MONTH 1 — Ask Questions Here

[Barbara T.]

I am considering reducing this by half. I’ve figured out how to get the foundations the correct size and the center will be doable. Those with more experience with paper piecing - will I be creating big problems down the road? Those 3 inch borders will only be 1 1/2! Also considering that I could reduce size of finished quilt by leaving out a border. That may be more sensible. Any thoughts? Or I could try 75% reduction?

[Barbara B.]

Those 1.5" borders will be small. But paper piecing makes it fairly easy. And you can change a border with many pieces to a border with fewer pieces.
You are correct, you can leave out a border if you like. In months 4-7 we make the four 3" wide borders. If you make those 3" that will help and the 18" center medallion will still look good with that size border. OR--try them at 1.5". If you don't like that, 3" replaces the 6" borders that come next. Different blocks but the same idea.
You can also try the 75%. That will make the math a bit more challenging but again the paper will help a lot.
I would decide on the size of the center medallion, make it first, months 1-3, then decide what you will do next.
Just my two cents. Any other ideas are also welcome.

[Helen W.]

Hi Barbara T, I printed the vellum pattern at 65% this morning. A little bigger than 50 % and not
as big as 75%. My thought was a wall hanging. I did the same thing on the Color My World
quilt and liked it. I just print the pieces as custom and then 65% on my HP printer. I have not done the
math for everything, but figure the center block will work and then I will figure it out from there.
Everything that Barbara said I agree with. After getting the center block done, I would use the border around the center block as a coping strip border to make the the size of the next borders
math friendly. The 3 inch border would be 2 inch because 65% would be 1.95 The 6 inch border would be 4 inches because 65% would be 3.9 I figure
it is living on the edge like Becky keeps saying, and I plan to give it a try. HelenW

[Lynnanne]

Hi Barbara T, I printed the vellum pattern at 65% this morning. A little bigger than 50 % and not
as big as 75%. My thought was a wall hanging. I did the same thing on the Color My World
quilt and liked it. I just print the pieces as custom and then 65% on my HP printer. I have not done the
math for everything, but figure the center block will work and then I will figure it out from there.
Everything that Barbara said I agree with. After getting the center block done, I would use the border around the center block as a coping strip border to make the the size of the next borders
math friendly. The 3 inch border would be 2 inch because 65% would be 1.95 The 6 inch border would be 4 inches because 65% would be 3.9 I figure
it is living on the edge like Becky keeps saying, and I plan to give it a try. HelenW

Hi Helen and Barbara T, I want to make a reduced version as well just like I also did for Color my World. With Helen’s suggestion I did 60 % and it worked great because it was all paper piecing. I think 65% sounds like a good idea for this quilt and remember that you have to add back in the 1/4 inch seam allowances. Good luck! Lynn

[Barbara T.]

Thank you all for the suggestions! Working from stash so may try a couple sizes of these first blocks and go from there.

[Helen W.]

Hi Helen and Barbara T, I want to make a reduced version as well just like I also did for Color my World. With Helen’s suggestion I did 60 % and it worked great because it was all paper piecing. I think 65% sounds like a good idea for this quilt and remember that you have to add back in the 1/4 inch seam allowances. Good luck! Lynn

Thanks Lynnanne, That is a good reminder. 65% of a quarter inch would be a small seam allowance. Barbara T was wondering about how difficult small paper pieced blocks are. I used a 2 inch paper pieced block on my sewing notions travel kit. see photo.
They are super cute. For pieces this small I use the add an 1/8 ruler that is to the left of the sewing kit. I assume that the borders
in the quilt are not paper pieced so I was thinking that might throw off the fitting things together, but then I decided I would just
draw the finished border width on a piece of copy paper and print that at 65% and add a seam allowance to that. I have a plan
in my mind that I think will work well. HelenW
CLICK ON THE PHOTO TO ENLARGE AND SEE THE ADD AN 1/8 RULER

[Barbara T.]

oh that is cute! I don't have that add an eighth but can get one. I just printed first ones at 75%. I think that finished size of quilt will work for my wall space.

[Marilyn M.]

