Just Takes 2™ Unit 9 Blocks

                                                     Dove at the Window                                            ?                                                  English  Ivy

Old Dogs - New Tricks : The Conversion of a Quilter

On one of my first trips to teach Dear Jane, a lady in class was paper piecing most of her blocks.  I knew about PP'ing but had never done it. For some reason, I felt like that was "cheating." After all, we had worked hard to perfect our techniques for rotary cutting,
half-square and quarter-square triangles, etc...First, I would never sit and tear off all that paper- waste of time. Second, what a waste
of fabric!
As I travelled, I saw more and more women PP'ing, and I started learning the technique. I would only use it on Doreen's
Peaky and Spike, not wanting to be wasteful and lazy. Besides, half the seams I made had to be taken out, because when I flipped the fabric over, the space wouldn't be covered. Did that ever happen to you? And I was using such a tiny stitch length, it was easier to re-do than take out the stitches. Long story shorter: I don't think it's cheating any more to paper piece. It's a wonderful way to get
great looking blocks, wasteful or not. Pre-cutting the pieces makes it a lot easier, and  really tiny stitches are not necessary. Paper has been much improved so that it tears easily. Since JT2, I've really become hooked, no embarrassment, no apologies...I hope you are enjoying paper piecing, too!

The second technique I now advocate is backbasting for appliqué. I had my own little method: freezer paper on top, draw around shape with a Pigma pen, remove paper and needle turn. Worked for me like a charm. Then along came Jeana Kimball and her back basting technique. I tried upteen times to backbaste, always frustrated that I couldn't stay on that line.
A few years ago, Jeana was teaching in Grand Rapids, and I went to the class. Not only did I have a wonderful time, it finally clicked. The secret for me is to keep both thumbs very close together, one with the needle, the other holding the fabric. I now prefer backbasting to any other method of appliqué.

Paper piecing and backbasting  are relatively new for me, and like everything else we do, "We do best what we do most." I am getting better and also faster as I use these techniques. I still have all my other techniques in my "Quilter's Bag of Tricks." There is not a specific one that is perfect for everything we do as quilters, and it is nice to add a skill or two along the Journey.  It is wonderful to see that you all are adding your own new skills to your Bag of Tricks, too!

Now, let's get on over to Gay's website for the new blocks! Have fun stitching!

Unit 9  Patterns and Assembly Instructions : http://www.sentimentalstitches.com

Just Takes 2™ Unit 8 Blocks

Here we are again! You are making some beautiful blocks! We love watching you develop new skills, and the results are terrific! Keep up the good work!

Unit 8 is a "restful" group of blocks. You have been working hard the last two Units with Grandma's Favorite Compass and the big appliqué in the last unit. Relax and enjoy making these new blocks !
 

The big block is Cathedral Window, and Gay has some wonderful embroidery to fill those corners! The embroidery  makes the blocks look so classy!

Click here to download Unit 8 Blocks

Gay's blocks and embroidery patterns: www.sentimentalstitches.com

For Retired Patterns Units 1,2,3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 go to http://sentimentalstitches.myshopify.com/collections/digital-downloads/products/just-takes-2