Have you joined in on any Quilt-A-Longs (QALs)?

If you want to improve your piecing skills, QALs are fabulous! I did the Splendid Sampler from Pat Sloan and Jane Davidson back in 2016. It ran for a year. One block a week, except I started late and made three blocks a week until I caught up. You can do a search on my blog and see the entire year’s blocks. Because I was doing ALL THE BLOCKS, I forced myself to improve my embroidery skills and how to do English Paper Piecing (EPP) and Foundation Paper Piecing (FPP).

Here is my finished Splendid Sampler quilt:

In 2020 I did the Moda Blockheads 3 QAL and made two quilts with all of the blocks.

I haven’t joined in on anymore QALs since the Blockheads 3 but Moda has continued with 4 and 5 and will probably bring out another one in the future. I would highly recommend sewing along on any QALs from Moda. The designers are amazing and give lots of hints for a better block.

Anyhow….

I have especially liked some of the blocks and made pillows and totes with them. This is Brigette Heitland’s Block 5 from Blockheads 3. She is a Moda Designer and I made the Moda Blockheads 3 quilts with her fabric line Spotted. Took some searching but the pattern is still available on her blog: Blockheads 2020 – Block 5.

I also made a pillow with the FPP pattern.

And this pillow which I do not have a post about. (YET!)

When I realized I had never written instructions about this pillow I started rooting around on my computer and found all the photos that I took to create a tutorial. But no words. I thought I would just recreate the pillow but I have no fabric stash at the apartment. (YET!)

Anyhow….

FPP. You can make these patterns in any size. Just enlarge them and print them out. On FPP paper. Using copy paper can be done but ripping the paper out after it is finished is really difficult. Make the investment–buy the paper! I’ve tried a couple different brands and they are the same. Get the cheapest.

Also, use a very small stitch. I use 1.6 mm. That way the stitching doesn’t get compromised while you are removing the paper.

Make sure you use a 1/4″ seam allowance. If you print the pattern out smaller, the allowances on the pattern will be smaller. Just draw new ones after you cut it apart. If you print the pattern out larger, the allowances on the pattern will be larger. Again, just draw new ones after you cut it apart.

For this pillow, I made the pattern from Brigette Heitland and my Heart Strips pattern. I think these are really cute in combination and will definitely do this again in the future. Maybe for next Valentine’s Day since I can’t do it for this one!

If you have any questions about FPP, let me know. I’m not an expert but since I struggled with the piecing style back when I was learning it, I might be able to help you out!

Meanwhile, I have ordered fabric for some projects and have a SEWING MACHINE! More about that after I actually use it!