Educational Opportunity
One of the NEQM volunteers set up a bunch of fabric and paper hexagons with needle and thread so that visitors could try making some hexagons. I picked up one to try it and before I knew it, I had basted nearly every one! Embarrassed, I put the remaining few unstitched pieces back in the bag.
Research
When I got home, I told myself I was just doing research; I had some technical questions to answer. I was thought I was immune to the lure of the EPP, since I knew I did not want to cut all those paper pieces, and, besides, it's a rare GFG that gets me excited.
Looking for Love
But I was only fooling myself. The bug had bitten me. While I learned a lot about technique, I was also hoping to find an EPP quilt that I loved. Not "liked." Loved. And, here it is, a beauty by Bridgitte Giblin. Click the "all sizes" button to see the detail. I love the border, and the block in the upper-right hand corner made of pentagons. The fabric choices have a lot to do with why I like this design so I'm likely to follow it closely. I also know the colors and shapes remind me of store-bought coverlets my mom put on our beds each summer. I hope to locate some old photos to see if I can get some more inspiration on the colors and shapes.
More Inspiration
Meanwhile, here are a few more EPP projects that caught my eye.
- This pincushion is a longtime favorite because of the choice of print fabrics and their random placement. I think those hexagons are close to 1/4 inch.
- Hexagon balls/hackeysacks are also fun. Here's Lori Hanson's Tutorial for a Pentagon Baby Ball.
- Check out this this incredible set of EPP blocks. The shapes also remind me of my childhood summer coverlets. This one is my favorite. I think the patterns come from, Liesel's Hexagon Technique, a book sold by Paper Pieces (see link below). I am besotted. [besotted: having an irrational passion for a person or thing]
Papers
From my brief encounter with EPP, I knew I wanted precut templates close to cardstock weight (think index cards). From reading blogs, I learned that Mylar templates are not for me because they are not flexible enough when it's time to stitch the Y-seams. Early last week, I found Paper Pieces and accepted the sample they offered me -- so I could find out if their paper works for me. The package arrived on Friday. The weight of the paper is perfect -- the durability of oak tag or cardstock but thinner.
Waste No Time
The package included instructions, 8 paper hexagons, and 7 small fabric squares. In a couple hours, I had my first hexagon flower made, appliqued onto a piece of fabric and "quilted" without batting! That meant all my papers were now available for re-use, so I cut up some taffeta and made a second flower. I got to try an alternate method (found online) and experience what it's like to work with slippery fabric . . . because . . . I've got plans!
1 comment:
Oh boy..it looks like you've been bitten by the paper piecing bug? ;) Stop posting pics of such gorgeous projects..you tempting Temptress! LOL
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