Author Archives

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A Gift in the Making

Every year crafters work endless hours making the special items they hope will bring joy to others. On their own, they may not seem like such investments in time, but when added together into a collection, the magnitude of effort is revealed.

This year, I have decided to designate a decorated box for each of my children as a place to collect the items I am making with them in mind. It not only works as a way to stay organized, but it has the added advantage of becoming a treasure chest of sorts. Each item added, while on its own might seem simple or small, will become part of a collection representing the love I have for the recipient, and a reflection of the joy I experienced in the making of gifts.

There will be an added gift in the treasure box – a gift that I will receive. If fatigue or doubt threaten to dampen my seasonal joy, I can simply open the boxes one by one and see the result of my efforts. It will be a reminder that my fatigue is the price I have chosen to pay in order to make gifts, gifts crafted from love, for my children.

I discuss this treasure box idea in this week’s video. Plus I will share how I have used patchwork and printables to create ornaments for my Christmas tree. You will find below three downloadable files with patterns/templates for a few of the projects I share this week. I hope they bring you as much joy as they did me.

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EPP Bauble Download
Log Cabin Block with Multiple Methods of ConstructionDownload
EPP Block 12 Wonky PinwheelDownload

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The Joy of Slow Crafting

When I started my journey into English Paper Piecing just over three months ago, I never envisioned how much joy I would find in the process. While not my first slow-craft (the trendy way to call traditional crafting), it has been the most surprising. Yes, it is true, my aging eyes need excellent lighting to manage, and a needle threading tool is quite helpful, but the joy of creating with needle and thread is abundant.

Finding balance seems easier now that I have added an additional slow-craft to my life. Without the slower hand work of crafts like EPP, it is easy to feel everything in life needs to be high-speed production in order to have value. Life, yes even crafting life, can speed out of control until one unexpected obstacle or turn derails you. Recovery is then required before the journey can continue.

This week I share three EPP projects: one that took weeks to make, one that is a component of something bigger, and one that is full of holiday joy. Each brings with it the benefits of slow-crafting.

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Three English Paper Piecing Pattern

Blowing in the Wind Wall Hanging Download
Hexie Snowflake Ornament Download
Autumn Leaves Quilt Block Download

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I share a few additional crafting ideas in this week’s video.

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Confused Geese – EPP Block 10

I often wonder if animals get as confused as we do when the weather doesn’t follow normal patterns. Based on a traditional Flying Geese pattern, this block takes a twist, with one column of geese flying in an opposite direction.

Confused Geese is a fairly straight forward block to piece. You construct each goose unit, apply sashing strips, and then borders. Much like the geese in my block, I was confused when I assembled it (as I discuss in my vlog this week), but the block worked out well despite my oops. I chuckled to think that the confusion the geese in the block were experiencing might have been contagious.

I hope you enjoy making this block as much as I did.

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Download Pattern for Confused Geese Here
10-confused-geeseDownload

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The North Star – EPP Block 09

A block that benefits from the use of light, medium, and dark contrasting fabrics for greatest impact. It is also stunning when made with a low contrast collection of fabrics.

Pattern for this block can be downloaded here.
09-north-starDownload

Still using 4 different fabrics, the blues are low contrasting for a subtle effect. Another option is to make it using one star fabric and one background fabric.

When the background fabric is changed to a dark contrast, the effect is dramatic.

This quilt layout uses 4 of the North Star blocks and a thin 1 inch border. Its finished size is 22 inches square.

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This week’s vlog shares my finished Halloween Quilt and some handy zippered bags. I include resource link in the vlog description for those wanting to try the zippered bag either with machine embroidery or with traditional sewing methods.

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Finishing the Unfinished

In the world of crafting, the UFO is anything but a rare occurrence. UnFinished Objects, the UFO, can also be called unfinished fiber objects in the world of knitting and crochet. At its heart, the UFO is simply a project that, once stated, was never finished. It is important to distinguish the UFO from the Grab n Go projects many crafters keep at a ready for times when crafting is out in the wild (dentist’s office’s lobbies, children’s school performances, stressful social engagements). It is also important to note that the UFO should not be mistaken for the slow projects kept on hand for the occasional break from the must-make-as-fast-as-possible projects and what-was-I-thinking projects which often dominate the crafters time. The UFO is separate from the rest, often because it is tossed into a hidden corner and somewhat forgotten.

However, this languishing UFO is not the only type of UFO in the crafter’s universe. Sometimes a UFO is simply a project put aside because life gets in the way of finishing. It might even be relegated to the infamous To Do pile, much like mending a favorite item of clothing. Every indication says that it will get done, just not at this particular moment. These UFOs are often the joy-filled projects a crafter begins but a misjudgment of time for completion occurs.

