Star & Hexagon EPP Quilt Update - November

Welcome

I am slowly making progress on my star and hexagon English Paper Pieced (EPP) quilt, whilst working on other projects too.

Here is a count of what I have to date using 2" diamonds and hexagons:

15 star and diamond slabs, that's 8 stars and 16 diamonds per slab or  total of 120 stars and 240 hexagons

5 half star and diamond slabs (I created these to add a bit more width to the quilt), that's 4 stars and 8 diamonds per slab or 20 stars and 40 hexagons

10 white side border pieces each consisting of 8 hexagons and 2 diamonds, a total of 80 hexagons and 20 diamonds

7 top/bottom border pieces each consisting of 8 hexagons and 3 diamonds, totaling 56 hexagons and 21 diamonds to date

Were you playing along?  the total completed to date is:

• 140 stars OR 840 diamonds
• 416 hexagons
• 41 white diamonds

I have most of the missing border pieces basted, I am just piecing them in my production line like method.

To complete the borders I need to stitch another 56 hexagons and 21 diamonds and then complete the corner pieces

All of these sections fit together a little like a jigsaw, the blue sections below are the ones I have completed to date:

The end is in sight.  I plan on free motion quilting this on my domestic machine in 3 sections and then joinging and completing.

For previous posts on this quilt, click here.

Thanks for popping by

Vicki

English Paper Piecing Basting Tip

Welcome,

No matter your basting technique, whether you glue baste or thread baste, whether you baste through your templates or around the back, the direction you baste your pieces is important.

Close up of front and back of star with interlocking tips

This post isn't about teaching you how to baste, but the importance of a consistent basting technique.

To ensure that all of your pieces nest neatly on the back as these do you need to baste in the same direction on every piece

Close up of basted diamonds

As you can see from these diamond backs I have basted all of them anti-clockwise - my direction of choice.  I baste EVERYTHING in this direction.

Close up of basted diamonds

I start at one side on every shape and move the piece in my hand clockwise so that I am basting it anti clockwise.

Close up of basted diamonds

As you can see from the font of the diamonds, all of the tails are going in the same direction.

Close up of front and back of star with interlocking tips

No matter the shape, consistent basting will ensure that the tails always lock into place and you will have a quilt that will lie nice and flat.

Happy Stitching
Vicki

EPP Hexagon and Star Quilt Update

Welcome,

I have been slowly working on my English Paper Pieced Hexagon and Star Quilt and it is getting closer to a finish ... happy dance!

Vicki Sews English Paper Pieced Diamond and Star Quilt progress

As always, I work by creating slabs or sections of the quilt, ensuring that I am working on pieces that don't get too large and unwieldy to manhandle.

Vicki Sews English Paper Pieced Diamond and Star Quilt progress

You can see more on my slab construction process here.

I have now finished all of the main slabs and am working on the border pieces, I'm keeping the border simple in plain white.

Vicki Sews English Paper Pieced Diamond and Star Quilt progress

The current size is approximately 86 x 73 inches, I am happy with the width and believe that with the top and bottom border the height will be suitable too for an oversized quilt on our queen size bed.

Here is a visual of the work left to complete

Vicki Sews English Paper Pieced Diamond and Star Quilt progress visual

I am certainly getting closer to a finish and that makes me happy - I'm getting closer to having this on my bed!

To see more regular peeks at this quilt and it's progress follow me on facebook.

Thank you for popping by, I've got to go and cut some more 2inch hexies.
Vicki

EPP Diamond Star Quilt - A real progress post!

Welcome

This is how my quilt 'slabs' are looking at the moment, they are starting to cover the queen sized bed.

I currently have 6 x slabs and 5 x half slabs.  I intend on having a 5 x 3.5 configuration:

Quilt Stats so far:

• 408 diamonds sewn into 6 pointed stars
• 136 hexagons 

On hand I currently have

• 'lot's' of basted diamonds
• 23 half stars
• 14 full stars
• 3 basted hexagons - I ran out of white fabric, but I have now rectified this!!

To complete the quilt I need:

• 46.5 stars or 279 diamonds
• 141 hexagons

I also plan to put a white 5-10 inch border on so that will be even more white diamonds and hexagons, but I haven't quite worked out the configuration for that yet - I'll just have to save that for another day.

You can see further posts about this quilt by following the links below:

• My slab process/tutorial
• A work in progress

Thank you for popping by

Vicki

EPP Diamond Star Quilt - My Process

Welcome!

