Tuesday, February 9, 2016

The Daisy Chain Quilt - An English Paper Piecing Project ~ Part 1

Daisy Chain English Paper Piecing project | Red Pepper Quilts 2016

For some time now I have been wanting to start another English Paper Piecing (EPP) quilt project. I say another for this is not my first EPP project. Unfortunately I failed to finished my first EPP project (started in 2007) and after some time of it sitting around I passed it on to a quilter keen to work with my UFO. So this is a fresh start.

Daisy Chain English Paper Piecing project | Red Pepper Quilts 2016
Daisy Chain English Paper Piecing project | Red Pepper Quilts 2016

A slow sewing project does not exactly suit the otherwise fast paced nature of my blog but I thought that if I occasionally show you a progress update that would work. I am allowing myself most of this year to complete this project; no pressure behind the scenes hand sewing. It may cut into my knitting time but that was a sacrifice that I was happy to make.

Daisy Chain English Paper Piecing Project | Red Pepper Quilts 2016

This project was bursting my head, it was all I could think about. Obsessed. I already had a starting set of papers (purchased from Sew and Quilt at the Quilt Festival in Birmingham back in August) and preparation finally began in mid January. As you can see I spent quite some time cutting fabrics and preparing papers. I am glue basting! What a time saving revelation. I am using a Sewline Water Soluble Glue Pen and Sewline Refills to baste fabric on papers and it is working a treat. (Here's a great tutorial for glue basting).

Daisy Chain English Paper Piecing Project | Red Pepper Quilts 2016
Daisy Chain English Paper Piecing Project | Red Pepper Quilts 2016
Daisy Chain English Paper Piecing project | Red Pepper Quilts 2016

I have made quite a few Daisy Flower units in the last few weeks - 80 at last count. I am working my way through my fabric stash, choosing predominantly small scale fabrics for these small patchwork pieces. Some fabrics have been fussy cut, some flower units have petals that are all the same, and some flower units have petals with two different alternating fabrics.

Daisy Chain English Paper Piecing Project | Red Pepper Quilts 2016

I have also worked my way through a bunch of different needles and have finally settled on Jeana Kimball's Foxglove Cottage Betweens Quilting Needles - Size 10. They are short and thin sewing needles which allow me to whip stitch by just catching a few threads of the fabrics so that the stitches are not visible on the front of the units. I am consciously making an effort to relax my hold of the fabric; to not grip the fabric/paper pieces with such great intensity when stitching, for this will quickly lead to a sore hand, wrist, arm, shoulder, neck, and headache. Ask me how I know.

Daisy Chain English Paper Piecing Project | Red Pepper Quilts 2016

That box of ready to go pieces is now empty. My order for more papers has arrived and I am going to spend another day or so cutting fabrics and glue basting. I can then settle and sew slow in the evenings to my heart's content. My target is for 3 finished units a day. I haven't yet set a target date for completing the quilt top (I haven't even calculated how many I units I will need) and I haven't yet made a final decision on how to join the Daisy Flower units, although a likely solution is with a diamond shape.

Daisy Chain English Paper Piecing project | Red Pepper Quilts 2016

The Daisy Chain Quilt ~ An English Paper Piecing Project
1 inch Hexagon Centers
with a 3/8" seam allowance

The Daisy Chain Quilt in Progress | Red Pepper Quilts 2016
Daisy Chain Quilt in Progress | Red Pepper Quilts 2016

Now all I have to do is enjoy the process, one slow stitch at a time. 

Thank you for stopping by,
Rita
The Daisy Chain Quilt in Progress | Red Pepper Quilts 2016
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41 comments:

  1. I shall watch with interest. I've considered EPP as I enjoy hand-sewing at the end of the day. Alas, I have yet to find a project that caught my attention. Look forwrad to seeing what yours shapes up like.

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    1. Hi Robby, two EPP projects that you might find to catch your attention are Willyne Hammerstein's Millefiore La Passacaglia quilt, and Katya's Glorious Hexagons.

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  2. I love the fussy cutting! Beautiful.

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  3. Absolutely beautiful! As always, I love your fabric choices. I had a lanquishing project too until someone showed me a new way to sew them together. Give it a try if you like. You put your pieces to be joined, wrong side up, together on a flat surface - lap, book, sandpaper board, anything. Then you sew them together with stitches that go parallel to each other down the seam. Since the stitches go through the seam edge, they do not show even if they are larger and uneven. I like this method so much more than the traditional one I was using, and it looks better on the right side. The back side looks much worse, but it's inside, right? I find it much easier.

    Can't wait to see your quilt!

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  4. These look great. I love the fussy cutting and fabric choices. It'll be beautiful when it's finished.

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  5. Wow - your work is stunning (as usual)! I'm looking forward to watching your progress. So beautiful! :)

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  6. I've done many EPP projects, but this is amazing! Your fabric choices are delicious too

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  7. Simply fabulous! There will be so many people wanting to own this stunner when it is finished! Rita, you'll have to hold a raffle to decide who gets the pleasure of just being able to stare at all the fabulous fabrics.

