i took a pp class - look what i made!

14 years ago

I have never paper pieced. I took a class last Saturday at my LQS. The instructor was wonderful. This is her design, one block of a quilt. This is the first time she has taught at this particular shop. I am so proud of myself!! I kept up with the rest of the class, I don't think I made any more mistakes than the others :) - but I was really focused on my own work. We sewed about 1/3 of the crab in the class. My brain actually "got it" - I am quite pleased I could remember the instruction and finish it at home a few days later.

A really important lesson I learned - Buy the pattern ahead of time and copy or trace it - so you don't have to buy it again!

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Comments (26)

toolgranny
14 years ago
That's a wonderful block. Don't you love it when you finally get it? That "Ah-hah" moment? You can be proud of this one.
damascusannie
14 years ago
Very cool!
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You have taken on a real challenge. You are probably going to enjoy teaching these two people. Teaching can be rewarding, or it can be ... something else. Sometimes things go wrong and it can become really draining. I think it depends on the diligence of the student. When they are motivated, it doesn't seem like a chore at all. I am not a professional educator. I have simply taught many different people many different things that I know how to do. Another topic: My friend said she wanted to learn how to hand quilt. She has knitted and crocheted while I have sat next to her and hand quilted and hand appliqued. Many times. She was on vacation recently, so she was able to come to the LQS for the sit and stitch group. I thought we'd finally sit still and get down to business. I had everything ready to show her how to hand quilt. But instead, she got totally overwhelmed. She had to look at everything in the store. Then, she fell in love with a few of the samples, and said she wanted to make those. Small projects, but using completely different skills from hand quilting. She took the free instructions for these small projects. OK, she can tackle those projects AFTER she learns to hand quilt, I figured. Then she asked about classes. She bought a rotary cutter and a mat. Bottom line: We never got around to the hand quilting demo. She couldn't focus on one thing at a time. I'm not saying anyone else is necessarily going to be that way. But I did learn that sometimes, it is the teacher's job to chop off just a little piece of information, just ONE skill, and tell the student that s/he is going to learn just that one little bit before they try to learn anything else. So you might want to figure out what is the most basic skill. Start with that. Make it into a completed project. The smaller the better. Design something that doesn't take much time to make, but will teach all the necessary skills. Then proceed to something that uses those skills, plus new ones that the student can learn, a little at a time. Just an idea.
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vicky4x4
14 years ago
That is quite a first block!

Great job.
Vicky
jennifer_in_va
14 years ago
That is a very very challenging pp block for a beginner class! I'm shocked!!

Your block looks fabulous! Dont'cha just love paper piecing?!?!
imrainey
14 years ago
Fantastic!

I love the colors and I like the way the dotted white fabic reminds me of sand at the edge of the surf.

Well done!
love2sew
14 years ago
This looks very difficult to me, but you have it mastered...good for you. It is so gratifying when you get that "ah Hah" moment. Congratulations!
Jean
magothyrivergirl
Original Author
14 years ago
Thank you for looking at my block and your kind words. Jennifer - I don't think it was a "beginner class" as the others in the class had PP before. I am a beginner -the instructor said this was a great block to learn to PP because it had so many pieces. Some of the pieces are soooooo teeney weeney.........
It is a 15" block, I haven't squared it yet, or even pressed it well. I would like to get all the paper removed, some bits are still in the stitches.
I think I really like PP!
The light dots and tan are supposed to be sand- so I captured the colors right.
Most I had in my growing stash - I only purchased the red for the claws and the blue for the water 5 mins before the class.
I also bought another of her patterns to try another block - that will be the real test.
fran1523
14 years ago
Great block. You are many steps ahead of me when it comes to paper piecing. Good advice about tracing the pattern first.
nanajayne
14 years ago
Congratulations on a great first job. I always find PP a challenge but the results are so percise. I am glad you are having so much fun and success. TFS Jayne
imrainey
14 years ago
You have an eye for color and texture. I didn't mention how nice the mottled tan is to replicate the crab's shell.