I have noticed in an English Paper Piecing facebook group I am in that newbies regularly ask how to piece the shapes together. I find that this is personal, though interesting to see how others do it.

So, here I am sharing how I am putting together my EPP star quilt.

As my quilt is scrappy I start by randomly picking 3 diamonds and sewing them together as shown:

When I have a nice pile of half stars I'll sew the halves together randomly:

When I have a nice stack of stars I sew them into larger 'slabs':

This picture shows 5 slabs on top of each other. This size allows me to keep my sections flat as they aren't too large, yet I am starting to put my top together.

To make the slab I start with a star and add hexagons around it:

Next I add 5 stars around this:

Next I fill in the hexagons:

You may have noticed that I prefer to use continuous thread where possible!

Nearly there!

Now I store these until I'm ready to put the top together.  Each of these will fit together easily without having to add additional pieces and this allows me to ensure that I distribute colours, fabrics etc throughout the quilt.

I think that I am going to need 15 of these to complete my quilt top ... that decision hasn't been made yet!!

I hope this visual is useful and that you were able to follow it.

Thank you for popping by
Vicki

English Paper Pieced Star Quilt - A Work In Progress

Welcome,

If you hadn't already realised, I struggle to stick to one project at a time!

I am currently taking a break from my Farmer's Wife English Paper Pieced Quilt and started a 2 inch 8 point star quilt too.

Those of you that follow me on facebook will have seen the above image before - this is my happy spot where I sit of an evening and sew.  That basket - it holds all the goodies!

I thought I'd share how I work, I have pieces at all stages as I tend to get bored easily and this way it keeps it interesting

I have some paper pieces and fabric cut ready for basting 

I've used all fabrics that I  already had stashed away and haven't purchased any specifically for this project (yet).

As I baste the diamonds and hexagons I throw them in the paper bag to keep them together and use it as a lucky dip once I start sewing them together

Next I started sewing scrappy half stars - 3 diamonds.
When I sew these together, to keep it scrappy I go with whatever comes out of the bag, but of course there are some exceptions!  I don't allow the same fabrics in a star and try to avoid similar coloured fabrics, ie two bright yellow's in a star.

When these started adding up I started pairing the half stars and full stars were born.

Then I start joining hexagons and creating a finished 'slab' or section of the quilt - these will fit together even if I turn them around to disperse the colours

I tend to work in this fashion with a quilt in many stages.  The sections that I create will join together, this allows me to feel like I am making progress and ensure that fabrics are dispersed fairly evenly.

Thank you for popping by,
Vicki

A long weekend of hand stitching

We are now at the end of our long weekend - it does feel like a break from work so that is always good.

I have spent some time on a number of hand stitching projects - I just don't seem to be able to stick to one at a time!

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Knitted Scarf

The first cab off the ranks was a scarf that I started knitting about 10 months ago and it has been sat neglected for some time.  Last winter I completed a few knitting projects, but this one just didn't get finished and as winter is again approaching it seems like a good reason to get it completed.

I am a slow knitter, and once I got the hang of the pattern again I was able to sit in front of the TV and knit away.

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EPP Flower Quilt

I received my April list for my hexagon flower swap so promptly made the flowers for my partner Sandra from California.

She had no preference for colours or fabrics so I decided to try some fussy cutting - it's harder than you realise.  Well, the cutting isn't, but basting it so that it is neat and 'flow's' is.  I am not happy with the chevron flower so added a third for luck!

As usual I also completed 2 flowers for myself in pinks and purples.

This is a slow project - 4 flowers a month and no more.  So many options for the layout, but I'm sure when the time comes I'll manage to think of something.

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EPP Farmer's Wife Daughter Quilt

I have got the next 4 blocks for my Farmer's Wife quilt ready.  I cut out the paper pieces and fabric and place them in a bag until completed.

I have also basted some cornerstones and sashing pieces.

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EPP Diamond Star Quilt

And just because, I started cutting 60 degree diamond templates and fabric and then basting them.  

I love the look of star quilts, with a plain white hexagon in between. 

I have just started cutting into scrap and stash fabric choosing colours and fabrics I like, mainly ones with softer and not so saturated colour.  But as you can see there are no strict and hard rules.  The white hexagons will also soften it.

The farmers Daughter Quilt has to take priority, but sometimes a project where less concentration is required is great, I know you know what I mean!

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Well, they should all keep me busy for a little while.

I didn't manage to get to the sewing machine, but I did enjoy the relaxing weekend (around study, work and chores).  I do have a couple of other works in progress when I do get back to the machine though.

Thanks for popping by

Vicki