MONTH 1 — Ask Questions Here

[WendyJohnston]

Will Jen Kingwell demonstrate her hand piecing techniques in the upcoming months? I hand pieced the first block and in my opinion, it was a disaster. I could not get the center points to line up even after multiple attempts at taking the center apart and stitching then over again. I wish the Quilt Show had Jen demonstrate that first block. I am not a quitter. I bought more background fabric so I can do this block over. Thanks, Barbara, for all of your instructions. I appreciate you.

[Barbara B.]

No, Jen has provided all she planned to in the Show. She does have videos you can find online, some have been mentioned here earlier in the year.

I just Googled Jen Kingwell Videos and found these two which you may like:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...qBIzlutMzT6Enh

They are very detailed, with Jen explaining a lot of things that apply to Pick A Petal.

[soniasimone]

You will get it! Try this month’s blocks, they are a little more forgiving. I like appliqué ( short) pins — at your intersections, pin at the dot and double check they’re aligned. A little backstitch before and after the intersection will help it stay stable. Linda Franz of Inklingo is another one with a good online hand piecing tutorial, and she has a detailed demo of getting secure intersections. Practice truly will make perfect!

[Robin H.]

Will we be able to buy an extra 1/2 yard of the "Seed" white and black fabric that we used for the star background? I wish to use this for all of my handles in the 64 fan blocks. If not, has anyone seen this fabric for sale on a website?

[Barbara B.]

It will not be available at The Quilt Show store. It is from Free Spirit:
PWCD012.XDOVE
Google that information and you will find it available lots of places.

[Helen W.]

Will Jen Kingwell demonstrate her hand piecing techniques in the upcoming months? I hand pieced the first block and in my opinion, it was a disaster. I could not get the center points to line up even after multiple attempts at taking the center apart and stitching then over again. I wish the Quilt Show had Jen demonstrate that first block. I am not a quitter. I bought more background fabric so I can do this block over. Thanks, Barbara, for all of your instructions. I appreciate you.

Wendy, I think Jinny Beyer's master class show 3008 will really help you. She demonstrates how to lock seam allowances when
hand piecing a 8 point star. I would watch her whole section but the center of the star is at the 18 min. point. She says that
you need to have a very, very tight lock at the seam allowance there, or it will shift on you and you get a bit of a mess.
The first part on the 4 patch will also help you with the intersections on month 2. HelenW

CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE IT

[Barbara B.]

Jinny's is another great show everyone who wants to master hand piece needs to watch.

[Helen W.]

Will Jen Kingwell demonstrate her hand piecing techniques in the upcoming months? I hand pieced the first block and in my opinion, it was a disaster. I could not get the center points to line up even after multiple attempts at taking the center apart and stitching then over again. I wish the Quilt Show had Jen demonstrate that first block. I am not a quitter. I bought more background fabric so I can do this block over. Thanks, Barbara, for all of your instructions. I appreciate you.

Wendy, I found an even better description of how to hand piece and get a tight center on a 8 point star.
Wendy Welsh, another fairly well know Australian quilter. She has very good photography and verbal description
of how to do it. HelenW
CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE, google Wendy Welsh you tube and look for the title on this photo

[soniasimone]

Wendy Welsh has very good tutorials, imo

[Barbara B.]

I have read all comments on the forum, watched the lives, and read the blog. Barbara, I know you added 1/2 inch on the long straight outside edge. Did you also add 1/2 to the short straight end pieces, or did you find that added to the long edge was enough? Helen thanks for the great pics and description. Everyone has been so helpful.

Since this is in Month 1 I think you are asking about the background frame. My Month 1 blog shows how I added to the long and short edges of the frame, there is a picture that shows it.

https://bbquiltmaker.blogspot.com/20...l-month-1.html

[christel]

i am from chile, and have seen the quilt show since a lot of years, I have a question , in alot of shows richy sais that the pattern are in the web site , not the boom, but i cannot find them , somebody can help me?

[Barbara B.]

A lot of patterns are in the CLASSROOM section on the website—find that under LEARN.

I encourage everyone new to the site to go to each SECTION on the purple bar at the top and SEE what is in WATCH/LEARN/SEE QUILTS/ FORUM/QUILTAPEDIA/BLOG/SHOP sections. Click around each SECTION, you will find so much in each one.

[soniasimone]

Will Jen Kingwell demonstrate her hand piecing techniques in the upcoming months? I hand pieced the first block and in my opinion, it was a disaster. I could not get the center points to line up even after multiple attempts at taking the center apart and stitching then over again. I wish the Quilt Show had Jen demonstrate that first block. I am not a quitter. I bought more background fabric so I can do this block over. Thanks, Barbara, for all of your instructions. I appreciate you.

Wendy -- here is one of Linda Franz's videos specifically on handling those intersections. (She had a nice episode on TQS as well, but she talked more about Inklingo than she did about hand piecing.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lioSnL1vBvU

[Barbara B.]

Excellent, short video, easy to understand.

[Helen W.]

Wendy -- here is one of Linda Franz's videos specifically on handling those intersections. (She had a nice episode on TQS as well, but she talked more about Inklingo than she did about hand piecing.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lioSnL1vBvU

Sonia, Hope everyone doing hand piecing watches that video by Linda Franz. I think it is the best I have seen. Too bad
you did not post it at the beginning of Jan. Hope any one doing hand piecing takes the time to watch it. HelenW

[Azenath W.]

I decided to jump in (even though I haven’t finished last years BOM).

Question for my Background fabric, it is not directional, do I still cut 4 Reverse?

[Helen W.]

Azanath, I think the reverse is left side right side. So the answer would be yes. Are you talking about month 1 background for the star block? HelenW

[Azenath W.]

I have decided to use Aurifil 28 wt, what needle size do I use?

[Helen W.]

I have decided to use Aurifil 28 wt, what needle size do I use?

Azenath, I googled the Aurifil website and they said 100/16 or 90/14 top stitch needle for 28 wt. HelenW

[Azenath W.]

Has anyone hand pieced your block 1?

[Sheridan D.]

Yes. Any questions?

[Shelby B.]

I'm having trouble marking the dots with something I can see on dark materials with the thick templates. Any suggestions? My sew line markers won't fit through the hole to reach the fabric.

[Helen W.]

Shelby, Have you tried pushing the end of the sew line a half dozen times to make the white
chalk come out about 3/8 to 1/2 inch long. I know it will break easily, but if you lightly mark the
dot, you can go back and make it darker after you get the chalk back to about 1/8 inch long, by
taking it all the way out and then re inserting the chalk. Also, how about a pin thru the hole,
lift the template up enough that you can use your white sew line to mark where the pin is sticking
thru. HelenW

[Elizabeth A.]

I’m just now getting around to trimming block 1. It says it should be 16.5…. That’s way bigger than the lines I drew from the templates. What did I do wrong. I guess I need to go back and rewatch Barbara.

[Barbara B.]

16.5" is the size including seam allowances. The center should be at 8.25" in all four directions, north, east, south and west.
Check from the center out to see what your block measures. Perhaps you can block it to the correct size. In piecing a block the 3 things that go wrong are cutting, sewing and/or pressing.

[Elizabeth A.]

Thanks B… I am certainly glad I took your advice and allowed extra fabric on the outside of the template!