I have been stalled on my postage stamp quilt, in joining the blocks together using black squares. They have set-in seams, which I find doable but difficult on my machine. I have been researching set-in seams, and discovered English Paper Piecing. I decided to learn so that I could finish the postage stamp quilt.
Since EPP is done with hand sewing, I decided to make a smaller quilt to practice on, working on it at night before bed, when I am always away from my desk and sewing machine anyway.
I settled on the Patchwork of the Crosses pattern, and used this tutorial to teach myself. What I learned about EPP through trial and error so far:
Use cardstock for the papers, not computer paper. I found inexpensive 8-1/2×11″ cardstock paper at Walmart, that can have the templates printed on them with a home computer. (I am printing templates on cardstock, but I have since learned you can order them already precision-cut to size from Paper Pieces, which I will do next time when my cardstock is gone.)
I use a 3/8″ seam allowance for basting, not the 1/4″ that so many recommend. With a 1/4″ my papers kept coming out while I was sewing. With a 3/8″ the papers stay neatly until I am ready to remove them.
I use a blind ladder stitch to join my pieces together, not a whipstitch that so many recommend. The blind ladder stitch is not visible from the front, while the whipstitch can be.
Do not remove the papers until all sides have been sewn. Then you can remove the papers and reuse them.
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- Preparing the pieces.
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- Basted and ready.
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- First block done.
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- Organizing the blocks: Pinning through the corners of all the fabrics in a block, to keep them neat while waiting to be basted.
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- Second block finished.
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- Third block finished.
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- The papers removed from the central pieces.
Each block is about 11″ from point to point when pieced. I am going to do 6×6 blocks, or 36 blocks, for a square lap quilt. It will be about 70″ square with border and binding, when finished. When I have completed this quilt top, I should have learned enough about EPP in order to finish the set-in seaming of the postage stamp scrap quilt.
Continued in
An Advance disguised as a Setback (Jun 8, 2023)
Patchwork of the Crosses Progress (Jun 21, 2023)
New Crosses Blocks (Jul 5, 2023)
Crosses Piecing Update (Jul 16, 2023)
New Blocks, and a Layout (Jul 26, 2023)
Blocks Completed to Date (Aug 10, 2023)
New Patchwork of the Crosses Blocks (Aug 20, 2023)
Twenty-five Blocks Done! (Aug 23, 2023)
Color Twist (Sep 3, 2023)
Thirty Blocks Finished (Sep 11, 2023)
The Piecing Continues (Sep 22, 2023)
A New Layout (Oct 3, 2023)
Crosses Blocks Completed (Oct 24, 2024)
Last Minute Substitution (Oct 28, 2024)
Planning the Crosses Quilt Top (Oct 31, 2024)
Piecing Progress (Nov 18, 2024)
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