Don't do as I did!

Well, most days I'd convert you the other way!! I did leave it along though ...! . In message , Sunny writes

Funnily enough, I didn't even think of that. I think I was too busy trying to see how I could possible have got so much wrong!! It isn't an easy block; but it's no worse than much 'stuff' I've tried >g< . In message , Estelle Gallagher writes

Yes, but I can be a bit tenacious - occasionally, you understand >gg< - so it took quite a bit of digging deeper into the hole before I gave up! . In message , Sandy writes

If find that little blips like this are usually caused by sunspots and atmospheric disturbances rather than the skill of the quiltmaker. Drop the project for today and try tomorrow when the stars are better aligned. Keep calm and carry on.

anth> I have done hundreds of FPP pieces - I use it greatly!

John, I just wanted to say you gave me a good laugh! Thanks, Launie, in Oregon

I have been there, done that....but only with one block and it had angles in it. Took me forever to figure out how to cut that shape so when I flipped it over it would cover the desired area. It was like an inch wide by four inches long and I ended up cutting a block, sew, pressed, then trimmed the extra off. Oh and the picture of what I made is in webshots. It's the art bag I made for my dd.

I love it! Launie, in Oregon

I haven't had a biorhythm since they took my tonsils out. Polly

"Patti" Oooh! It could be biorhythms?!

And that right there is my DOOM! Doesn't matter if you are paper piecing, backwards is backwards. I have however developed a super-secret quilters trick for effectively dealing with this problem. Avoid using single sided fabric.

Sadly this super-secret trick does not always work so well. I will fall in love with some beautiful hussy on a bolt. And of course she is pricey, all the best ones are at least $8 a yard. Then after spending hours petting, planning, and diagraming, I go to move her into position and she turns her back on me. This is why I sometimes end up with two small mirror image quilts instead of one large quilt as originally planned. It is how Aunties Irene and Miriam wound up with matching mirror image night and day twin quilts.

NightMist

Regretably, some of the best lessons we learn in life are taught by making mistakes! My sympathies for your frustration. I think you taught us all a valuable lesson - soooo THANK YOU!

ME-Judy

Thank you for your public service announcement. Sounds like you've taken your full 2009 quota of quilting boo-boos all in January! Here's hoping the project goes well from now on. PAT

Sure, just think of Penicillin! PAT

Yes, it was a pretty good haul wasn't it? >g< . In message , Pat in Virginia writes

precisely why i dislike FPP so much... i have made fan quilt blocks this way, but i wasnt happy doing them. couldnt wait till the torture was over!

the tea and scone (or a biscotti) sounds like a road to take today. try again tomorrow or Monday..

amy in CNY

That was my first thought Pat - the colours. Commiserations.

Sally at the Seaside~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~uk

Patti wrote:

Kathy, do you have any recommendations on learning paper piecing? Your work is so beautiful, and I'm SO angle-challenged...

--Heidi

Oh how I wish I could teach everyone to love it like I do. If you are a person who can read instructions and visualize from a diagram (I can)...this website solved all my paper piecing hang ups.

It just clicked with me after seeing this explained this way. No more holding a piece up to the light (I NEVER figured that one out), no more pieces that didn't fit....and I can even make directional fabrics lie the way I want them. I fold my pattern on all the lines before I start so I can see each piece's outline when I fold it over for the butterfly trick. I also use an "add a quarter" or "add an eighth" inch ruler to trim my seams before adding the next piece. I know many just use a rotary cutter and eyeball it. I'm a bit more compulsive I guess. Thank you for your kind words.

Thanks for this site Kathyl. I'm thinking maybe it's time I re-learnt!

(By the way - I use scissors!! - and no ruler!) . In message , KJ writes

I don't either I would rather be safe than sorry. I love PPing.

I don't think we've met, either. I haven't read the other responses, but I had trouble with paper piecing until I bought Carol Doak's DVD (available for sale on her website), It makes paper-piecing so simple. It tells you how to know what sizes to cut your pieces, and how to check to be sure they're going to be in the right spot. She also has a Yahoo Group and it has a free beginner pattern. The DVD is done in a humorous way, too, and it's enjoyable to watch!