Pieced block 2

[soniasimone]

OK, I've got the block pieced and I think I've figured out the simplest way to put it together. I do think it could be done by machine, particularly with glue basting to keep it from getting too fiddly. There's an order you can piece it where all of the curves are pretty smooth and gentle.

I'll draw up a little diagram and get it posted -- I've got some cooking to do for tomorrow, but will get it assembled as soon as I can!

[Barbara B.]

My email is bbquiltmaker AT gmail. It is also how you can contact me via my blog.

[Helen W.]

Barbara, You over estimate my skill in EQ8. It is trial and error, luck and persistence.
I took one block from the block library under orange peel and changed it to 8 inches.
Then I figured the center square was 2 inches and started drawing new lines and deleting old lines.
That worked after a lot of tweaks. Then I made another block taking a screen shot of the block. Brought
in from image files as a photo, and used the tracing feature. I have never sent a EQ8 file but I tried dragging
it into an email to myself and it worked. So I think I can send you the file. I don't have your email anymore,
and our email has changed since the work on the website a few years back. Can you get my email off the
account part, or be able to get your email to me again. Remember, This is close but not the exact block in
the quilt. I just wanted to try a sample using hand piecing since I have never done that and I won't be
getting the templates until next month. What a challenge with this quilt. I really think I will learn a lot this year.
HelenW

[soniasimone]

Once you have the tricks down for curves, they're not hard at all. And they make you feel like a superstar quilter.

I'm nearly done stitching this block, and I'll post my stitching order. Jen may have another suggested option -- usually when she does a BOM, she's got monthly short videos with tips, tricks, and points to watch out for. I can think of at least one other way than the one I went with, so I'll try that next time.

[Barbara B.]

Helen how did you draw that block? Your skills in EQ8 are far superior to mine. I would love to have your project file.

[Helen W.]

Sonia, Watched the glue basting video immediately went down to my sewing room to try. Love, love, love how easy it is.
Here are two blocks with curves left one by machine right one by hand. And that is the first hand stitching of blocks I have
ever done. I can't buy the templates until next month. Really hoping they will still be some left. I drew up a similar block to
block 2 in EQ8. Printed out the templates. I would like to play around with a sample. If I am doing it by hand, what order
would you do? HelenW
CLICK ON PICTURE TO SEE WHOLE PICTURE
Look like the wording overlay did not print.

[Helen W.]

Sonia, I am loving this already. Your glue basting tip is perfect.. My skeptic mind thought, no way with a convex and concave can you glue baste it. Thanks for providing the free tutorial in this post to see it done.
I could not believe it looks so easy, and I have struggled for years with curved seams. I am going to
learn a ton thru this BOM. Thanks for stepping up. Your help is much appreciated. HelenW

[soniasimone]

While I'm doing that -- Barbara, have you tried glue basting? It's so good for curves!

Jen Carlton-Bailey has some really good free tutorials, here's one on basting: https://bettycrockerass.com/tips-and...baste-a-curve/

And here you can see how easy it goes once it's glue-basted: https://bettycrockerass.com/tips-and...ew-gallery-60/

[soniasimone]

I just finished cutting out my test pieces! Right off the bat, I can see that it would be easy to mark the sewing lines on the curves inaccurately, which would make this a total bugger.

For context, this is the kind of block Jen likes to refer to as "an easy one."

Let me stitch it up and then share some thoughts and tips on the specifics ...

[Barbara B.]

This is Pieced Block 2. It won't be published for a few months into the 2024 BOM. After hand piecing one as a test block, I have been trying to figure out how to alter the block for machine piecing but still have it look like the original. My efforts so far have been too hard to justify the extra time to design it that way.

There have been suggestions to change the block, either a little or a lot, and that is still a possibility. It is YOUR quilt, you get to decide how you want to make it.

As people are starting to receive their template sets, they can start to make "practice" blocks, always a good idea if a technique is new to you or one you need to improve your skills on before cutting your "precious" fabric.

Sonia said in The Big Reveal! Topic she is very experienced at hand piecing Jen Kingwell blocks so I am looking to her for advice on how to hand piece this specific block. There are 20 of these in the quilt.

We will use this TOPIC to discuss Pieced Block 2.