Pattern block quilt progress!
I assembled the first set of shapes and played around with a layout. I'll be making this up as I go
Finally starting on this EPP quilt. It makes me feel like a little kid again, playing with geometry blocks at recess
Another night of hand sewing progress! I'll be deciding the next sections as I go and mirroring them around the quilt.
Another round is attached, and my actual pattern blocks arrive today so I can plan out the next sections.
Thank you, pattern blocks! The first set of the next round are assembled. They'll get attached once I make the second set. In the meantime, it looks like a rainbow snowflake 🌈❄️
Finally - another geometry block quilt update
Now that I'm settled in after my move, I can finally get back to my geo-block project. I got to spend several hours hand sewing today as part of my guild show's volunteering requirements.
The latest blocks are all attached and I'm ready to get going on the next set! I'll likely make more modifications to the design to maintain a pleasing distribution of pieces. The modifications are part of the fun after all.
Most of the reactions today were positive - amusement or amazement or joyful. One woman walked up, leaned in close, sneered, and went "yuck". Rude much? Hand sewing isn't for everyone but you don't have to yuck someone else's yum.
4 of 6 sections done for the next round!
After these are sewn on, it will be approx 43 inches across. I hope to have this finished (pieced) by the end of the year so I can spend another month or so doing the topstitching. I'm planning to do a different design in each color of block with top/bobbin thread matching and a white backing. That way it will almost be a double-sided quilt, with the stitched shapes showing on the back in the same colors.
As a side note, it makes my whole day that y'all are enjoying my project. I really do read every reblog comment and tag, and find myself grinning at your responses. Thanks for being here for the ride!
Behind The Seams
This quilt is made with the English Paper Piecing technique - fabric wrapped around pieces of paper to make the shapes (these are cut with my cricut machine), then hand sewn together. I glue baste my pieces with a tiny drop of white glue that is immediately heat set with an iron. It creates sharp creases that hold up well to the folding and general jostling that comes with a hand sewn project, but the papers can pop out easily enough when it's done. For the sewing part, I use a sashiko needle and hand quilting thread from Joann's (RIP) that I had on hand, but really any needle and thread works.
So far this project has taken about 10 months of off-and-on stitching. I prepped all my pieces already, so when I'm out, the quilt is done. I'm using the actual pattern blocks to map out how I want to make the next sections, taking time to try to balance the appearance of each fabric within the quilt and not have two of the same together. It's a slow steady test of my patience. It's not perfect because it is made by human hands. The stitching shows, the corners aren't all perfect, it likely won't lie exactly flat. I love it for that.
Been a minute. My shoulder has been hurting so hand sewing has been limited. This quilt is SO CLOSE to done and I am so ready. The pieces for those open corners are done and ready to attach. I’m low on the remaining pieces so it’ll probably just be one more ring around the edge after the next addition.
