We still have wonderful things to share from Spring Quilt Market and one of those is a fast rising star in the paper-pieceing world David Gilleland of Vectorquilts.com. The first thing you will notice about David is his deep Southern drawl and then you will be knocked over by his giving heart that supports his amazing design work. This guy is the whole package and I could not be more thrilled to call him my friend.
David’s love for Machine Paper Piecing shows and his heart is about teaching you what you need to know to makes any quilt you have ever dreamed of. At Spring Quilt Market David teamed up wth the super-duper folks at Batik Textiles and what came of it was Malachite!
Malachite is an 80×80 stunner created from the line Memo’s From Athena which is Batik Textiles newest collection shown at Spring Market. Using simple shapes in unique and complex ways this quilt comes together with ease based on David’s ability to break down a pattern into very doable sections that are easy to master with his method. David’s pattern is ready for you soon as you open it. No fussy copying or tracing off, with his wonderful piecing layer you are off the races as soon as you get your machine threaded.
The wonderful people at Batik Textiles have been so kind as to send us a complete kit of fabric to make Malachite (top) and that coupled with David’s pattern means that we are ready for a giveaway!!
So here is the deal. Leave a comment here to be in the running and then you will need to show up over on the Facebook page at 9pm eastern on Friday JUNE the 9th to find out if you are the winner. Just go ahead and set a reminder right now on your phone so you will not forget… ok?… shall we call it a date?
COMMENT QUESTION – What do you struggle with most when it comes to Paper Piecing??
To make sure we can find you when it is time make sure to LIKE AND FOLLOW over on the Facebook page or your might just miss finding out that you are the winner <sad trombone noise>
I so often think the fabric will fit when it’s flipped only to find I’m short on one side or corner somewhere. Ugh!!!
I did make a cheat sheet that I use whenever I start up again that I call my “Bass-Ackwards Paper Piecing Tute” since I feel like PP is all upside-down and backwards!
I love paper piecing and don’t have any struggles with the process. My only trouble seems to be getting really bored taking off the papers, but getting over that hump is fast when I start to put the pieces together.
My brain can be the biggest problem…..I’ll make sure the fabric fits the paper piece cut it and whoa it’s too small. Eventually the brain gives in and gets it right. I love David’s quilts and have since I started following him many months ago.
Making sure my fabrics flip correctly and cover with enough form a good seam.
De-papering is always my struggle. I love to paper piece, but the little bits of paper seem to multiply!
visualizing the flip! i always struggle getting the size and angle correct…probably explains why i’ve never done more than a block or two.
It all seems so backwards…..I have a tough time getting started.
The first block…I am soooo anxious until it’s safely completed! Whew…
I struggle with my patience! I know the steps and I like the results, but I am pretty impatient when it comes to folding and flipping and trimming. I also agree with those who mention cutting a piece big enough to fill the required space. I like having precut pieces that I know are going to fit. This looks like a beautiful quilt!
Paper piecing is so intimidating that I can’t get the courage to start. I should take a class and muster that courage for a new quilting skill.
I struggle with adding the second paper correctly. Once I’ve done it a couple of times I’m ok. But those first couple always have me thinking.
Love paper piecing, but not a fan of removing the papers when done.
Knowing when to stop! It’s so addictive.
I can’t visualize so I get really confused fast with the whole backwards and upside down thing. Such gorgeous results though!
I have friends who have donw beautiful piece work but have never had time to try…now I’m retired would love to win this so i could give it a try…being it has material and pattern would be a fantastic experience and would love to show it off to all
I LOVE the precision of paper piecing! Getting the angles correct to cover the area can sometimes be a challenge. Also, those pesky bits of paper in the small intersections.
My problem is choosing the correct size piece when I flip it over. I’m usually short! I also have trouble starting but once I get a few pieces on then it’s usually fairly smooth sailing.
My biggest struggle is getting started. I get overwhelmed with the thought of the entire project. I’ve found that if I make a list of the steps involved, I can break it down into reachable goals & then I wonder why I procrastinated.
Keeping intersections between sections smooth.
Awesome looking quilt! and the fabrics are drop dead gorgeous! Would love to fondle them!! I love paper piecing! Enjoy the accuracy!!!
Remembering to slow down and that this isn’t a race. Taking the time to do it correctly is difficult for me.
Like a lot of others, I seem to lose my sense of “direction”. Love paper piecing and batiks are my favorites!
I struggle with my fear of the technique! I haven’t tried it but if anything can get me to, it’s Malachite. Even if I don’t win. 🙂
Biggest challenge is building up the courage to try. I’m scared I will make a mess of things.
I love paper piecing! The problem I usually have is forgetting to shorten my stitch length. It usually hits me that I made the mistake after a number of pieces!🤣
I struggle just getting started. Worrying if I can do it right and if it will look right. But usually after it’s quilted and washed, the mistakes disappear!
My biggest challenge is pressing between bits. The pieces are so small I just want to forge ahead and get a unit done!
Pre cutting the piece large enough without wasting fabric!
I have tried it a couple of times but really sruggle with my piece and don’t go back. It should be easier.
I struggle with getting all the tiniest nubbins of paper off when tearing off the foundation paper. I use surgical tools, an iris forceps and a toothed forceps. Wait…in some ways it is OCD therapy, right?
My biggest struggle is which one to do next. I love paper piecing and the smaller the better. Lol
My biggest struggle is to match points in the center of 12 pointed star and then make it flat.
I have the most trouble joining seams…matching points. The more intersections there are the harder it is for me.
I have never done foundation paper piecing, only English paper piecing, so I can’t say what my challenges would be! I am intrigued those, and the fabrics above are stunning!
Just that first section. It’s so backwards to me, but after that I am off to the races
I love paper pieced quilts but I have not gotten the courage to start one yet. I’m afraid if I get interrupted after starting I will not know where I’m yet.
My problem is as a beginner is wrapping my mind around the way paper piecing is done… totally goes against everything I’ve learned in sewing but the outcome is so awesome!
I have never paper pieced before. Would love to start.
I struggle with getting the paper out of the seams in the intersections.
Only have done small paper pieced projects..and love doing it.. getting to it.. is the biggest hurdle.. it seems to take more time and never seems to be enough time.
I will be at my niece’s graduation at the time of the drawing, so hopefully I’ll be able to read the results on the FB page. I struggle with cutting the correct sizes so that I have enough fabric for each piece. The actual steps of the piecing are fine, but I want to tear out my hair (and my ever-so-tiny stitches) whenever the piece I cut ends up being too small.
I have never paper pieced. It’s seems difficult…but i tjink it’s me getting overwhelmed with the direction of what goes where.
I struggle with impulse quilting and immedicaye gratification. Paper piecing has always been intimidating to me because of the preparation involved.
Everything! I don’t know what it is, but my brain won’t reverse what I need to do and everything is either sewed backwards or to small to cover what I need to cover. I just get so discouraged.
My biggest hurdle – Not being too intimidated to just not start a project at all. Once I start I take the bull by the horns, but getting started is always the hardest part.
I have issues with making sure the fabric piece I am using will cover the area needed when it is “flipped” to the correct position. No matter how good I think I am at this, I screw it up all the time! 🙂
I struggle with losing my sense of direction when I flip the paper over. 🙄
I find that the biggest struggle is getting started even if its only been a week in between. I have to get my mind almost set in a reverse mode sort of thinking to get the flow of how to add the next piece.
Copy the pattern to get started.
I struggle the most with keeping the lumps and bumps to a minimum, especially when I’m working with a bunch of really tiny pieces. I’m getting better about trimming my seal allowances to a scant 1/4 inch or even down to 3/16 or 1/8.