Paper piecing is ideal for tiny pieces you could never handle if not for the support of the paper. Now all we need is a "paper" that will dissolve away when you're done. ;>
wanda_va
14 years ago
Fantastic!! You did a wonderful job on it. I just love paper piecing!
calliope
14 years ago
All I gotta say is "Wow". That isn't an easy piece, and especially for your first one. I enjoy paper piecing, although I am not the best at it. I do a lot of foundation piecing and I guess it's called flip and sew. But, I will venture into paper piecing for the right block. Some people 'get it' easily and some don't, but I think it's mostly the intimidation factor and they'd get it if they just decided it would be OK to mess up a few blocks trying. It helps to be able to think backward, lol.

If you take an evening and peruse the wonderful patterns at the Quilter's Cache, a good deal of them are paper pieced. By conquering that, you have opened a lot of doors to some magnificent quilts. I'm proud of you. It's inspiring.
grammyp
14 years ago
WOW! That is quite a first block. I love it! Good for you.

beverly
jennifer_in_va
14 years ago
I might also suggest you go visit Carol Doak's website! She's a pro at paper piecing and has some wonderful books!

On her website she has some free blocks you can download/print and practice with! Lot's of fun!!!
bozogardener
14 years ago
I love that crab! I haven't done any PP that ambitious. PP seems so backwards to me so I am slow at it.
sunnycentralfl
14 years ago
Wonderful block! Congratulations...

..and BTW I did see a show on tv that had a paper that disolved in water when you finished...don't have any further info, sorry...

Gwen
imrainey
14 years ago
So, it looks like it has quite a few pieces. How long did it take you to finish it?

What will you do with it? Is the other block you got also a marine theme? A 15" block is large. Will it be the centerpiece of a quilt or are you thinking wall hanging or table topper, perhaps?
biwako_of_abi
14 years ago
Rainey stole my word! The first thing that came into my mind was "Fantastic!" It captures the feeling of a crab so beautifully. What a gorgeous quilt you could make with sea PP creatures on it! Were there other patterns along that line?
imrainey
14 years ago
I'm also think that as the focus of a shower curtain you could build a whole designer bath around that piece! I can really see that in a designer mag, can't you?
magothyrivergirl
Original Author
14 years ago
Ohhhhh a shower curtain - what a great idea!!! I have alot of the darker tan sand fabric- I had planned on using it for a backing, but it would go perfectly in our bathroom that isn't used much - and I am sick of the existing shower curtain. I see it everytime I walk into my office. I don't know what I am going to do with it. The quilt is a very ambitious one. I will link her website, I think it is beautiful. Her work is beautiful in person and I attribute my success making the block to what a wonderful teacher she was.

The class was 10:30 - 3:30 - I took a snack and sewed thru lunch, although that is when I made a mistake..repeatedly...so I really didn't get ahead~LOL~I took a potty break & announced I was going to flush my mistakes away & it worked.

I worked on the rest of the block for a few hours on Sunday & Monday each day, so I would guess it took me about 10 hours to complete. An experienced PPer could definitely make it in less time. I had to concentrate constantly and that always slows me down when I have to think that hard.

There is a product made by Collins that is a wash away foundation paper - is that the same thing? Wash Away Foundation Paper
http://www.softexpressions.com/software/notions/WashAway.php
10 Sheets Package

Mfg: Collins
Item Code: p01g

Here is a link that might be useful: Maria O'Haver
odessaquilts
14 years ago
What a lovely block! Your color choices are terrific and I am really proud that this was your first attempt at PP. It's sew nice when you get it off the top, isn't it???

Keep up the good work!

Odessa
crafteedee
14 years ago
I love the look of PP due to all the crisp details. Well done!
bluebars
14 years ago
You get a pat on the back for that one! Love it!
Paper piecing is too much thinking in reverse for me; I always seem to get the pieces upside down or backwards. So I would probably have to applique it, LOL.
BlueBars
User
14 years ago
Wow, wow, WOW! That is one fantastic block! I bow to your patience and skill.

I made a PP 6" American flag and had to take Tylenol and lie down on the couch afterwards.

You da woman!
FlamingO in AR
14 years ago
That is gorgeous! I'm so impressed. I like everything about it, the crab, the fabrics, everything!
lililover
11 years ago
Hi! I'm just seeing your lovely PP crab block. Do you by any chance know if the designer is still selling the pattern? It would be perfect for a friend's birthday gift. Thanks for your time.

i took a pp class - look what i made!

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i took a pp class - look what i made!

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