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  8. OMG someone's been busy. These look amazing

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  9. Oh the gloriousness of the colors and the crispness of your work!!! I have a feeling this one may be hard to part with!!! ❤️❤️

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  10. This looks fantastic! I haven't tried EPP yet, but it has been on my mind for quite some time. When I see your work, I am tempted to start right away. May I ask what thread you are using for hand sewing? Thank you!

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  11. I love this project and all your beautiful fabrics. Three units per day is pretty much, at least if you count fabric and paper cutting and gluing in. Good luck! Looking forward to your next step.

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  12. Dazzleing colors and love the fussy cut eye glasses etc.! It will be spectacular!

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  13. Your flowers are beautiful! I finished my first epp quilt some time ago and am hoping to finally quilt it this year. I'm looking forward to seeing your progress and how you join these together!

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  14. This is the most amazing creation I have ever seen. Would that I have the patience - I'm like you and must be on to the next challenge as quickly as possible. Can't wait to see the finished results.

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  15. Oh these are such treasures! Good for you to be joining them into stars as you go. I enjoy basting, but really dislike joining EPP. I keep thinking about a big quilt, but so far I am controlling that urge. I see that's going to get harder!

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  16. I can't believe you are posting this! I've just started looking into EPP and have ordered the Millefiori book.....glue basting!!! What a GREAT idea!!!!

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  17. What a great project. I'm loving all your blocks, the fussy cutting looks wonderful. I look forward to seeing how this progresses.

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  18. I love, love, love your colors and combinations - so fun! I'm a glue-baster as well. It' can't be beat. I've been working on a Grandmother's Flower Garden for 6 years now. I typically only work on it on road trips or while sports are on TV, so it is slow going, but much fun. I hope to have it done before I become a grandmother ;-)

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  19. These look beautiful and cheery!! Your mom's EPP project inspired me to make one similar - I'm moving at a much slower pace than you are, though!!
    I love foxglove needles, too, although I am partial to the straw needles. I use size 11 for EPP, size 10 for bindings and general hand sewing, and size 8 for sewing with Perle cotton.
    I glue baste also, but I just use an elmer's school glue stick, as I found I was going through the (much pricier!) sewline waaay too fast.
    Happy stitching ~ Tracy

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  20. Of course this is going to be another phenomenal work of art. And your fabric choices are impeccable.

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  21. Id love to join in with you but have 3 EPP UFo projects I need finished, but will watch with envy :)

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  22. Wonderful work. Love the fussy cutting. I admire your patience with this type of project :) I have thought I should give EPP a go something to do while the kiddos are at sport - I usually take my knitting. Will be nice to see your progress over the year or so.

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  23. I can't wait to see it completed!!

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  24. Oh my goodness what patience you have! I'm not sure I could hand stitch all those pieces! You do great work and great job Rita!!!

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  25. That's a lot of hand sewing! EPP is rather slow but so worth it. I've done two ~ a hexagon quilt with 930 or so hexies and the La Moyne star, which is still a work in progress.
    Looking forward to seeing the Daisies done!

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  26. What a gift you have for colors and patterns, Rita! I can't wait to see the finished product!

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  27. I absolutely love EPP. You seem to work at a cracking rate even for this, and your choice of colours and fabrics always inspires me. I can't wait to see where you go with this. x

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  28. love these! i would turn them into hexagons with adding diamond shapes between the petals http://www.cascadequilts.com/2014/06/hexagon-star-flower-tester.html

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  29. Love your daisy. I recently made a twin sized I Spy quilt for our youngest grandson using 2 inch hexies and the EPP method. I also glue basted the fabric to the paper pieces. I found the little red clips very helpful when sewing the pieces together. I can't remember the names of the clips, but they sure helped save my hands. Nancy A: rangerer@sbcglobal.net

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  30. This looks intense.
    I love it so far. This could look really stunning.
    Will you pick a dark color for the back ground? or light? something green perhaps, grass colored.
    This just looks so neat, Rita

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  31. I have been glue basting also and love the results. Instead of buying the papers, depending on the size you want a Fiskers punch you can find at most craft stores have several different sizes of hexies. Works great with cardstock and you can reuse them several times.

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  32. Wow! How amazing it will all look whe done. Love it. I did one EPP project years ago, did. It love it too much. But maybe some day I'll try again. I want to learn more about glue basting. Thanks for sharing!

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  33. So inspiring! Have you shown your method for fussy cutting? I like sewline glue stick also! All so pretty! Can't wait to see what your come up with for your layout!

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  34. Wow,I love looking for fabrics you've used in previous projects! I've been thread basting my hexies here and there, made up of some boring brown leftovers which were good for experimentation. I love your tutorials and will have to check out your glue basting method. I don't want to get sticky...

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  35. This is going to be a gorgeous quilt! I can't wait to see more!!!

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  36. Looks great. Thanks for sharing the type of needle you found best. I'm wondering about the kind of thread you use. I have had problems with threads shredding.

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    1. Hi Michele - I tried out several different brands of thread and then a friend recommended The Bottom Line (by Libby Lehman). No breaks, no shredding, no crazy twisting of the thread. Also this thread is fine and you cannot see the stitches on the front of my daisies. Win!

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  37. Oh I love your progress so far. The fabrics you have selected are so lovely and bright. I am totally addicted tonEPP, mainly hecies, but, your Daisy Chain quilt looks like it may bo on the to-do list!

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