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Sunday, September 7, 2014

Patchwork of the Crosses - Let's Roll!!!

Once I got a good whiff of how much beauty could be had playing with Lucy Boston's Patchwork of the Crosses blocks, I was hot on the scent and straining at the leash!!!


Ta-Da!!!
POTC #1 is finished!

I fussy cut from a Paula Nadelstern fabric to get that lovely star pattern radiating out of the center.


I decided to do these using the English Paper Piecing (EPP) method rather than hand piecing because it is less stressful for me.


Remember my bent needle from trying so hard at the hand piecing HERE?  I know it would be faster to hand piece - many of my sewing buddies tell me that frequently LOL!!! - but as most of you know by now, "faster" is not my goal.  Color and design and blocks that give me that sudden little thrill trump "faster" in my book every time!  I love the precision of EPP and it seems to work for me.

I really want this to be a portable project so I can just pick it up and go whenever I find myself just sitting and waiting with time on my hands, so I put together everything I needed in this cute little sewing box I got at Joann's in the clearance section for $15 several months ago.


Isn't this just the cutest little sewing box? 


I knew it would come in handy someday!!!

I also got a start on my next block - here are the fabrics laid out....



Last night I got started basting the center pieces to the templates, and even got a few stitched together .....


As with most hand projects, being ready for the next block when I finish one will be my challenge.  If I can have fabrics pulled for the next block as I finish one, I'll keep on a good roll.  I have to admit that these blocks took up most of my normal knitting time this week, but knowing how much I love to knit, that won't be the norm once I get past the fever of the first few POTC blocks :)

I'm sharing with other slow stitchers at Kathy's Slow Sunday Stitching!
Hope you are finding ways to enjoy your Sunday too !!!


I'm also joining the Hexie Party over at
Angie's Quilting Reader's Garden!

Hugs & Blessings!
Teresa
=^..^=


31 comments:

  1. Absolutely gorgeous. These blocks just pop and excellent fussy cutting.

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  2. They are all just gorgeous! Faster doesn't always mean they are fun - you are enjoying them and that means more. Oh, I have one of those boxes (in black and white) that my daughter gifted me for my B'day.

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  3. Your blocks are really amazing. Wonderful fabric choice.

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  4. OMG, they are beautiful. The first time I ever saw the POTC blocks, they made my heart sing.

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  5. You are so right, it is important to find the way that works for you! Your fabric choices have me drooling! Oh my! No wonder you don't have to time to knit. I love epp but if I do too much of it, my hands pay the price.

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  6. Love, love, love -- but what happens next? Fill in with triangles and squares? Applique to something? Work them all together like hexies? I need a handwork project; this might be the one!

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  7. Those are glorious!!! What a fun portable project you have selected!

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  8. I love the POTC pattern, and your fabric choices and fussy cutting make it even more wonderful! I love the way you put colors together.

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  9. Your blocks are all so gorgeous! Love that fancy box too!

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  10. These are beautiful blocks! I used Paper Pieces years ago (more than I want to admit) but they didn't have these.... or such wonderful blocks. Can't wait to see more!!!

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  11. That first block ... WOW!!!!!!! There are no words to describe the gorgeousness of that fussy-cut center!!

    I love EPP ... and have the papers to make some POTC blocks. I am definitely going to start on one when I finish my Martha Washington's Flower Garden ... especially after seeing yours now.

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  12. Love your colour and fabric choices. So rich and fall looking!

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  13. Gorgeous blocks! Sew much color and sew much fun!

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  14. It seems like every time I come over to your place lately, I see something I love and really want to do!! First your Happy Dance, then the Blooming Nine Patches and now this!! Absolutely gorgeous!!! Must......... resist............. new............ project.............. ;-)

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  15. LOVE them! Just gorgeous!! And of course, I love paper piecing (Paper Pieces is now in Paducah, KY... - just sayin'). Your fabric choices are awesome, as always, and I look forward to watching this project develop. :)

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  16. Your fussy cutting is awesome. You make this block look easy.

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  17. I love the fussy cutting you did for the centres of your blocks! Very eye catching!

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  18. These are so beautiful, Teresa! Oh to finish some projects so I can start one of these. In the meantime, I will sigh over yours. Thanks for sharing and I invite you to link them to Hexie Weekend. After all they are EPP. Ends Monday, midnight.

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  19. So pretty! Maybe I should find mine and stitch with you ; )

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  20. Stunning--simply stunning. When I saw that first block with the amazing center star, I had to catch my breath. Your second block is also beautiful. I love the way the lines in the orange fabric pull the eye into that pretty center fabric. I am really going to love seeing each of these blocks come into being. You have such gorgeous fabrics in your stash, and use them so well! : )

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  21. What beautiful blocks and your fabrics are awesome!! That are the prettiest blocks I've ever seen using EPP. Can't wait to see more of your gorgeous fabrics in future blocks.

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  22. Your blocks turned out awesome! Can't wait to see all the blocks you make.

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  23. what fun blocks! how's the setting for the blocks into a quilt?

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  24. this is a project for me - except for the handwork. I promised I'd try a new version of cathedral windows by hand first. Love your colors and inspiration. Blessings -

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  25. Teresa, I love your fussy cut centers! Your POTC will be gorgeous! I know what you mean about wanting to have a hand sewing project that you can just grab and go when you walk out the door. I keep searching for an applique method that could be that go-to hand sewing project for me but either I'm stalled because I need to starch and preturn the edges of more pieces with the ironing board, or else I'm stalled because I need to go home and fuss around with the silly vinyl overlay to pin the next applique shape where it needs to go. I haven't figured out how to make the whole project portable, even after all of the pieces have been cut for a block.

    I have been admiring these POTC quilts for awhile now on others' blogs, but I don't know anything about the process of making them by English Paper Piecing or by any other means. I'm not afraid of a hand sewing needle or of learning new things, though. Is your project totally portable once you've cut out the pieces for each block, or is there still some kind of prep work that needs to be done at home before you're ready to continue sewing on the go? Also, can you recommend a good book or other resource for learning how to do EPP for a project like POTC?

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  26. Teresa ... I am loving your colors and fabrics and fussy cutting in your POTC Blocks ! ... <3 Pat

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  27. Great fabric choices. It's going to be a stunning quilt.

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  28. Beautiful work! I love the colors you have chosen; they are perfect.

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  29. Such beautiful colors! blessings, marlene

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  30. Preciosa. Muy recurrente y otra posibilidad diferente pero parecida al jardin de la abuela. Me encantan las telas y las posibilidades que se les da en ésta forma.

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