It is one of these latter types of UFO I completed this week along with all my other fiber and fabric fun. I share my UFO bag, this week’s English Paper Piecing block, and a few quick projects in my vlog.

Download EPP block 08 here.
08-courtyardDownload

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See the aforementioned UFO in this vlog.

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Cactus Rose – EPP Block 07

A block with so much potential. Change the colors and it can work for any season. I envisioned a Christmas Cactus when I put mine together.

The pattern for this block can be downloaded here.
Cactus RoseDownload

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Check out this weeks podcast for more adventures in fiber and fabric. This week I visited a fiber festival and brought home just a bit of fleece.

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Spool of Thread or Bobbin of Wool: EPP Quilt Block 06

What’s it name? This week’s English Paper Piecing block may be traditionally called The Spool, but in my world the spool of thread and the bobbin of wool compete for dominance. Whatever you choose to call it, this block pattern adds a bit of a spin on the standard block pattern.

The pattern for this block can be downloaded here.
Spool of ThreadDownload

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Plus more inspiration in this week’s podcast.

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Scrappy, Spooky, So Much Fun

English Paper Piecing dominates my days, especially since there are so many seasonal inspirations simply begging to become EPP projects. This week I am sharing two blocks for my ongoing EPP quilt project, plus a quilt pattern I’ve named Ghosts & Lanterns.

In addition to these EPP projects, I share more seasonal projects in this week’s podcast. With autumn breezes finally cooling the air, I have returned to my sewing room with excitement. In fact, that is were I am off to now.

Happy Unwinding with Fiber and Fabric💜

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Patterns for this week’s blocks can be downloaded here.

04-scrappy-16-patchDownload
05-wonky-16-patchDownload

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Pattern for Ghosts and Lanterns can be downloaded here.

00-ghosts-lanternsDownload

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Important Note: This is an untested set of basic schematics for this quilt rather than instructions.

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The First of Many Stars – EPP Quilt Block 03

From my earliest days of quilting, I have been drawn to star blocks. Whether created by using half-square triangles or diamonds, they never fail to entice me. However as far as ease of construction goes, they have caused me frustration. Maintaining each and every point on a star is not the easiest of tasks, especially when in a hurry to see the project finished. Switching to a slower process like English Paper Piecing, much like with foundation piecing, offers a way to get precision with less frustration. In the past, I have dabbled with foundation piecing as a way to get my star blocks precise, but while I did enjoy the process, it never clicked for me like EPP has. Maybe my new found love of EPP has a great deal to do with my current need to slow down just a bit.

During periods of life when the future is more unsure than what we have come to expect, or when we feel like we are standing on shaky ground, slow-crafting has the potential to calm our mind. While finished objects and busy hands often motivate the hand-crafting world, many crafts can be done with speed without the loss of accuracy. EPP, like other hand sewing crafts, requires focus, even when the skill is performed by the hands of a master. Every stitch is placed in just the right spot to create strength, yet small enough to seemingly disappear when the block is finished. Over time, rhythmic precision develops, but focus is still required.

Working with an EPP block offers the crafter a choice –

  • focus on the stitches while also focusing on a movie or audio book so that you mind won’t wander,
  • or focus only on the stitches so your mind will wander with the hope that it will work through the stresses of the day.

As hand-crafters, we often choose our patterns and projects with these two choices in mind. It is likely the reason why we keep so many projects going at the same time. We have projects that fit for both of the choices above, so we can easily pick one based of the need of the moment.

Right now, my need has me picking a project that keeps me focused on my hands rather than focused things outside my control. In truth, I’m not at all surprised I have gravitated to so many star blocks as I plan out the EPP quilt. Whether wishing on a star, or simply taking in their sparkling beauty, star gazing, much like slow-crafting can quiet the mind during troubled times.

The LeMoyne Star

The LeMoyne Star pdf link Download
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Hexagon Pinwheel – EPP Quilt Block 02

A twist on an old favorite.

Hexagon Pinwheel pdf linkDownload

One of the most iconic quilts of the 20th century is the Granma’s Flower Garden. Made from hexagons combined to create the appearance of flower petals, this design has been created with one unit – the hexagon. The concept and design has also appeared in crochet, with the hexagon replacing the more common Granny Square. Whether sewn or crocheted, the look is memorable and inviting.

Putting a spin on the more common block, the Hexagon Pinwheel adds the twist of piecing together the center hexagon before building the floret. I have added one additional twist and placed the floret into a pieced block. As with other similar designs, it would be easy to simply applique the floret onto a solid background, but I have chosen to challenge myself. It would be perfectly acceptable for others to bypass this challenge. There would be nothing wrong with cutting an 11 inch square of fabric, applying the constructed floret, and then trimming the block to 10.5 inches. Sometimes, one twist in a project is more than enough.