Saturday, July 12, 2014

A New WISP


I have always said that I like to have one or two works in progress at a time.  One of the reasons why is because I enjoy having a hand sewing project.  I haven't had an ongoing hand sewing project for about a year, and I have been thinking about starting one to have a portable sewing project this summer. 

This week as I was reading some posts for the New Quilt Blogger's Blog Hop, I was very interested in Jan's (The Colorful Fabriholic) post.  She mentioned hand piecing quilts with a group she belongs to.  We began emailing each other about hand piecing using the traced-template method. Jan describes the method in this post

I have used the traced-template method before when hand piecing Summer's Flower.  I made this quilt nearly 20 years ago. 


I also used it when finishing Compass Rose last year.  This was someone else's UFO that I was given. 


After discussing it with Jan (who was so encouraging), I decided to make a Drunkard's Path quilt.  I am mostly following the Dancing Daisies tutorial from the Moda Bake Shop.  The tutorial shows how to machine piece the blocks, so I pulled out this old book to make templates to sew a 4 inch block by hand. 


My cutting line templates look like this on a charm square: 


I can trace around them and mark matching spots through the holes.  I do this on sand paper glued to a board to grip the fabric. 


Then I can line up the sewing-line templates with the dots and trace them. 

 
I just use good scissors to cut the curved lines. 


Before going out to purchase fabric, I tested out the templates on some scraps.  I enjoyed it a lot. 


The back looks really neat.  Because you only sew on the line, it is easy to swirl the seams to make it more flat. 


The fabric I purchased is a Chance of Flowers layer cake with Kona Snow as the background.  The plaid on the bias will be my binding. 


I selected my backing from the clearance section at my LQS.  It was nice getting it for a discount. 


The first thing I did when I got home was cut the layer cake into quarters. 


Then I cut out 40 charm squares from the Kona Snow.  Here is one fourth of my quilt ready to be traced and hand pieced. 


I have already sewn 8 four inch blocks. 


The tutorial has the values like the picture above, but I may switch the light and dark. 


I have plenty of time to decide.  But first, I need to decide if I want to use the fabrics with the cream background. 


I don't know if there is enough contrast.  If I don't use them I may need to purchase a charm pack or extra yardage.  What would you do? 

This project will definitely be a WISP-- Work In Slow Progress.  However, I am very excited to do it.  I have 8 done and only 312 more to go to make a 64 x 80 inch quilt. 

XX,
Jasmine

P.S.  I will be linking up with Let's Bee Social and Needle and Thread Thursday (buttons on sidebar).

21 comments:

  1. Beautiful, Jasmine! I like to have hand stitches in progress always too! Hand stitching is so peace promoting!

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  2. What clever templates. Have never made this one - looks fabby. I don't know what to advise you on the cream ... I think it compliments the fabrics you have chosen. There's a lot of squares to make ... good luck :)

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  3. Just a note to let you know how much I have enjoyed reading your blog from January up to today. I really like your take on using up your stash, as I have about 15 years of fabric to work with as I am planning on retiring this November. Keep up the great blog and enjoy your wonderful family. Mary from Phoenix
    mnels72012@gmail.com

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  4. Hi Jasmine! I would go ahead and use the fabrics with the cream background. I think there's enough other colors in those fabrics to make them stand out from your Kona Snow. It's looking really good so far!

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  5. Love the cream. You always make great decisions with fabric.

    I made the quilt a while back. It turned out so cute! The YW tied it and we gave it to one of the Beehives who was diagnosed with cancer.

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  6. I think your cream fabrics will work just fine, especially mixed in with the other prints. But I also really like a bit of gradation and color variation in a quilt. :)

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  7. This quilt is going to be lovely! I really like the colors. And how great to find the backing on sale. Score!

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  8. This will be great! You are always coming up with something fun :)

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  9. Nice work Jasmine! You are braver than me-sewing all those by hand, you go girl!!

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  10. This will be beautiful! I have yet to make a whole quilt with curves and I have a hand project that doesn't get much done on it. I keep meaning to work on those hexies. I like the creams in there I I think they add a nice variety. Keep stitchin'!

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  11. I love a good hand piecing project and have never thought of doing curves before. It would be a great way to introduce curves to my skill set - slow and steady :) How do you make your templates? They look like some sort of plastic?

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    1. My templates were made from template plastic sheets that came printed with the graph. I love it!

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  12. I've been loving Drunkard's Paths lately! I just bought the book "A Quilter's Mixology" and I can't wait to make some projects out of it :D

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  13. I do love the cream and I think it offers enough contrast but it depends on what you're looking for. Do you want the quiet, restfulness of a lower contrast or the bright and joyfulness of a high contrast. Either way, I think you have a winner here. Sometimes it's great to have a WISP. Take your time and enjoy the process.

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  14. I really admire and love to do curved piecing. So glad to see you have chosen to make this quilt, Jasmine! Did you consider piecing by machine? I like the cream prints with the white. I would use them! What a fabulous collection of prints you chose to work with. Looking forward to your progress!

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  15. I started a hand sewn drunkards path years ago and finally gave the UFO away. I never thought of using a charm square as the base for a pair of templates. How very clever! Easier to mark, cut out and store.
    Your fabrics are so pretty. I look forward to seeing the completed quilt.

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    1. Thanks, Ann! I figure if I get tired of the hand sewing, I can just make a smaller project. Then I could use the charms for something else. We'll see how it goes.

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  16. I think the creams will look ok, but the darker fabrics look awesome. It really is a matter of what you like, you might do one or two and see how they look in the mix.

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  17. So beautiful! I love having a hand sewing project too. This one should keep you occupied for a while! I think the cream prints will be okay, especially mixed in with all the others. They may provide a bit of a resting spot for the eyes.

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  18. I've never thought of hand stitching a drunkards path but I could see myself doing this! really like your fabric choices.

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  19. I'm having the same dilemma with the cream backgrounds in Chance of Flowers...the jury is still out here! I love your Drunkard's Path squares.
    Debbie
    ===^..^===

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