Month two

[Mary N.]

I've made it through month one. Do I paper piece month two?

[Margo C.]

I paper pieced both the triangle units and the strippy unit.

I used graph paper to make foundations for the strippy units and they came out just right!

You might want to read through the comments on the other forum topics about these units.

forum/two-of-us-2013/6107-month-2-sashing-strips

forum/two-of-us-2013/6006-paper-pieced

[Margo C.]

Thank you. Could I just paper piece the triangles only? Just like in month one.

[Margo C.]

Thank you. Could I just paper piece the triangles only? Just like in month one.

Sure! If you don't paper piece the strippy unit, and you are having trouble making the unit come out to the right size you might want to review my test for stitching an accurate 1/4" seam allowance so that the unit comes out exactly right.

learn/classrooms/

[Margo C.]

Thank you very much. I watched the video and it is very helpful. Can't wait to try it.

[Susan B.]

I paper pieced both months and at Rita's suggestion, didn't tear the paper away from month 2 triangles and stitched right on the stitching line, which is making attaching the triangles to the center strips really easy. I think I'll leave the paper on until the 2nd side is sewn also. I haven't finished the center strips on month one yet. I sure wish I had left month one paper on the triangles.

[Carol R.]

Susan, I so agree with you. I just finished month one and left the paper attached while I sewed the center sashing. I had tried it with the paper unattached found that I spent alot of time matching points and they were not perfect. I found that I could match the points perfectly by just carefully matching the ends. I pinned both ends, the center and then one in between. My points were always perfect. Didn't even look at points before sewing, they just came out perfectly. I did make certain my sashing strips were cut perfectly. I know it was a little more time to remove the paper, but found that not needing to match at all made it worth the time. Carol

[Rita C.]

Yes leaving the papers on really does make it so much easier. And if your stitch length is short enough the papers do come off easily enough. I am just so glad that I have all mine done now. I just have to remove all those papers from both months! :roll: Time to watch a TQS show I think.

[Margo C.]

I'm glad to know that the pieces go together easier with the papers left on, but I had already removed mine so I had to pay close attention to lining them up! :roll:

At least my papers are all off!

[Susan B.]

I think I'm going to starch the daylights out of those 1" strips (before I cut them) and then stitch from the triangle side. Maybe I'll stitch with wash-away thread first. I think I can still see the points so as to miss them in stitching. It seems to me that if the sash length matches the triangle strip, they should line up "good enough".

[Margo C.]

Susan, starching the center strips before cutting them is a huge help.

I sewed the first triangle unit to the center, stitching from the triangle side being sure not to stitch over the points.
I pressed the seam towards the center strip, then used pins on the back side to mark the location of the opposite points so they would all line up and stretched or eased the second side as needed. It worked great!

[Margo C.]

Yes I found out leaving the paper on is easier. This is my first BOM this large and at times I feel nervous. I want to do a good job. Any other suggestions?

[Rita C.]

Starch the hell out of everything; measure twice, cut once; make sure your seam allowances are accurate; don't work on it if you are tired or in a hurry and DON'T PANIC if you don't understand something, just keep asking questions until you are sure you know what to do. And for goodness sake enjoy the process because otherwise what's the point?

[E.M. T.]

Well said !! Good anytime ! I'm gonna quote you !

[E.M. T.]

I'm buying more starch.