Little Penguin Quilts Through the Year

Little Penguin Quilts Through the Year

Friday, December 7, 2018

Practice

I'm planning to participate in the Hand-Pieced QAL, sponsored by Patty of Elm Street Quilts and Kristin of Simple Handmade Everyday, coming up in January.   For the last few weeks, both Patty and Kristin have been offering tips and tutorials for hand-piecing on their blogs, and I decided it was time for some practice!

Throughout 2018, while making my Scrappy Sprouts blocks for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge, I piled up a bunch of 2.5 inch squares in both neutrals and rainbow colors.



They were just thrown into my Little Penguin fabric basket at the side of my cutting table, so I pulled them out and sorted them into two piles.

I gathered up the rest of the supplies I thought I would need - needles, thread, scissors, a pincushion, and a zipper pouch to keep everything in.


And found the tutorial from Patty on marking and hand-piecing a seam.


Here's my first one - a 1/4 inch from the edge, ready to stitch!


Patty says my stitches should be 5 - 6 to an inch!  And I am laughing here, because I got THREE!  Lol!


But, hopefully, practice will make me better (if not perfect) so I will keep going!


Working on my first 4 patch - definitely getting those smaller stitches!


And look at that!  


Hand-piecing will be fun to try, portable, and hopefully, a great new skill!  I have already appreciated Patty's great step-by-step tutorials and Kristin's videos - I can tell I'm going to learn a lot!

Sharing at Soscrappy for ScrapHappy Saturday 
and Kathy's Quilts for Slow Sunday Stitching.








21 comments:

Kathy S. said...

Your hand stitching is beautiful in the end results. I'm sure you'll have all those stitches done in no time. LOVE your little sew-to-go kit. I have several for slow stitching.

Michele McLaughlin said...

I think your hand sewing looks impressive! You did a good job!

Libby in TN said...

It will come to you. I can already see improvement in your later stitches. Practice with different size needles till you find the one that gives you the best results.

Karen - Quilts...etc. said...

did you begin with a stab stitch or a running stitch? stab stitch always seems to be larger where as a running stitch seems to go smaller - just rocking it through the fabric. about every 3 or 4th stitch take a back stitch to make the piece stronger. I was going to do this project just for fun but now that I am having so much trouble with my hand/thumb aching I don't know if I will. I am doing my daisy chain pieces by hand so I might just stick with that one and watch the rest of you
I can certainly see an improvement from your first piece to the last you did - like everything - practice!

The Joyful Quilter said...

Hand piecing is a good skill to learn. It's not something I enjoy, but it makes your work SEW much more portable! Best of luck to you. Be encouraged, as your photos already show progress!

scraphappy said...

What a fun project, and having a new skill to practice is always a sense of accomplishment.

Katie Z. said...

That looks like a wonderful project!

Marly said...

Have fun with your hand piecing. It's definitely s l o w stitching! But rewarding, and as you say, portable.

Linda said...

I'm planning to participate also! I haven't started practicing yet. Did you find the points easier to match?

piecefulwendy said...

What a cute little block! I think I will go look at her tutorial. I don't know that I'll participate in the QAL, but I would like to learn how to hand piece.

Chantal said...

Very well done for a first try. I'm sure you will enjoy this and bring some squares to sew everywhere you'll go. I know I did with the hexagons. Enjoy! ;^)

MissPat said...

I tried hand piecing a four patch posy quilt quite a few years ago, because I wanted a portable project, but the blocks were so uneven I wound on resewing them on the machine. I really enjoy hand sewing binding down, but that's the extent of my hand sewing.
Pat

Vicki in MN said...

You have done awesome! I will be watching your progress because that is not something I want to do, I mean I have to sew fast, LOL

Cathy said...

Well, I’m certainly impressed with your hand stitching! That little 4-patch is perfect. Have fun with the QAL - I know you’ll do great!

The Cozy Quilter said...

I did some hand stitched piecing years ago but none lately. Practice always improves our stitching!

Quilter Kathy said...

Well done! I hope to join in the hand pieced QAL too!
Your scrappy Sprouts look fabulous!

PaulaB quilts said...

Lest we forget! Working by hand will free us from the tyranny of the machine.

PaulaB quilts said...

Lest we forget! Working by hand will free us from the tyranny of the machine.

Robby said...

So glad you posted about this! This has be on my list of things to try since I found a book about it from Jinny Beyer at our used bookstore. Bookmarking this so I can look more in depth at your work and your links after this particularly crazy week is over. Thanks!

Cynthia Brunz Designs said...

Beautiful Diann. I always enjoy learning a new skill. I rarely find time to hand piece any more but I do remember the needle was key for me. Thanks for linking up with Oh Scrap!

Frédérique - Quilting Patchwork Appliqué said...

Perfect corners! You are born to hand stitch ;)