One of my getting it done challenge goals for myself this month was to get the borders for Cactus Rose started. Well, this past week, before we went away, I got the cutting for them done, and some of the paper piecing started. I'm hoping to maybe get more done today, so I'll have progress to show tomorrow for Design wall Monday, which is a great motivator.
Used this week: 4.5 yards
Used this year: 63.2 yards
Added this week: 0 yards
Added this year: 131.25 yards
Balance: 68.05 more yards in than out.
That balance number is coming down nicely. All I have to do is resist pushing any more "checkout now" buttons, and it should continue to come down. But we all know that's not going to happen.
I got the opportunity to sit outside in the yard yesterday for a bit, and plan on doing more today, during which time I was able to do a little hand stitching on one of the Grandmother's Choice blocks.
It's a
Seven Pointed Star for Australia. It has a lot of really odd shapes, and I debated for quite some time with myself exactly how to approach it. I finally decided on English paper piecing. It seems to be working OK, but I think simple hand piecing after drawing the lines on the backs of the pieces would have been easier. It looks a little wonky right now, but once it is done, and the cardboard shapes removed, and it is pressed and trimmed, hopefully it will look the way it is supposed to.
I'm linking up to Judy's
Stash Report and Kathy's
Slow Sunday Stitching.
I prefer hand piecing over EPP too! I am thinking about getting Jenny Beyers hand piecing ruler to help with marking, but I try to keep my notions to the basics, I think this one would be helpful.
ReplyDeleteIt looks pretty good to me and I like the fabrics you have chosen to use. Enjoy your time stitching outside - I think the weather is going to be perfect for it!
ReplyDeleteI am hand stitching that one too. Hope to have it done this week.
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking up to Slow Sunday Stitching and sharing your progress!
Your hand pieced blocks are charming. I just finished my first EPP project ... and more than once, I found myself thinking about hand piecing with the papers instead. I can definitely see the advantages on both sides.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful. I hand pieced my star but have yet to add to the background. Maybe I need to cut and hand piece those on like you are doing. Thanks for the idea.
ReplyDeleteYour monthly stash list is impressive that you can keep it. I have all scraps so couldn't keep one. I know what you mean about adding to it. We all collect something~! ;) Love to hand sew too, but I don't feel as well in my fingers any more, so sometimes I am very clumsy. ♥♥♥
ReplyDeleteI love hand piecing, like the colors in your star. EPP seems to take so much longer to do than just hand piecing.
ReplyDeleteYour star block doesn't look wonky to me. I've never tried EPP, but think I'd prefer just marking the quilting lines on the back of the pieces. Both are time consuming.
ReplyDelete