Saturday, February 25, 2017

Geesed and Goosed

Last Saturday at our Guild meeting we had a paper piecing class.  Half the class did what we referred to as 'traditional' paper piecing and the other half did freezer paper paper piecing.  Some people had a lot of experience and some not so much.  We thought it might be a fun way to introduce and expand some techniques that we all gained collectively.  

I remember when I first started paper piecing how intimidating it seemed.  Since then I have learned a lot, and it doesn't scare me as it once did.  We picked a couple basic patterns to work with, and began the fun!

16 1/2" x 16 1/2"
'Circle of Geese' is a free pattern available on Craftsy from Piece By Number.  This was one of my first projects and where I got my 'feet wet' with paper piecing.  I've only made it once before, but I was so excited and happy with my first endeavor...it pretty much got me hooked on this wacky paper piece craze!  So, I was pretty excited to give it another try.  



I made a test piece to share at the meeting because I was one of the co-teachers.  I was surprised at how quickly it came together this time around.  Chalk that up to a couple years of paper piecing under my belt.



I should note that the pattern is just the center circle of geese.  When I got home, I decided to add a border.  

I've been a little obsessed with geese lately, geese and this color scheme!  I'm happy to say that every piece is from my scrap heap.  I was looking for a way to use the scraps and consciously veered away from the rainbow.



The little geese are 1" x 2" and paper pieced.  The corner geese I had tried to get the same size as the center and it just about worked!  Looking at the back of a paper piece project (or EPP or quilt) is always interesting!  It's always worth a look and nine times out of ten...worth a picture!



After letting the top stew for a few days, an idea for quilting finally came to me.  Concentric circles in the center and phantom geese along the border.  This would have been a great project to share as a concentric circle tutorial!  By the time I realized that I was nearly finished with the center.  There will be a next time!



I liked this photo because it doesn't look at all like flying geese!  More like a circular saw blade!

The circles are spaced 1/2" apart and again, I used the side of my walking foot.  After the first round using dark blue thread, I decided to add more circles using different thread colors.  Five different colors to be exact!



You can see the quilting better on the back as well as the thread colors.  And because I thought it would be fun, I added two different corner colors!  Frivolous fun is always fun!

Who here has a favorite paper piecing pattern?  I know paper piecing isn't for everyone.  If you have never tried it, you should.  It can be so much fun and it's another skill to add to your arsenal!

LINKING:

30 comments :

  1. Happy weekend Jayne! This is beautiful quilt! It's fun how the project itself always gives new ideas. x Teje

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  2. Beautiful! I'm not really a paper piecer, but sometimes it lets you do things you just couldn't do any other way.

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    1. I never thought I would paper piece either! (of EPP, or bias tape, or …!) You never know, maybe in a a year or two you will change your mind!

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  3. Thanks for this post Jayne. I am trying my first paper pieced block this weekend for a BOM.

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    1. Good luck with your first paper pieced block! I hope you enjoy the process. It does get easier and easier the more you do!

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  4. Another beauty!! I have been thinking about doing the triple goosed block for my March Island Batik PPing project. Maybe I am crazy, LOL

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  5. This is gorgeous! I have not done paper piecing mostly because of not having a printer...which is finally no excuse, as we got a new one a few months ago!Maybe I should start with this same circle...it is a classic, for sure!

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    1. It does make it a little more difficult if you don’t have a printer for the pattern! However…one day you will give it a try! I swore I would never do it! I think it’s worth a try even if you decide it isn’t for you. The Circle of Geese isn’t too difficult. You could try flying geese, or economy blocks. There are plenty of beginner friendly patterns out there!

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  6. I really love your style and use of solids.... I need to explore PP more, especially flying geese (French press and the envelope blocks are my only experience)...

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  7. Jayne, this is a great little project. I am going to make one because I love paper piecing. Thank you.
    Christine from Ontario

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  8. Having finally mastered geese , I think I should down load this pattern . Lovely mini Jayne

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  9. I love the cool colors against the dark blue! Such a great combo.

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  10. Jayne, your mini is so beautiful! I've wanted to try the Circle of Geese pattern, but forgot until I read your post. I think I even have the templates printed out! Guess I better go find what I did with them now! I love the border you added on, especially the quilted geese.

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  11. Really like those colors! And the different thread colors too.

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  12. I really like the colors in this one. I am a huge fan of navy. Your attention to detail really puts your projects over the top. Beautiful! Thanks for sharing with Oh Scrap!

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  13. Can't get enough of this--and of how your quilting complements the piecing. I don't think I have a favorite paper piecing pattern. I love them all whether paper foundations or freezer paper. I do like to design my own--such as teeny tiny lighthouses. The only thing that keeps me from making them all is time. 🙂

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  14. I love the border you added. You did a great job with the quilting.

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  15. Now I know the mystery of how those geese fly in circles. Paper piecing can do wonders. That was a nice tracking and learning day for everyone, cause we always learn a little more when we teach.

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  16. I love how this piece has such wonderful movement to it, from the paper pieced geese right down to the quilting. So much yumminess! I love the look of paper piecing, but sometimes I feel sloppy with seams. I'm hoping to attend a class at our guild this weekend about paper piecing. The member who is teaching it seems to be a guru, her work is beautiful.

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  17. What a bright, beautiful little project. Love the playfulness in the back :-) with the hanging corners.

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  18. Lovely! How did the teaching aspect of the event go for you?

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  19. I love the borders you've added to this block! I made it a few years ago, and it's in the sampler quilt on my bed but I never really liked the block...it's just a block in a pile of other blocks...the varying geese really change the attitude of the piece. Excellent colour choices too! I'm inspired to pull this block out again :)

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  20. I love that quilt! I am going to head over and get that pattern right away! I am still a newbie when it comes to paper piecing, but I do love it for minis and using up scraps.

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  21. I like it! I have never paper pieced - it terrifies me.... butmaybe..... LOVE what you did!

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  22. Looks great at always Jane. I learned paper piecing from a friend years ago and have loved it ever since. It's so forgiving.

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  23. This is gorgeous, Jayne! I love the added colours in the quilting and the two colours for the triangles on the back are such a fun surprise :)

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  24. Circle of Geese was my very first paper piece project as well. I really love the concentric circles in the contrasting colors. Works really well. I have to say, I've never paper pieced with freezer paper. Never knew that was a thing, so need to look that up.

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  25. Very pretty! I'd like to try paper piecing someday, and maybe even something like that pattern. I really like the circle quilting and the colors are great!

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  26. Gorgeous project Jayne - a circle of flying geese has been on my mental to do list since I first started quilting but it terrified me. Maybe it won't be so bad now having done a number of other paper piecing projects!

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  27. I experimented with paper piecing last summer during the pandemic. I hate, hate, hate ripping out the paper for traditional paper piecing. Freezer paper piecing is a huge improvement (once I learned to avoid using the steam setting on my iron) and I love how much precision it gives.

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