Oh boy! Sign me up for just one, in case it's impossible for me--my mom will back me up. She's done a whole quilt of intricate paper pieced forest animal blocks, and has been itching to show me the low down.

Cathy, I'll do one. You must love tulips :)

Just a note for Mac users. I have a Mac and when I printed using the 'Pattern for Mac' it was too small - using the regular PC pattern it printed out at 6" as it is supposed to. Make sure you measure your printed copy.

Very cute patterns on this site.

I'll get in on this one. I'll do one and if it goes smoothly and I have time, I may make more. It looks pretty easy and it's darling. One of these days, would you consider a block larger than six inches? I don't do wall hangings, always quilts and I can't imagine winning or making enough of them to do a full sized quilt in that size. I also think for first time paper piecers, they'd be more comfortable working with larger paper/fabric pieces.

I also would like bigger blocks - all the same reasons calliope mentioned.

I will pass along a few tips I learned in a PP class where the pieces were tiny - trim your seams to 1/8" . Reduce your stitch length, and make sure you stitch 1 or two stitches beyond the intersecting line into the next space.

I've never PP before, so let me try it and then I'll let you know :-)

Petalpatsy -
Magothyrivergirl -
Calliope -
Woodenzoo - 1

I haven't really been paying any attention to block size except the time we did the teacup and the original was only 3". I usually first look for subject matter and ease/# of pieces and then note the size.
I'd say that most paper piecing is going to be in the six inch range (or under) because block size (in most cases) is limited to printer/page size. There are some that you can print the different sections (usually four, sometimes as many as a couple of dozen) on multiple sheets of paper and then those sections are sewn together to create a larger block. Many times these are geometric designs.
I must admit, that I do prefer to paper piece blocks that mimic real objects and love the cute things like animals and flowers, but that doesn't mean we can't do something else.
If you all can suggest any blocks, that would be great. We can also enlarge the pattern, but I think we'd be limited by page size in most cases.

Robbi, in case you need help, here's a link to Marcia Hohn's instructions that are pretty clearly written and illustrated. Any questions, just let us know and I'm sure one of us will be able to help.
Cathy

Here is a link that might be useful: Quilterscache paper piecing instructions

This is just a hoot and a half! I had three little phone conferences and ta da!

I did go 2-3 stitches into each seam allowance, so another seam crosses it to secure, but should I have started with a backstitch? I should have trimmed the purple back behind my blue seam allowance--it shows, but once the paper is out that can be trimmed later, right? I also managed to drip a big blop of water on it with my #$^%^ #(*^*$ #*%*#&@ iron which then let some starch residue come off on the blue above the flower. I think that will wash out but I confess I'm not sure.

I was so mad I quit sewing and went to the grocery. Where I impulsively snatched yet another new iron. I got a Black and Decker which loudly proclaims to have a drip protection system. Hummmph.

Patsy - this looks wonderful!! Your first PP?? Mom walked you thru it very well! You are on a roll with these blocks! Thanks for the pictures. This is a cute block. She will be proud.
I am no expert but, no to backstitching. No steam when PPing, because it can distort the off grain pcs (and normally I use steam) use a paper towel on your ironing surface to protect from ink transfer, press paper side facedown each seam as sewn. Trim smaller pcs to 1/8". What I learned in a class.
I hate the B & D iron - the coating discolored in places & stained some fabric - I only used it for about 6 months - only for pressing at the machine.
(Irons infuriate me in general!) Hope yours is better - I think it was the constant high heat.

I want to see Mom's PP quilt. :)

If I do another one, I'm going to mark a copy with grain lines and cut it up for templates, at least on the big pieces. My grain lines flare out perpendicular to my seams and I find that a bit distracting.

Hmmmm. I've never seen my mom's animal quilt, either, just heard about it on the telephone. It's with my neice, put away as too nice to use, at my sister's house. For all I know, Mom could be making the whole thing up, like people walking on the moon!

Patsy - another thing - I learned to PP (not long ago) cutting the seam allowance off the paper - is that where the grain lines flair out?

A secret Sister / Mom quilt too good to use..... yes.........hmmm.........don't you hate those kinds of secrets?? (I have a sister too :)

Oh, it's not a secret quilt. I just live and work away from them so I never saw it.

Back to PP, I'm just talking about the regular straight or cross grain we always talk about, and when I said "flair" I just meant the directions it was taking. I'd tend to cut a square patch true to grain, and match thaat up to the seam. Then when I flip it, every outside edge is on some wierd bias cut. I figure that why we don't remove the foundation paper, to keep the block stable. I read somewhere to machine baste the block just inside the outer seam allowance before you try to join blocks to keep all those bias cuts from distorting.

