November EPP Flower Swap Update

Welcome

All of my November Inchy Hexagon Flower Swap obligations are completed:

2 flowers made and sent to Grit in Germany

She had requested blue flowers with white centers

2 flowers were received from Janet in Canada

They are beautiful and go wonderfully with my Garden

And 2 flowers for my own pink and purple garden

I'm really liking these fabrics at the moment.

I have my December flowers ready to post, I just have to try and get to the post office!

Thank you for popping by

Vicki

Intoducing English Paper Piecing Plus Pieces

Welcome,

As usual I can't help myself and I have more than one English Paper Piecing (EPP) project on the go at once.

I have been playing with patterns, I'm starting my EPP Plus journey with something simple:

However with just these 3 shapes - 'house', square and half square triangle other patterns can also be created:

Of course, you don't have to stick with the plus, other patterns can be created:

 I have also created downloadable templates for EPP which are avalable from my Etsy store so that you can create some of your own

These are available with a 1 inch house and a 2 inch house (measured across the bottom)

Please share any pieces you create using these downloads.

Thanks for popping by

Vicki

Bermuda's Quilt - A Finished Quilt

Welcome,

I have a new finish - Bermuda's Quilt:

My good friend, Bermuda, had been collecting fabrics to have a quilt made and way back in June I got these beautiful jewel toned fabrics from her:

Bermuda's Fabric Pull

I knew Bermuda's room was quite dark and that she wanted a quilt that would be bright and airy.  This was confirmed by the mosaic of inspiration quilts that she found and sent to me:

1. Ruby, Pearl & Opal Quilt  2. Unknown  3. Unknown
4. Unknown 5. Charming  6. Kissing Fish Baby Quilt
7. Unkown  8. Unknown  9. Unknown

(I haven't been able to locate sources for all of these quilts, if you know, please provide details so that I can provide credits for them)

I also knew that I wanted to do something original and that I had recently purchased an equilateral triangle ruler, which I had yet to use, so I went with diamonds.

Diamonds are forever, as are good friends.

Bermuda also likes dragon fly's so I included some in this quilt for her

I pieced this into 3 sections and then went crazy with the free motion quilting

The quilting took a LOT longer than I had planned and much longer than the piecing

The finished quilt is a double size finishing at 81 x 84 inches after washing (shown here on a queen bed)

I am so very happy with my first finished full sized quilt. And Bermuda was thrilled with it too - WIN!

I have LOTS more photos, so expect to see another post starring this quilt!

Thank you for popping by
Vicki

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

October EPP Flower Update

Welcome,

My October Swap partner was Grit from Germany and she asked for blue flowers with white centres.  I chose two floral fabrics.

I received these two beauties from Irene in Texas along with a beautiful card, they fit into my garden beautifully.

And as usual I made two for my own garden, I went with purples this month

I now have 37 pink and purple flowers, I'm aiming for a bed sized quilt but haven't quite decided on the setting so am unsure how many I need just yet.

Thanks for popping by,
Vicki

Introducing English Paper Pieced Muddled Geese

Welcome

I've been working on some new English Paper Pieced (EPP) pieces lately, I've been really enjoying doing my hand piecing and relaxing at the end of the day

I've wanted to complete a flying geese quilt for a long time but have been intimidated by the points and decided that I have much more control over that with EPP

I've used large geese for this quilt, each 'goose' is meant to be 6" x 3" finished, BUT ... I printed my own shapes and forgot to uncheck the 'fit to page' option meaning that they were reduced in size ... a rooky error that I haven't made in a LONG time.

I didn't notice until I had finished it - so this quilt is made with 5.5" x 2.25" flying geese, making it a finish of 33 inches square

I've raided my scraps for this quilt trying to choose pairs of fabrics that incorporate a low(ish) and high(ish) volume fabric, but more importantly, pairs that co-ordinated with each other.

I always print and cut my own templates.  

I created downloadables that can be purchased on etsy, I shared information about them here, or you can find them in a variety of sizes in my Etsy store here.

Just remember to uncheck the 'fit to page' option when printing!

Now I have to try and make some time to get back to the machine to quilt it.

Thank you for popping by,

Vicki

September EPP Flower Update

Welcome,

This update is a little late, but I am pleased to say that the flowers were completed and posted promptly

I made these for Maggie in Ohio USA. She asked for civil war fabric flowers.  These are not fabrics that I have in my stash and I wasn't 100% sure what I was looking for, I hope she's happy with them.

I made these two to add to my flower garden

I'm still loving the variations of pink and purple, I now have 33 flowers.

I am beginning to think about what setting I will use for these for my bed sized quilt.  There are so many options out there - for just a few, check out my pinterest board.
I'm fairly sure that I have got idea's for one layout a week for a year - maybe that's a challenge to myself!!

Once that decision is made I'll know how many flowers I actually need!

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I also completed a friendship flower to send to Patty who recently lost her husband of 50 years, this was arranged by one of the ladies in the English Paper Piecing group on facebook

We all made flowers with yellow centres for friendship and joy with blue petals for health and healing.

I've already completed my October flowers but I'll wait until I know they've been received before I share them with you.

Thanks for popping by,
Vicki

Introducing my downloadable EPP Basic Shapes pack

Welcome!

Today I want to introduce you to my new downloadable EPP basic shapes templates with printable pieces for English Paper Piecers that are now available through my Etsy shop.

Each download includes the shown 4 shapes that enable you to make a multitude of patterns based around the flying geese shape
  - hexagon
 - diamond
 - square
 - triangle

There are many possible combinations for these shapes, a few are shown below

There are currently 4 versions available to create your own amazing EPP creations in the following sizes:
 - 1/2 inch
 - 3/4 inch
 - 1 inch
 - 2 inch

Additionally if you require the files with different size shapes I can create these for you - just drop me an email: vicki {dot} isaacs {at} bigopond {dot} com

Please note that these downloadable templates include the SHAPES ONLY, no patterns so that you can be as creative as you like.

I am also working on pattern sheets using these templates and other downloadable templates using other shapes.  Please follow along on here, or facebook to keep updated.

If there is something that you'd specifically like to see, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Thank you 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

Introducing my EPP Flying Geese Downloadable Printable Templates

Welcome!

Today I want to introduce you to my new downloadable flying geese templates with printable pieces for English Paper Piecers that are now available through my Etsy shop.

Each download includes the shown 4 shapes that enable you to make a multitude of patterns based around the flying geese shape
 - large half square triangle
 - small half square triangle
 - square
 - parallelogram

Together the two half square triangle shapes make your traditional flying geese

You can make all of the patterns with just these two shapes, however by adding squares ...

and parallelograms the patterns take on a more seamless look

There are 5 versions available to create finished geese at the following sizes:
 - 1 x 2 inch
 - 1.5 x 3 inch
 - 2 x 4 inch
 - 2.5 x 5 inch
 - 3 x 6 inch
I also offer a bulk lot of all 5 sets of templates.
Additionally if you require the files with different size finished geese I can create these for you - just drop me an email: vicki {dot} isaacs {at} bigopond {dot} com

Please note that these downloadable templates include the SHAPES ONLY, no patterns so that you can be as creative as you like.

I am also working on pattern sheets using these templates and other downloadable templates using other shapes.  Please follow along on here, or facebook to keep updated.

If there is something that you'd specifically like to see, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Finally to celebrate these with me, if you use the coupon code FG0915 you will receive a 20% discount on these downloads until the end of September.

Thank you for popping by
Vicki