I’m so excited to report that I learned something new – paper piecing!

I finished making this cyclone block for Doris who had July for our quilting bee.

I used a great tutorial Doris provided, and another one I really liked a lot to guide me through the process. I am thrilled that I know how to paper-piece now, so I kept a few notes along the way, just for future reference, since I’m hoping to try this again:

• It helps to color in each area of the foundation paper with colored pencils to keep track of which fabric goes where.

• The fabrics always go right sides together.
• Lay the fabric over the sewing line, but away from the shape you’re going to fill on the paper, since that fabric will get folded back over the sewing line and pressed open to cover the shape you’re filling in.
• When you struggle or have to rip out a seam, remind yourself you are learning something new.
• Remind yourself this is supposed to be fun.
• Remember, you will be sewing on the lines, which means the paper must be right side up, which feels backwards, upside-down and counter-intuitive, since it feels like you can’t actually see what you’re doing.
• Perseverance pays off because it turns out beautifully.

Go out and learn something new this week! It’s quite invigorating!