Paper Piecing Recap

NHMQG Member's Guide to Paper Piecing

At the February meeting member's created think groups to come up with tips and tricks for paper piecers. Here is what our brains collectively have to say ...

TIPS:  


IN GENERAL: 

• No Steam, it causes warping and distortion
• Very small stitch length, 1.5mm 
• When sewing a piece start 1/4" before the line being sewn
• Instead of seam ripping, cut fabric close to seam and pull away, sew the next seam a smidge over from the original seam
• Go for chain piecing if possible
• Print 100%, make sure to check "Actual Size" in the printer's settings and always print from the same printer to ensure consistency  

TIME SAVING:

• Don't skimp on fabric pieces, or use templates for more involved patterns and don't be afraid to waste
• Keep small cutting mat, rotary cutter, ruler, and iron near the machine
• A light box is helpful when tracing patterns, or place a light under a glass top table
• Cut all fabric ahead of time and label

REMOVING PAPER: 

• Use tweezers to remove small bits of paper stuck in the stitches
• Remove paper in the opposite order the pieces were sewn
• When using regular copy paper, the cheaper the better also pre-score the paper before sewing to make it easier to remove

TOOLS (nice but not necessary): 

PAPER

• Carol Doak Foundation Paper - paper designed especially for paper piecing, can be printed on, no shrinkage, and rips away easily
• Newsprint - a cheaper alternative that also can be printed on and also rips away nicely, some newsprints shrink be sure to test first

EXTRAS: 

• Elmer's Repositioning Glue Stick - or a cheap glue stick to position the first piece. 
• Add a Quarter Inch Ruler - available in 6 and 12 inches, speeds up trimming
• Wooden Iron or Boning Tool - to help crease paper and fold back fabric

*Disclaimer: Links are to provide a visual of each product.  The guild does not market or endorse any retailers or brands.

February’s Dutch Windmill Block

Image used with permission

At the February meeting, we introduced the Dutch Windmill Block, from Red Delicious Life. It’s a beginner paper-piecing block, perfect for those guild members who want to try this technique or practice for our June workshop with Amy Garro!

This block may seem humble, but something magical happens when it’s pieced in a quilt:

Image used with permission

We will be donating the finished quilt to a yet-to-be-chosen charity. To participate, use the pattern handed out at the February meeting. You need four copies to make a complete block; you may photocopy (just double-check that copies are the exact same size as the original) or trace the pattern.

Some well-seasoned paper piecers in the guild—thank you!—cautioned against printing from different printers for this project to avoid discrepancies in the pattern dimensions (this has nothing to do with the pattern itself or with your printer’s settings), so be sure to use the provided pattern instead of printing one out yourself. 

For sections A1 and A5, use the white fabric handed out at the meeting. For section A4, use the navy fabric handed out. You may use any color you want from your scraps for sections A2 and A3 as long as you (1) use solids, (2) use the same solids in all four quadrants of the block, and (3) do not use white or navy. Please keep the paper on the pattern after you’re done sewing.

Read the full tutorial: At Red Delicious Life

Unfinished size: 12.5”

Due date: At the monthly meeting on March 15

Questions: Click on the email button in the sidebar to send us any questions about this project

Bias Tape Quilts

Have tons of bias tape with no end goal for the stuff?  

Here is something different, bias tape quilts!  That's right use your bias tape as appliqué. 

Was your mind just blown?  If not check out some examples below of what you can do with this technique ... 

Nicole @ Mama Loves Quilts 

Rocket 88 by Latifah Saafir

Here are some links on the how to's of bias tape appliqué. 

Mighty Lucky Quilting Club: January Challenge 

#mightyluckyquiltclub ** More photos here ***

3 Quilts that Will Make you Want Bias Tape 

4 Things you Need to Know to Make a Bias Strip Quilt 
QuiltCon 2015: Bias Tape Challenge
Make Your Own Bias Tape

February Meeting Reminder

Happy almost Valentine's Day to all of our members! Our next meeting is quickly approaching on February 16th. We will be at our usual meeting place, The First Baptist Church in Nashua, at 7pm. There is a lot to be excited about this month, find out more below.

RETREAT: 

There is still time to sign up for Spring retreat! Our spring retreat is April 14-17 and will be at the Franciscan Guest House in Kennebunkport, ME. You can stay for 2 or 3 nights and single or double rooms are available. Pricing is:

Single Room:

3 nights - $310

2 nights - $210

Double Room:

3 nights - $210

2 nights - $145

The retreat costs includes your room, breakfast each day and a 6 foot long table for sewing. Payment will be due at the meeting.

CHARITY BLOCKS DUE: 

In December we passed out fabric to make blocks as part of the Janome Challenge. If you made blocks please bring them in January. If you are going to get started on your blocks this weekend, here is the post that outlines the challenge!

T-SHIRTS: 
Nothing is better than coming home and putting on that favorite t-shirt!  We have your new favorite tee coming your way. At the next meeting we will be pre-ordering the shirts below for $20 each. They are American Apparel Tri-blend, basically the softest tee you will ever own! Sizing is unisex. 

RAFFLES: 

• 3 - 1 yard cuts of Gardenvale by Jen Kingswell 
  
• 11 - Fat quarters Butterflies by Lizzy House 
  

And of course our monthly giveaway will be a Charm pack of Tula Pink's True Colors

January Show-N-Tell

Our guild members are off to a great quilting year! Take a look at the amazing pieces everyone brought to January Show-N-Tell

In December we passed out fabric to make blocks as part of the Janome Challenge. These are the blocks made as of our January meeting! 

The quilt we made for Bridges was finished and shown at our January meeting. The quilt was sold for $2,700 at auction! Thank you to Michael Miller Fabrics for donating the fabric, Beth Helfter of Eva Paige Designs for the wonderful pattern and all members who worked on the "Rainbow in the Snow" quilt.

Betty finished her Fair Isle Christmas quilt and doesn't it look wonderful?!

Nancy finished her quilt from the Jackie Gering workshop (and it matched the outfit she was wearing!) and she made this lovely quilt. 

Michelle finished a quilt she was gifting, but the colors ran when she washed it! Find out how she saved this beautiful quilt on her blog. 

Ellen showed off one of the zipper pouches she made for her twin sister, Eileen, and a colored pencil quilt she made as a gift. Wouldn't the colored pencil quilt be the perfect gift for a loved one who enjoys coloring?!

Speaking of Eileen, she worked on this quilt at retreat and gave it as a Christmas gift! She called the quilt "peppermint twist" and I bet the baby who receive it will love it for years to come!

The front, back and quilting of this quilt made by Donna are so lovely!

Patty made this beautiful mini quilt and a full sized quilt as part of a low volume swap she participated in.

We all love the colors Dee used on her quilt and the quilting is lovely!

Betsy worked on this quilt at retreat and brought it to show us in January.

Kathy made this quick and easy table runner and named it 'Olaf'. This super cute runner is totally worth melting for!

Kathy also made this really cool quilt all with minky! How cozy!

Sandy brought in a Fold'n Stitch wreath she made. Wouldn't this make a great holiday gift!

That's all until February! Our next meeting will be on February 16th and we can't wait to see what our members have been making.