Monday, October 9, 2017

Evaluation Time

Now, I have completed 36 blocks using paperless paper piecing.  I absolutely loved doing it!  However, I find it has a couple of downsides.

1.  I had to stand at my ironing board the whole time I was gluing.  Two or three hours on my feet standing pretty still is very tiring.  I could have worked sitting down, but my room is so small and I would have been jumping up and down for fabric in a very cramped space.  The iron (in my situation) would be awkward.  I am sure you could do this sitting down, but it didn't work well for me.

2.  After stitching the seams each block shrunk up a tiny bit because I had 14 pieces and therefore 14 seams.  You don't usually think about this, but when it came time to square up the blocks, the shrinkage was visible.  The end result is that I am having a dickens of a time matching the millions of points in my design.

TIP:  If I had to do it over I would make a squaring block (guide) that is a little smaller.  I could do this on my computer and transfer it to template plastic, but it is too late now.  I will work with what I have and do the best I can.  It is looking fine, but I am being very critical.

Squaring triangle.
 When doing the usual paper piecing I always print my pattern with the seam allowance showing.  When I am done sewing I just place a ruler on the line and use the rotary cutter.  Any shrinkage is incorporated in the paper pattern at the same time.  I believe it would all fit together better.

TIP:  In the future and for your interest, the paperless method is great for simple blocks, but next time I will use traditional paper piecing for complex blocks with lots of seams.

Short blog today.  I make birthday cards for the grandchildren from the many photos I have taken of them.  We have five birthdays in November, and I have to spend time getting those all made well ahead of Thanksgiving.  My creative energies are going in a different direction at the moment.

Sew some happy seams this week.  I wish you happy, creative moments.


6 comments:

  1. PPP is very interesting. I'm just beginning to get comfortable with FPP. I hope your blocks all work out and look just the way you want them to. :)

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  2. I bet the grands love getting birthday cards with photos of them... I assume you use photos taken over the years. Have you shared any of the cards on your blog?

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    Replies
    1. I haven't posted any, but I will since you have shown interest. I love doing them, and find them a great creative outlet. Reports are that the kids love them. One of the kids is in college and gave me the wrong address. She spent two weeks tracking down her card, which had ended up at the Morman church. Thankfully a nice, safe place for her go pick it up.

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  3. I do lots of paperless paper piecing, I love the accuracy achieved and I try to convert all blocks to PPP. But since you had it highlighted, I clicked on the link you shared.
    I was a bit surprised,that is such a unnecessarily complicated method, I'd go crazy.
    Try it this way (just a random page that came up when I googled PPP) http://bryanhousequilts.com/2015/08/paperless-paper-piecing-tutorial.html
    It uses freezer paper, but I've modified it to just use regular paper by simply pinning the first piece of fabric to the paper. I can use each foundation over and over and over until it wears out.
    That said, I'm looking forward to seeing your design :)

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    Replies
    1. I have tried that in the past and it worked pretty well, but the freezer paper's sticking power was undependable. I ended up pinning as I went. I didn't even think of doing that way. I'll have to try it again. Thanks for the reminder.

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  4. Paper piecing is my new found love. I'll have to explore paperless paper piecing. When I first began I used freezer paper and did not like that at all.

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