You have got to be kidding!
.....John McEnroe
While diddling away hours looking at quilts on Flickr, I saw the work of artist Sujata Shah and went completely nuts over her quilts. She is making a quilt using these blocks. Arrggghhh!!! They looked so fabulous and I just had to send her link to my sister Brooke. We both agreed the blocks looked too difficult for us. Way too difficult. Yet...I had to see if I could figure it out.
I did! Yay! I am not a moron, for once.
I don't believe it either. But it is true. I measured out a 30 degree triangle and photocopied it several times to make the paper-piecing pattern. I needed 12 for each Spiderweb. There are tons of leftover strips from February's work and so no cutting or new fabric was necessary to get right into the work.
The trick, I discovered, is to start at the bottom and work my way up. Flip and sew or sew and flip, whichever way you like. Then trim to 1/4" larger than the paper. Press and sew it together with the previous part. I left the paper on and will have to deal with that later.
When you go to Sujata's blog you will see how great this becomes as more blocks are constructed and connected. This traditional block is neat enough to make into a wall quilt.
Maybe I only need to do five for a top...it is addictive, so we'll see what happens.
In the meantime, my bedroom is being painted this week...Lime Green
Won't that be dazzling? Woowoo!
Notice how nicely none of the seams match. LOVE this block!
Ultra nice. I may have to give that one a try too.
ReplyDeleteoh yeah, that is stunning. great link, enjoyed Sujata's work as well. I love the printed fabric piecing you've been doing lately.
ReplyDeleteLime Green ! ! !
ReplyDeleteWhy aren't we surprized, Melody?
Hugs,
Gerry
Reminds me of striped pizza. Only tastier.
ReplyDeleteDid you know that using newsprint type paper for paper piecing makes it easier to take the darned paper out when you're ready... rather than typing paper! Carol Doak has a line of paper like that with C & T Publishing that quilt shoppes sell.. I did her DVD and learned more than I'll ever need to know about paper piecing! Also if you set your stitch length really short, that helps with the removing of the paper part, too! But maybe you already know this stuff!
ReplyDeleteThis is so Melody - I know you are just dying to finish this one. I would rather piece this type on thin musling - I don't like fighting to remove the paper and having my stitches break loose.
ReplyDeleteHell hath frozen over - Melody Johnson is paper piecing! ;-)
ReplyDeleteGranted the results are stupendous, but still...
I love the spiderweb quilts!
ReplyDeleteFabulous color!
ReplyDeleteLooks cool! Wouldn't it be easier to cut the wedge out of the sewn together strips? Or would that give you a different look?
ReplyDeleteVery cool--great color! What's the diameter of your spider webs?
ReplyDeleteWhen my older son went off to college, I took over his room for my new "creating" room. I was thinking of you, Melody, when I painted it bright green. I did not have the guts before I saw your wall colors in your Illinois house (been reading your blog quite awhile). My new room looks deliciously lime-like, but the paint can said "Green Pear." I love it!
ReplyDeleteoh, that looks great for all my scraps. wonderful work from you. please can you tell me, how big are the templates? that will make much fun to sew.
ReplyDeletewish you a good day
much greetings from austria elfriede
Pages from old telephone books are nice and thin, tear away easily.
ReplyDeleteI can see this as a Fresh/Modern quilt, with white stars between the circles???
WONDERFUL!
ReplyDeleteLightly mist your paper when it's time, it'll come off easily.
Might you want to do a fabric foundation instead..and just leave it in?
It's amazing how all those colors and patterns just tirelessly keep working together.
Lime green? Going neutral? Love the new block! Stand back! You don't know how big this is going to get!!!
ReplyDeleteGreat. Just when I was feeling all empowered for throwing away a bunch of scraps (fortunately, I haven't emptied the sewing room trash yet :)).
ReplyDeleteYummalicious spiderwebs!
Lime green bedroom! That's so Melody...love it! Can't wait to see the room pics, complete with pastel quilt top. ;-)))
Those would make great umbrellas, I hear its the rage in Seattle quilt shops.
ReplyDeletethis looks fantastic. when I first saw it though I didn't see paper piecing. I saw strips that had been sewing together & then shapes cut out of them.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to see the finished quilt
Must. Make. This. Now.
ReplyDeleteNew freezer paper method, don't see why it would not work with regular paper....
Put fabric #1 & #2 and place on pattern, FOLD the paper at the sewing line and stitch exactly next to the fold, trim fabric finger press of use iron.
Position next fabric and FOLD paper at second sewing line and stitch next to the fold.
Continue positioning, folding and pressing... reuse the pattern until it is too weak or tears.
LYN
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ReplyDeleteI'm liking the paper piecing since there are so many small bits and those bias edges are nothing to sew when there is paper holding them all in place.
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of spritzing the paper with water making removal easier.
Perfectly delicious!
ReplyDeleteOh Melody, I have been up to my neck in things and haven't dropped by to check up on you but mercy, woman, you are always into the BEST things! LOVE this! Can't wait to see what comes next!!! <3
ReplyDeleteMelody, did you see this approach?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.flickr.com/photos/eggmoney/3488000533/in/set-72157622921674315/
Just out of curiosity, you are working with a 30 degree angle... and what are the measurements of your sides and how big does the wheel turn out to be? It's hard to gauge the scale from here.
ReplyDelete