dud (and this time it wasn't because I didn't know what I was doing!), but I won't be using it for the final quilt. I didn't even bother attaching it to anything. It's not obvious in the photo but the EPP part is a couple of inches larger than the 12½" block that it's supposed to go on!

My version of Alida's second option for Block 7

Again, the pattern wasn't the problem. The problem is me trying to make an accurate EPP template from a printed pattern. I've decided to give up on that and only use pre-made EPP shapes.


Of course, I couldn't just leave block 7 in this shape. So I put together a block similar to Alida's second option.  And yes, it's made with pre-made hexies since these are the only shapes I have so far.

Midweek Maker #83




Update: Great news! My Block 7 hexies were featured on Midweek Makers. Thanks Susan!

I've also been working on the other hexies and put some together. I remember reading on someone's blog about finishing these without binding. I really hope I saved the link in my favourites!

I just love my hexie flowers!
What I learned
  • I really need to listen to my gut - I could have saved myself hours of work on block 7!
  • I made the shapes from my daughter's scrap booking paper. The weight of the paper worked well for EPP.
  • It's not the first time that I've had problems with value - and it probably won't be the last. Think contrast!
  • I've got all kinds of projects that I should be working on - but this heat and humidity is dulling my brain (even if I avoid going outside!) 
  • The weather is less humid since I started this post. I FMQ two more blocks for my One Monthly Goal (OMG). Part of the problem was the weather but I realised that I was bored of using stencils - so I made one with feathers and now I can tackle the stencils again 😊Yeah!
About half of the blocks are quilted!

Related Links
Linking Parties: I am linking up to Growing Up QAL Month 7 as well as these link-ups. Let's see what everyone is up to! Slow Sunday Stitching, Oh Scrap!, Finished or Not Friday, Monday Making, Main Crush Monday, Design Wall Monday, Linky Tuesday, Midweek Makers, Let's Bee Social, Needle & Thread Thursday,




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17 comments:

  1. PaulaB quilts23 July 2017 at 14:26

    Love your hexies. Use whatever works best. Those paper pieces are ready to go and so accurate. Can't wait to see more.

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    1. Andree G. Faubert31 July 2017 at 22:36

      Thanks Paula, it's really coming along. Hopefully it will be a little table topper by the end of the month since it's my OMG!

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  2. Anonymous23 July 2017 at 18:45

    I have to admit I buy ready made hexies otherwise it gets more and more inaccurate.The colours are so cheerful

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  3. Anonymous23 July 2017 at 18:50

    ..in your group of hexagons! so that got left off..

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    1. Andree G. Faubert31 July 2017 at 22:37

      Thanks. I used up all of my favourite scraps on this one! Although I don't like spending money on fancy quilting notions, the ready made hexies are a must!

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  4. Quilter Kathy25 July 2017 at 11:41

    The heat and humidity really does me in... luckily we haven't had much of it this year. Hope you enjoy your hand stitching this week!

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    1. Andree G. Faubert31 July 2017 at 22:39

      Thanks Kathy. It turns out that I had the perfect Saturday and spent most of it outside embroidering. Life is good!

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  5. Beth @ Cooking Up Quilts25 July 2017 at 20:26

    I've had lots of quilty lessons because of me not knowing what I was doing! LOL That's how we learn. I've got a box full of hexies that aren't put together yet. Maybe I should put away the knitting and dig out those hexies! Thanks for sharing this week on Main Crush Monday.

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    1. Andree G. Faubert31 July 2017 at 22:41

      Thanks Beth. Yup, I have many of those too! The hexies will be there if and when you get tired of the knitting!

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  6. Miaismine25 July 2017 at 23:51

    Your persistence with EPP is awesome! It’s well worth the effort and your hexies are so very pretty! I’m so enjoying your progress! A book that helped me along the way was Quilting on the Go by Jessica Alexandrakis. Oh, by the way I usually use pre-cut papers. I’ve had great success with the print outs that Wild Olive uses in her clubs. Thank you for sharing!

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    1. Andree G. Faubert31 July 2017 at 22:56

      Thanks so much Miaismine for the book recommendation. It looks great! It's now on my wish list :-) and Wild Olive is great. Thanks so much for introducing her to me!

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  7. AlidaP27 July 2017 at 20:10

    I love how your reinterpreted the block with hexies! I feel your pain about sewing this summer: it has been crazy slow for me too! But as long as we keep our creative juice going, we will get back into super busy very soon!! Thanks for sharing your projects!!

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    1. Andree G. Faubert31 July 2017 at 22:58

      Thanks Alida. I'm amazed by all the projects that you're working on (the ones that aren't secret!) I'm really enjoying my slow stitching time.

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  8. Kate29 July 2017 at 07:52

    Love your hexie flowers. You don't learn if you don't do, so it sounds like you made a lot of progress on figuring out what doesn't work. Happy stitching this weekend. We get high 80's this week versus the high 90's and 100's, hope you get a bit of a cool down too.

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    1. Andree G. Faubert30 July 2017 at 18:25

      Thanks Kate.I did learn a lot - and finishing the hexies has been a real learning experience! Yesterday was the perfect stitching day and I spent it outside making more hexies and embroidering. Life is good!

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  9. Susan29 July 2017 at 09:40

    I, too, found this block tricky, and didn't even attempt the second one. Seems you found yourself a good work around for the second block - pretty colors on both! Thanks for sharing!

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    1. Andree G. Faubert31 July 2017 at 22:59

      Thanks Susan. Good to know that starch is the secret! I'm glad that I was able to use the pre-made hexies - it made life that much easier :-)

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