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Are you drawn to the Mariner's Compass?  Do you have it on your wish list of quilts to make?

I would love to guide you through the process of making your dream mariner's compass using precision paper-piecing methods.

Join me at Sew Smart in Wausau, WI on March 13, 2013. We will be working on my pattern "G.P.S. -  Geese Phying South" which incorporates mariner's compass blocks with flying geese blocks. The class session is from 9-4 and you can contact Sew Smart to sign up.  I hope to see you there.

Getting it Together and Traveling On

My new quilt is coming together as the background is added and the sections are combined.

Recently, I traveled to Des Moines, IA where we gathered for a class on string piecing.  I enjoyed meeting so many new friends and sharing ideas with them. My quilts loved the opportunity to show off and puffed themselves up with pride as they were displayed during two lectures for the guild. Is it any wonder that they didn't all fit back into the suitcases for the ride home?

We spent one day paper piecing Mariner's Compasses for the center of the G.P.S. wall quilts.

Busy sewing

and trimming.

Anything to get a good picture. 

My friend Mary, who traveled with me and was a valued assistant, myself, and Peggy, who hosted us at her lovely home.

Continuing on a New Quilt

In a previous post, I showed the beginnings of a new quilt. This quilt started with a paper drawing drawn to size. Here it is with some of the pieces cut out.

For the long curving lines, I string-pieced multiple fabrics to create an explosion of color. Now, what will happen in the circles?

Using selected colors, I paper-pieced a mariner's compass.

I dropped this onto my drawing and went on to paper-piece another compass

which filled in a side circle.

Now I am stopped. I'm debating the placement. Do I like the connection between the string-piecing and the compass?  

What do you think?  Should I leave it? Should I alter the plan?

Tuesday's Tile - Sashing Gone Astray

Quilter's Tile - Sashing Gone Astray

8" x 8"

©2012 Sharon V. Rotz

Today, I thought I would combine two techniques for using smaller pieces of fabric: paper piecing and string piecing. Both of these techniques are easily done using a foundation and both of these techniques will work well for making an interesting sashing in my newest quilter's tile.

I started with a sketch that I drew on paper. Already, I could see that the sashing strips between my 16 squares were a little aggressive. All those teeth were eating away at my squares. Yes, my project was beginning to go astray as the sashing strips began to take over.   

But, as they say, "What will be, will be!" 

I traced the pattern onto tracing paper that works well for paper piecing foundations. Here, I have begun to cut the foundations apart to use for my piecing. The 16 plain squares will become templates for cutting out the squares. Since all of the foundations will be used on the wrong side of the fabric, I also have to remember to place these templates on the wrong side of the fabric to cut my squares.

Here several of the pieces are cut, (some complete with string piecing) and laid in position on my original sketch.

Oh my, these pieces are quite small! 

The beauty of paper piecing is that despite the small size, I can achieve accuracy and perfect points.

As I started to stitch the pieces together,

I couldn't resist a look at the right side. Then, back to the wrong side and completion of the piecing.

Yes, the sashing has taken over and the 16 gallant, but misshaped squares are pushed to the background.  A new identity has emerged.

Tuesday's Tile - Oh, I Didn't See That Coming!

Quilter's Tile - The Fan

8" x8"

©2012 Sharon V. Rotz

When I was searching my stash for pink fabric, I discovered this paper pieced fan block between the pieces.

I laid it aside, but it kept calling to me. It measured 8" so it would be perfect for a Quilter's Tile.

I auditioned several fabrics looking for the best background.

This fabric fit the mood of the picture in my mind.

Contemporary styling was not the choice this time. Out came a variety of traditional trims.

I opened up small sections of the seam allowance, tucked the end of the rickrack in and added narrow rickrack along each point.

When I checked my block it was definitely not square, as you can see. Vertically, it is on the line. Horizontally, it is at least a 1/2" off.  Could this be why it didn't make it into the original project?

All to often, I have seen quilters take out their rotary cutter and square ruler and trim off the excess, mis-shaping the block in the effort to make it square again.

I like to pin the outside of the block to a square corner and see if I can steam press the block back into the correct shape. Here is the bumpy block pinned in position.

And, after steaming, it is laying flat and square.

Since I have no idea where the pattern is for the outside of my fan, I will make a new pattern. When the fan was laying on the paper, I traced along the outside edge.

Using a flexible curve, I drew a line 1/2" inside my first line. This will become my cutting line.

The pattern piece drawn and cut to size.

The seam line will be midway between my two lines.

The fabric was cut using the new pattern. It is marked in quarters and pinned to the fan ready for stitching.

Stitched on, a perfect fit.

The fan was finished with machine quilting and lace around the edge for a binding. I added, not tiny pearl beads, but  dots of Pearl White Lumiere paint.

New Idea for an old UFO

My good friend, Chris Lynn Kirsch, just started a wonderful new blog. She has been speaking of UFOs, all those unfinished projects we have been storing. It just fits into my thoughts because I am presenting challenging myself to use these bits of blocks in a new way. The traditional block is called pickle dish and I taught this several years ago.

Armed with many paper pieces all ready to stitch, fabric gathered and stored is a nice little plastic box (for how many years?), I now feel the time has come to move on with the project. I haven't paper pieced for a while but fell right into it again and remember how I love those precise points.

Where do you think I should go with this project? Add your comments and come back to see how things progress. Meanwhile, check out how Chris is working to complete her UFO pile.