Thank you for all of your tips and help. I’ve been a member for many years but this is the first BOM that I plan to try. I’ve been able to find your Live videos on YouTube, but cannot see the link to them on the Quilt Show site. I am logged in and see Becky’s videos and the patterns. I’ve done paper piecing for years and enjoy it, but plan to try freezer paper this time…always want to learn new techniques.

[Barbara B.]

My LIVE broadcasts are now easy to find in the MONTH 1 file--right after Becky's 4 videos for Month 1 is the link to my Month 1 LIVE video. Putting it with Month 1 gives you all the videos in one place for that month.
This was just done yesterday to make things easier for all.
Glad you are with us, Marilyn, it is a fun quilt project that teaches us a lot.

My first BOM too. Being patient for the next patterns to drop will be my personal learning. I hope I get better!

[Marilyn M.]

Thank you…makes sense.

[Christine R.]

Thank you Barbara for your comment about freezer paper. I think a packet of 70 sheets was in fact the cheapest cost per sheet so I guess I will bite the bullet and get it as that quantity should cover the entire amount of sheets required.

[Barbara B.]

With freezer paper you will not need to print multiple copies of the various patterns, one will be used over and over. So 70 sheets might be a lifetime supply. Try it, I think you will like the process.

[Marilyn M.]

First time trying to paper piece with freezer paper…I love it! I now have the four sections for Month 1 assembled. Is there a suggestion as to how to press the seam joining the two sections? I usually press my seams open for piecing because I feel my pieces are flatter.

[Barbara B.]

In Video 3 for Month 1 Becky shows you to press toward the pointy piece.
I rarely press seams open. That is personal preference.

[Marilyn M.]

In Video 3 for Month 1 Becky shows you to press toward the pointy piece.
I rarely press seams open. That is personal preference.

Thank you, Barbara.

[Barbara T.]

I am worried about all the bias. I am using the freezer paper method where feasible. When I joined the two pieces for month 1, I did a lot of fiddling to get those points to match. Since there is no paper attached to keep edges stable, would stay stitching be appropriate?

[Barbara B.]

Barbara, you could add stay stitching if you like. I didn’t and didn’t have a problem.
There are a lot of bias edges so you want to handle them gently. And, for sure, no steam in the iron.

[Toni J.]

Wow is this block difficult

[Helen W.]

Wow is this block difficult

Hi Toni J, What did you feel was so difficult? If foundation paper piecing is new to you, it takes some doing before
you become comfortable. If you take Becky's video and watch the first one, then do it step by step hitting pause on
your device between steps, it seems a lot easier. She shows each piece of fabric, how to place it and tells you of
potential problems. It you just can't get your points correct and want something not so difficult you could always
reduce the number of pieces to 3. One big triangle and 2 side pieces. It is just a simpler version. I made a pic
so you can see what I mean. When I did a Sue Spargo BOM this past year, I was way over my head since I was
new to hand embroidery. I substituted lots of easier stitches and I still love how it is looking. Still not done yet.
HelenW

CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE WHOLE BLOCK. I am having trouble with the photo size for some reason. I am doing what I alway do to reduce the size but it is not showing up correctly.

[Toni J.]

Helen, i finally was successful on the fourth block. I had to watch the video, pause, try. Then i worked the block according to the printed directions. Yes, I have done freezer paper piecing before but these directions seemed backwards

[Aimee M.]

If I am sewing a seam on a solid line that crosses another solid line and extends into the seam allowance, do I continue sewing on that solid line, or do I STOP once I reach the solid line.

Attached is a picture, do I sew on the portion of the line indicated by the yellow circle?

i hope this makes sense.

aimee

[Barbara B.]

Becky explains this in her videos for Month 1. If the solid line crosses to the edge you sew off the edge. If it stops at a solid line you backstitch. I recommend to also backstitch at the outside edges.
I recommend you watch all 4 videos for Month 1 before going on.

[Laceflower]

Barb are you going to give patterns for the changes you made to the borders on the solid fabric quilt?

[Barbara B.]

Yes. In month 4 I will show the border I used as an alternative. It is easy to draw. It will be on my blog and I will show it on the LIVE for month 4. Even Becky wants it.