I'm working on a baby quilt and I wanted to add some big block letters to the back — you know, go a little bit above and beyond the usual. After thinking about different ways to get the letters on the back, I decided to go with paper piecing. If you've never paper pieced before, here's what you need to know:
- It's easy with great results. I think it's very beginner friendly. You just sew right on the line.
- But it can be physically demanding — a constant rotation of sewing machine to cutting table to iron and back to sewing machine. (I threw out my back doing this little dance, btw.)
- There are a million free paper piecing tutorials online if you'd like to give it a try. I thought this one was pretty good:
- My first experiment with self-drafting paper piecing blocks was this quilt:
- Soon after, I took a class in drafting paper pieced improv blocks:
- After those experiences and my recent foray into the alphabet blocks, here are two paper piecing hints from me: (1) An "add a quarter" ruler makes paper piecing so quick and easy, (2) Shorten your stitch length to make removing the paper a breeze.
My little text project is still in process, but I thought I'd tell you about the basic process thus far:
I sketched out the basic idea of how I was going to put my blocks together.
Then, since I had several letters (3 "B's") that were the same, I decided to draft my blocks in Illustrator so that I could just print out the templates. (Notice that the template is "backwards" — this ensures the letter will be facing the correct way when finished.)
Then I began the process of putting each letter together and inserting them into the backing fabric.
I will be sure to share lots more pics when the quilt is done. I made a million mistakes along the way, but I'm enjoying the process thus far!
Thanks for stopping by!
So exciting. What a beautiful quilt it will be and so special too because you made it with love. How are you feeling?? So excited for you and Steve. Get ready for a real big change but a wonderful one at the same time.
So exciting. What a beautiful quilt it will be and so special too because you made it with love. How are you feeling?? So excited for you and Steve. Get ready for a real big change but a wonderful one at the same time.
So exciting. What a beautiful quilt it will be and so special too because you made it with love. How are you feeling?? So excited for you and Steve. Get ready for a real big change but a wonderful one at the same time.
So exciting. What a beautiful quilt it will be and so special too because you made it with love. How are you feeling?? So excited for you and Steve. Get ready for a real big change but a wonderful one at the same time.
So exciting. What a beautiful quilt it will be and so special too because you made it with love. How are you feeling?? So excited for you and Steve. Get ready for a real big change but a wonderful one at the same time.
So exciting. What a beautiful quilt it will be and so special too because you made it with love. How are you feeling?? So excited for you and Steve. Get ready for a real big change but a wonderful one at the same time.
So exciting. What a beautiful quilt it will be and so special too because you made it with love. How are you feeling?? So excited for you and Steve. Get ready for a real big change but a wonderful one at the same time.
Julie…that’s so cool. Lucky baby boy!!
Julie…that’s so cool. Lucky baby boy!!
Julie…that’s so cool. Lucky baby boy!!
Julie…that’s so cool. Lucky baby boy!!
Julie…that’s so cool. Lucky baby boy!!
Julie…that’s so cool. Lucky baby boy!!
Julie…that’s so cool. Lucky baby boy!!
I haven’t done a lot of paper piecing, although I do love it. I have dabbled more in English Paper Piecing. I love your sweet baby quilt!
I haven’t done a lot of paper piecing, although I do love it. I have dabbled more in English Paper Piecing. I love your sweet baby quilt!
I haven’t done a lot of paper piecing, although I do love it. I have dabbled more in English Paper Piecing. I love your sweet baby quilt!
I haven’t done a lot of paper piecing, although I do love it. I have dabbled more in English Paper Piecing. I love your sweet baby quilt!
I haven’t done a lot of paper piecing, although I do love it. I have dabbled more in English Paper Piecing. I love your sweet baby quilt!
I haven’t done a lot of paper piecing, although I do love it. I have dabbled more in English Paper Piecing. I love your sweet baby quilt!
I haven’t done a lot of paper piecing, although I do love it. I have dabbled more in English Paper Piecing. I love your sweet baby quilt!
nice.my hint is make baby quilt bigger than baby quilt size. maybe we just have bigger babies, 13 lbs 8 oz 22″ long, but those tykes like their toes and shoulders covered
nice.my hint is make baby quilt bigger than baby quilt size. maybe we just have bigger babies, 13 lbs 8 oz 22″ long, but those tykes like their toes and shoulders covered
nice.my hint is make baby quilt bigger than baby quilt size. maybe we just have bigger babies, 13 lbs 8 oz 22″ long, but those tykes like their toes and shoulders covered
nice.my hint is make baby quilt bigger than baby quilt size. maybe we just have bigger babies, 13 lbs 8 oz 22″ long, but those tykes like their toes and shoulders covered
nice.my hint is make baby quilt bigger than baby quilt size. maybe we just have bigger babies, 13 lbs 8 oz 22″ long, but those tykes like their toes and shoulders covered
nice.my hint is make baby quilt bigger than baby quilt size. maybe we just have bigger babies, 13 lbs 8 oz 22″ long, but those tykes like their toes and shoulders covered
nice.my hint is make baby quilt bigger than baby quilt size. maybe we just have bigger babies, 13 lbs 8 oz 22″ long, but those tykes like their toes and shoulders covered
This is way bigger than a baby quilt! I thought the same thing!
This is way bigger than a baby quilt! I thought the same thing!
This is way bigger than a baby quilt! I thought the same thing!
This is way bigger than a baby quilt! I thought the same thing!
This is way bigger than a baby quilt! I thought the same thing!
This is way bigger than a baby quilt! I thought the same thing!
This is way bigger than a baby quilt! I thought the same thing!
Wonderful. Hope you try in the hoop quilting with your scanNcut using the techniques of designing your own block
Wonderful. Hope you try in the hoop quilting with your scanNcut using the techniques of designing your own block
Wonderful. Hope you try in the hoop quilting with your scanNcut using the techniques of designing your own block
Wonderful. Hope you try in the hoop quilting with your scanNcut using the techniques of designing your own block
Wonderful. Hope you try in the hoop quilting with your scanNcut using the techniques of designing your own block
Wonderful. Hope you try in the hoop quilting with your scanNcut using the techniques of designing your own block
Wonderful. Hope you try in the hoop quilting with your scanNcut using the techniques of designing your own block
LOL! My machine has a 4 hoop. It would take me 5 years to finish!
LOL! My machine has a 4 hoop. It would take me 5 years to finish!
LOL! My machine has a 4 hoop. It would take me 5 years to finish!
LOL! My machine has a 4 hoop. It would take me 5 years to finish!
LOL! My machine has a 4 hoop. It would take me 5 years to finish!
LOL! My machine has a 4 hoop. It would take me 5 years to finish!
LOL! My machine has a 4 hoop. It would take me 5 years to finish!