Even forgetting about the distortion, I just like to see all the fabric running the same way because that's what I'm used to in a traditionally pieced block. When I look at mine and see them all willy nilly it screams "FLIP AND SEW,"
and it seems...I dunno...sloppy I guess.

I was kidding about the 'secret' quilt :))

The not on grain really bothered me alot at first; I am still conscious of the grain and find myself seaming on the straight of grain if possible. But the sharp points gets you over the off grain really fast!

Your block really did turn out very nice.

;) Thanks!

Petalpatsy -
Magothyrivergirl -
Calliope -
Woodenzoo - 1

Still plenty of time to join us for this!
Cathy

I'm in! I have one block done and may do a few more since we have until the end of May. I've never pp, so I watched a video on youtube to understand it a little better. It was such a big help! This was a lot of fun, too!

Yayyyy! I have time to get this one done! I like to PP and will let you know how many once I get one done!

Petalpatsy -
Magothyrivergirl -
Calliope -
Woodenzoo - 1
Lafonda_ranch -
Tuppermom -

Welcome aboard ladies!

Kathy, I have finished two, and shall send them on tomorrow. Actually I finished three, but found where just a tiny bit of seam wasn't caught on a section and tacked it down and shall keep it and make a potholder out of it.

This was one of the most fun patterns in paper piecing I've done yet. Good choice and they finish off so pretty. So, I guess you can say put me down for two.

I did my first pp today, and this was it! I must have taken the first 2 or 3 pieces out at least 3 times each. But then I finally started figuring it out. And then it started getting fun!

So you can include this block in the lotto. Put me down for 1. If I have time I'll send more.

Cathy, blocks should be there by now. Let me know if they haven't arrived.

Petalpatsy - 1 (Received)
Magothyrivergirl -
Calliope - 2 (Received)
Woodenzoo - 1
Lafonda_ranch -
Tuppermom -
Kay_in_pa - 1

Patsy and Calliope, your pretty blocks arrived! Thanks!

I've only gotten the fabric picked out for this. Hopefully, I'll get to work on it this weekend.

Oh, if anyone needs my address, please shoot me an e-mail and I'll get it right to you.
Thanks!
Cathy

Petalpatsy - 1 (Received)
Magothyrivergirl -
Calliope - 2 (Received)
Woodenzoo - 1
Lafonda_ranch -
Tuppermom -
Kay_in_pa - 1

Last weekend was a bear! I'll get started on it today while it's too hot and sunny for me to work out in the yard.
It really doesn't look that time consuming and I think I'll be able to get it done quickly.
How is everyone else coming along with this one?
Cathy

Petalpatsy - 1 (Received)
Magothyrivergirl -
Calliope - 2 (Received)
Woodenzoo - 1 (Here)
Lafonda_ranch -
Tuppermom -
Kay_in_pa - 1

I finished mine this past weekend.
Cathy

I have one finished, so I guess I need to get it in the mail to you. I don't know why I didn't put it in the same envelope as the May lotto, DUH!! Anyhow, I'll try to get it in the mail today. I didn't have time to get any more done, so only one for me.

I finished the tulip block today - it is a cute block. I used a new method (for me) of folding the paper over an index card & cutting the 1/4" before adding the next piece. I think I like it! I will take it to the post ofc tomorrow.

I got one block made and will send it tomorrow.
I am having a problem with my right hand and go to the specialist on Tues. PP was very hard on it so although I wanted to make 3 blocks my hand told me to stop at 1.

Tuppermom

I'm in for 2 blocks. I had it in my mind that last weekend was the last weekend of the month. I had my 1 block all sealed up and ready to mail when I realized that there is one more full week! Anyhow, I finished one more block over the weekend and should have it in the mail today.

Petalpatsy - 1 (Received)
Magothyrivergirl - 1 (Received)
Calliope - 2 (Received)
Woodenzoo - 1 (Here)
Lafonda_ranch -
Tuppermom -
Kay_in_pa - 1

Marsha, your pretty block arrived yesterday.
Thanks!
Cathy

Petalpatsy - 1 (Received)
Magothyrivergirl - 1 (Received)
Calliope - 2 (Received)
Woodenzoo - 1 (Here)
Lafonda_ranch - 2 (Received)
Tuppermom -
Kay_in_pa - 2 (Received)

Robbi, your pretty blocks arrived. Thanks!
Kay, your pretty blocks arrived also. I'm putting you down for both blocks because they both will work well with the others.
Cathy