JANUARY 2009

[Margo C.]

OK - SUE OR MARGO

I CHECKED MY SIZE OF PATTERN AND IT WAS SMALL SO I REPRINTED IT TO THE CORRECT SIZE. I PAPER PIECED MY HOUSE. I DID A PRETTY GOOD JOB ON IT (NEVER PAPER PIECED BEFORE). NOW I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS.

I SET MY MACHINE ON A SHORT STITCH AND THE PAPER STARTED COMING OFF BY ITS SELF, SO I MADE THE STITCH A LITTLE LONGER. WHEN IT CAME TIME TO TEAR THE PAPER OFF IT WAS A LITTLE HARDER TO PULL OFF THAN I EXPECTED. ALSO, IT KIND OF PULLED ON SOME OF MY STITCHES WHEN I REMOVED THE PAPER. WHERE THE FABRIC INTERSECTS THE NEXT 1/4 INCH IS NOT SEWN - IS THAT THE WAY IT IS SUPPOSE TO BE? ON A BERNIA HOW DO YOU TELL HOW MANY STITCHES PER INCH? I THINK WITH A LITTLE MORE PRACTICE I CAN GET PRETTY GOOD AT PAPER PIECING.

MIMI (JIMMIE)

Jimmie, keep playing with your stitch length until the paper doesn't fall off. The stitches per inch really don't matter because the size of the needle that you are using will make a difference, too! Also, it helps to fold and crease the stitching lines, or gently drag a stilleto along the stitching line to loosen the paper before removing it.

[Margo C.]

On the paper-piecing do you backstitch at the beginning and end of each line to secure the stitches? I have never done any PP and could not wait for 2009 to get started on this quilt.Thanks in advance, Dixie

Dixie, the stitches are so tiny that there is no need to backstitch. Just start and start your line of stitching right where the template line is (NOT into the seam allowance) and be aware that the seams are fragile as you you are removing the paper.

[Margo C.]

OK....try this link for the line drawing:

http://bridgetlilja.homestead.com/files/Blank_BOM.JPG

THANK YOU BRIDGET!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Jo H.]

THANKS Margo and Bridget!!! You both are awesome.

JoJo

[Lynn K.]

With all of the helping hands (so far Margo and Bridget) we should all make it to the finish line!

And away we gooooooooooo....................

[karen f.]

Thanks ladies! Karen

[karen f.]

Margo, Thanks so much for the helpful info. Sues' directions are great. I am so glad she provided the practice cabin. The pictures on your web page are especially helpful to me as I learn better watching then reading. I kept turning it wrong way til I looked at pics I got the little cabin finished and only unsewed a seam once. LOL, I didn't read all the tips from Sue on not having to unsew, so I hope I wont have to practice that on the star. Sandi in FL

[karen f.]

Hi and Happy New Year to everyone. I printed out the 2009 BOM and have spent the whole day playing with fabric.
I have paper pieced before and found that my favorite thing to use is Sulky Paper Solvey. It goes directly into the printer and It is water soluble and dissolves quickly in water. I love it because it takes the rip and tear out of paper piecing.
It comes in pkgs. of 12 sheets of 8 1/2" X 11".
Nina in cold and windy Va.

[Frances L.]

Nina,
That sounds cool. Since I haven't found my thread yet, I'll have to look for that.
Frances

[Frances L.]

Hi all --

For those who asked about paper piecing:
-- If your paper falls off, before you finish stitching the units, the stitches are too small.
-- If you have to tug your paper too much to get it off once you've sewn it... if it pulls your stitches loose... if you have to trip and tear... if it tugs at your thread... shorten your stitch just a tad.
-- Keep on trying variations of the stitch length with scraps of fabric and scraps of paper until you get the stitch length "just right." You will know it when it happens. And when you've sewn and sewn and sewn as many paper foundation projects as I have... I can actually tell the stitch length by the sound of the machine! So listen up, everyone!
-- How do you tell the number of stitches per inch on machines that use just 1, 2, 3 or other such indicators? I don't know of a way -- I know what 12-13 and what 20-22 stitches per inch look like because one of my old machines actually showed the stitches per inch on the indicator. The 20-22 stitches per inch on my Bernina 930 is just a hair less than "1." The 20-22 stitches per inch on my Bernina 1530 is about 0.8 . You learn your machine my testing and trying out things until finally... the light bulb clicks on!
-- Do I backstitch at the start or finish of paper foundations? Nope, the stitches are so small that I don't need to do that.
-- Is one needle better than another? I've used various sizes, but I prefer using a jean stitch needle (70/10) for piecing (it's got a thin shaft and makes the stitching nice!) and a bulkier needle for paper piecing (90/14) because it chews a larger hole in the paper. But the bottom line is that I'll generally use whatever is already on my machine for paper piecing. How do I know what size of needle is on my machine - can you tell by looking? Hey - I have a hard enough time finding the eye of the needle, much less telling which size needle is in my machine! So I have three different sizes of needle packages taped onto the top of my machine: 70/10, 80/12 and 90/14. I put a little piece of blue masking tape on the needle pack that matches the needle when I put it in the machine. Works for me!

I'm excited for all of you -- I can't wait to see what you create over the next year!

Sue Garman

[Frances L.]

Geez-Louise!!! I vowed that I wasn't going to do this year's BOM, since I'm doing another one of Sue's quilts. But I'm just getting sucked into all the excitement just listening to all of you girls!!! I have decided that I will do the feathered-star center and a couple of borders, just to get my fix! (my newly remodeled bathroom needs a wall-hanging!)
I love to PFP and I have always wanted to make a feathered star...it was just too much to pass up...I'm weak willed too, when it comes to quilting!! So...thanks for dangling that big carrot Sue, I'm biting off a little taste for 2009!!
Happy New Year!

Blessings,
Debbie S.

[Frances L.]

I am a bit overwhelmed with this new BOM. I love applique so much but have never paper pieced at all. I'm sure this will be a challenge. Sounds like there are a lot of questions but answers as well - which is a good thing. :?

Happy New Year to all of you!

Bonny

[Barbara B.]

Margo, I am so impressed with your tutorials! What a great job you do of showing and explaining these basic piecing techniques!

Anyone can learn something from watching--I'm a professional quiltmaker with more than 20 years experience and I still benefitted from reviewing your tips--I'm going to block my feathered star too--it is worth it to start with a perfectly square center block.

Thanks so much for taking your time to do this--it is one of the reasons TQS is so valuable to me and so many.

Barbara

[Donna N.]

I couldn't wait to download the instructions yesterday! Then, (I just couldn't help myself), I had to start the feathered star. I've done others using acrylic templates and set-in seams. That was somewhat easy, but I had some issues with exact fit on all the elements. The paper-pieced method should resolve that!

Anyway, after at least two hours of auditioning fabrics, I got started. I have most of the paper-pieced units completed and will begin building the block tomorrow (gotta work today).

So far the hardest part was selecting fabrics. I finally came up with fabrics I'm pleased with, after completely changing what I "thought" would be my star fabrics. Thanks to Sue who said it was NOT necessary to select all fabrics at the beginning. That simple statement gave me the freedom to change my mind and let the fabrics speak to me. I think/hope the other fabrics in my stash will come together for the remainder of the quilt top. But, if they don't, Shop Hops are one of my favorite things!!!

[Paula D.]

Dixie, great question. Instead of backstitching, decrease the size of your stitch, making paper removal easier. Stitching will be secured also when it crosses over another line. Be sure to start and stop stitching beyond the stitching line on the pattern. Tricky to get the hang of this technique at first, but then you'll LOVE it.