Last Top Finish of 2023!

"I don't like paper piecing, it wastes too much fabric." I hear.

But the results are so much more accurate and you can get sharp angles and crisp points that are nearly impossible with traditional rotary cutting.

And seriously - if anyone wants to come make a quilt out of the "wasted fabric" they are welcome to it.

I tend to pre-cut my pieces just a tiny bit oversized so there is room for shift (because shift happens!) but I'm not wasting gobs and oodles of fabric in the process.  It's barely a sliver.

And most of the time I'm not cutting pieces from yardage - I'm going to my scraps and smaller pieces anyway.  These are the left-overs of other things that I just want to use up.

I may be miserly with some things, but with my scrap stash I'm not.  

Trimming up the last of my sets.

Did you know you can use your Essential Triangle Tool to trim paper pieced units?  There are 1/4'' markings all the way round the outside of the ruler. And the shape of the ruler allows me to keep some fingers off the ruler and on to the cutting mat to help minimize ruler slippage.

Just another reason why this tool is always within reach at my cutting table.

For those asking "Where do you get your paper patterns?" I draw them up by computer and print my own.  The paper piecing units will be included with the pattern PDF when it is ready so you can print them then, too.

Adding those borders!

I made some border units the "traditional" way - and it was no easy feat to keep them straight and not wonky.  Any other method besides the Essential Triangle Tool cutting or traditional rotary cutting measurements would have had me go big, and sliver trim down - so how is that different than paper piecing.

Besides, that on-point square in the flying geese unit? Just the fact that it is on point makes traditional rotary cutting a bit of a pain.  

The true measurement for rotary cutting an on-point square would have had this measurement end in 15/16''

We round things to the nearest 1/8'' for ease of measuring, but do you know that it would be rounded DOWN to 7/8'' which is a tick too small?  And if I went above the 15/16'' to the full inch it would be too big?

Yep.  These are the reasons that some units are just better paper pieced in my world.

Lola concurs (And purrs!)

Borders in place, and running that victory lap!

Don't forget to stay stitch around the outside edge of your quilt top.  It helps minimize stretch during the quilting process and keeps all of those seams from popping open.

My last top finish for 2023!

Some of you may recognize both the cardinal inspired blocks, and the Stars Surrounding alternate blocks first presented in our Star of Hope Sew Along.

As mentioned from the get-go: Star of Hope retired after Hanukkah and was removed from the blog.

I loved the Stars Surrounding blocks so much - I started playing with the idea of using them to compliment my cardinal inspired blocks and I love the result.

As I'm gone most of January to New Zealand, be looking for Winter Cardinal to release on Groundhog's Day, 2/2/24.

The pattern for the Star of Hope quilt will be included in the Winter Cardinal pattern as a free bonus.

I'll share the completed quilt once it is done.

In the meantime: 

Tada!

I know I could just laze the last few days of 2023 away, but I'd love to start the new year with a clean studio.

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I'd like to start 2024 with a clean slate for optimal creativity.

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Do you get this way too?

Starting with the cutting table. 1, 2, 3 - GO!⁣

And now I can get back to those black/neutral pineapple blocks!

Son Jeff is on his way over. He and Hubster Dave are going to start in on refinishing the butcher block countertops in the two upstairs baths at the inn.

Which reminds me - I need to get over there and cover the decor and surfaces with sheets or I'll be having to clean every surface once they are done because they will dig right in and not think of that.

Have a wonderful Wednesday, everyone!