Half-size measurements

[Andree B.]

Yes. And for "regular" size, I also tried Tear-away stabilizer, which worked pretty well. I was trying to find a way to trace without having to "reverse" the design - I could trace and see thru the foundation so that the fabric could be sewn on the side I traced. - oh it's late... Am I making sense?

Andrée

[Lorna B.]

I just watched Bonnie Hunter on TQS. She uses phone book pages for her paper piecing. Now there is an untapped resource!

[Lorna B.]

Annis suggested using tracing paper. I tried that and it goes through the printer well and you can see through it to line things up. It is all I use for paper piecing. I will say that the tracing paper around here has to be cut down a bit but that is not a problem for me. I am sure that has to be tracing paper that is 8.5 x 11" but I haven't found it around here.

[Susan B.]

Thanks for all the responses. Yes, paper going through the printer works great...have used several kinds and probably like the vellum the best because it tears so cleanly. I was just thinking that with a true miniature, that a foundation that never needed removing would be really nice.

[Andree B.]

If you give it a try Susan, let us know. I would like to try it - it would remove the "strain" of removing the paper on the small seam allowance...

Andrée

[Andree B.]

Well here is just a thought. I have used Ricky's Stable stuff and the more I worked with it the softer it became. So, if I had to do a paper pieced block with many pieces to it, Ricky's interfacing was no longer stiff and I didn't like that. Does that make sense?

[Andree B.]

Yes it does. Did you use steam while ironing? Just to understand how it could get softer?

Andrée

[E.M. T.]

I've used it in several small quilts with 4 in. blocks...no problem at all...left in...soft as can be after washing.
Try it ..is my answer.

[Susan B.]

I'm just trying to look forward to when we have a miniature BOM :lol: :lol: I don't know how to make a micro-mini, but I do know how to paper-piece.

Andrée, it deteriorates when it is thoroughly wet. Some of the fiber always stays in the quilt. Stable Stuff also seems to get soft in using it, but it doesn't break down. I bought a gigantic roll from a local company (Allstitch out of Baltimore, Maryland) and got their stabilizer which seems identical to Stable Stuff, and, sorry, Ricky, a whole lot less expensive. Ricky's is convenient because it is pre-cut to printer size, as is the Electric Quilt brand. Allstitch has two different weights. If I bought the Electric Quilt brand online, the shipping is almost as much as the product...double the price. Not for me.

So, Ritzy wants the paper piecing to stay stiff, Marilyn wants it soft and I just don't want to tear out paper! I will give it a go. Thanks!

I just re-read Ritzy's response. So, it seems not to matter what happens after the stitching is complete, it's the softness while making the block that becomes an issue. So, the usefulness may depend on how many pieces are in the block.

[E.M. T.]

So...here's my thing...don't like tracing the pattern, printable and ready to go is great ! don't like removing
paper..lots of reasons.. especially on small blocks or blocks with small odd shapes ! "leave in" is great...and
there are several brands. Lots of different papers work well, too. To each, their own ! :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
What are we calling a Micro-Mini ??? 1/4 in. scale ? 1/12 th scale ? 2 in..finished or less? :?

[Susan B.]

When viewing the Miniature display in Paducah, it occurred to me, and others around, that what is considered miniature is quite arbitrary. We felt that some entries were mis-placed...just small quilts, not miniatures which are so obvious, like Robin's beauty. Seems to me that Rita's Quilt Alliance entry would qualify, too.

Ah, but it's quilting, are there really any "rules"? For some awesome work of what I call Micro-mini, look up Scott Murkin on Facebook.
Friend him and check out his Photos. This tiny appears to me to be asking for insanity. :lol:

[Andree B.]

I was told that what is considered a miniature quilt is one that when photo is taken, you can not tell the original size, it looks like a bed (or "regular") quilt.

I would think that a micro mini is one where all blocks would have pieces that are smaller than 1/4 inch. :shock:

Andrée

[E.M. T.]

Shall we say " suggestions" instead of "rules"? :lol: By my "standard" a mini quilt has blocks 4 in. or
less and reflects, in its structure, it's larger full size form. That is...it should look like a full size quilt when
all reference to size is removed . Robins' is a perfect example. Our current 1/2 size BOM, by my book, is not
truly a mini. but a small quilt . because of the block unit size..even tho some block pieces surely are mini. :?
Ain't it fun? :lol: :lol: :lol: I've seen Scott's work in publications...Teeny-weeny pieces ! Paper piecing makes
that detail easier, if not possible at all, what's crazy is when it is done without paper !! Why do we do it? :roll:
Because I can ...because it's a challenge...because they are so dang cute !! I sure do miss Minitures magazine.

[E.M. T.]

Looks like we are talking ourselves into a "mini" . I think Rosemary said a true miniature is 1/12 size but I can't imagine being able to sew that :shock: . I like Marilyn's definition. I would even be happy trying 1/4 size. Where are we going to get the pattern? :wink: I would do a miniature(not the pattern) to prove to myself that I could. I know it will be a challenge. I have a design board with all my "challenge" failures--they will one day be put into a quilt. ops:

[Andree B.]

Ritzy
I will challenge myself too. If you find the "regular" pattern that you like, I could figure out the pattern for the mini!

Anybody else would care to join? :wink:
Andrée