Thursday 9 May 2013

The Perfect Bee Blocks

Today I made the perfect blocks for a bee. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't my blocks that were perfect, it was Sarah choosing this block as her choice for her month. Because you wouldn't ever, ever want to make a whole quilt's worth of them on your own. Well, I wouldn't at least!

Sarah asked us all to make two spiderweb blocks. She provided excellent instructions on how to draw out the paper pieced pattern. She also gave us explicit instructions on what she would like in the blocks so we couldn't go wrong. Wise girl! Kona Ash in the middle, colourful, text prints, one piece of solid bordering the centre in one of the blocks (for her to stamp our names on later on), and selvedges. Oh, and skinny bits of fabric, not fat.

So I drew, and then pulled fabrics.


I sewed, all day, whenever I had the chance. I trimmed lots, and I got there in the end.


I think I have fulfilled all Sarah's requests. I particularly like the Japanese selvedge.


My points were better than expected.


I'll gloss over the part that these are April blocks, not for May.


Now would someone please tell me if there is an easy way to get freezer paper out from blocks like these. Foundation paper piecing is not my forte at all. Which might be why I put these off for so long. But they are done and I am happy. Hope Sarah is too.

Susan

39 comments:

  1. I love them! I'd give them to the bairns so they can remove the paper...tell them it's fun. Or say that under no circumstances are they to try to remove the paper ;o)

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  2. Well, you're one up on me...a long time ago I made just one of these, and it still sits and waits in the cupboard for something to happen!

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  3. These are gorgeous - so bright & colourful and I love those selvedges. I think Archie the wonder dog is on to the right idea!!!!!

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  4. Ooooh they are lovely.
    It is one of my favouritest blocks ever and yours are pretty pretty pretty.
    I think telling the children not to remove the paper is a canny idea.

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  5. woohoo! They're fabulous deary, quite perfect! Love them, big thank you xxx
    Freezer paper tears out just as easily as regular. I was dead worried about it at first too, but nah, no different really.
    However, I should point out that I am more than happy to do that if you want to send them as they are!!!

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  6. These are amazing, the finished project will be spectacular :)

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  7. Run a row of stitching right around the blocks (1/8th inch) to hold your seams and tear away. Very pretty blocks.

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  8. They're lovely! Someone told me they always dampened the paper at the stitching to remove it easier. Don't blame me though if the children get soaked ;-)

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  9. They are lovely and the Japanese selvage is so cool.

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  10. I'd leave it to Sarah and Elliecat!

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  11. Wow, gorgeous, would you kill me if i said I'm considering this for my Stitch Tease blocks!!!! :o)

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  12. Tearing that freezer paper off is horrendous! I worry about how the stitching is being weakened especially on the raw edges. Yours are great!

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  13. Love this Pattern, because the inner Star is so slim!

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  14. Wonderful job! I love the strips of selvage. You cut and sew so fast, I would still be measuring and slicing fabric, must be why I have so many UFO's.

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  15. I L.O.V.E. them, they are so stinking great. As for using and removing freezer paper cant help you as I've only ever used tissue paper (Missouri Star Quilt Company) has a great tutorial and sells a template and precut tissue paper. Hope someone can help...happy picking at your paper!

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  16. Wow! These are stunning! No clue how to get the paper out, I don't use it in my spiders web blocks. Jxo

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  17. Ooh, nice job and your points are perfect!!

    I'm hooting with laughter at Ange, though!!

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  18. Of course she'll love them, they're gorgeous! Although I just misread her comment as "Fabulously dreary!" - baby brain kicking in already :) xx

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  19. Err, no, no quick and easy way, I usually sit in front of the telly, bin between my knees, ripping bits of paper out (except, obviously, if they're blocks for you when I completely forget *ahem*) You'll find tweezers useful if you have them

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  20. Gorgeous work, they will make a spectacular quilt.

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  21. I jut love these blocks so much and might use them for a future bee. I just found that the freezer paper came off pretty easily...but I sprayed my block with water before pressing so it was a bit weakened first

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  22. Your blocks are beautiful!

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  23. You pop them in those post as they are so they don't get creased and let Sarah deal with it?

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  24. Lovely blocks! They are so colourful. And I don't think I could make one let alone a whole quilt - great idea for a bee block :-)

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  25. Yep Sarah has said to me that herself that she would recommend a bee making these ;)

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  26. Ive not used freezer paper, but I use tweezers to get out ordinary paper. Sadly, I rather enjoyit!

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  27. They are SPECTACULAR! Sarah is one lucky gal.

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  28. Oh wow wow wow I LOVE them!! So bright and colourful and I love the selvedges! (I am collecting them now and had been wondering how best to use them in the future, and this is perfect.) An excellent days work for you!

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  29. I am with you, not blocks I enjoy making at all. But they sure look great when they are done, yours sure do.

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  30. Your blocks are always great and watch out I'm really going to come over to your house - couldn't expect you to come here. You can if you want to - it would be lovely.

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  31. They are fab blocks Susan - Sarah is going to have an amazing quilt.

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  32. Eeek! Strings ! I love them !

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  33. Those are really beautiful! Well done!

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  34. Lovely blocks, great job! I love the use of selvedges, i can't bear to throw mine away. :o)

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  35. I use 20lb paper for paper-piecing and a super short stitch length (1 - 1.5). However, there is a way to do it with freezer paper where you fold it back to sew along the lines and don't actually sew through the paper…. I think if you google Anina at Twiddletails, she has a really good freezer paper piecing tutorial that means NO paper tearing if you want to try it.

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