I think one of the the most popular shapes for English paper piecing is the hexagon. We need paper templates for English paper piecing and we could buy these templates or we could make our own templates. If you think this task is boring and takes too much time, check out the technique I explained here - it's a fun, quick and easy way to cut piles of templates in no time! But why would we … [Read more...]
A little trick for bag makers
The bags we sew are meant to be used and loved. And the more you use and love a bag, the more you have to wash it. Which is not a difficult task, to me, at least. I wash most of the bags in the washing machine, on a gentle cycle. After washing, it comes the annoying job of ironing the bag. Most bags must be pressed after washing (even if they are washed by hand). Depending on the pattern of … [Read more...]
Improve your handmade bags with this zippered pocket
The zippered pockets of our bags keep our belongings safe inside the bag so here is a way to add a zippered pocket to your lining (a slip pocket comes as a bonus, too!). It is actually a simple pouch attached to the lining. Maybe some of you will find this technique easier than other techniques for zippered pockets on the lining. You need two pieces of fabric, for the exterior pocket and … [Read more...]
Skip the binding – how to finish octagon blocks/quilts
You know my recent dilemma: how to bind this rainbow block, what color to use? Nothing from my stash seems appropriate, so I chose to not bind it at all. I love the shape of the octagon, sometimes you want to keep it (instead of turning it into a square) so here is how I finished this coaster. The usual technique used for this is simple and easy and I think all the quilters already know it. … [Read more...]
Rainbow coaster
Isn't this block (from the Loving Hugs patterns) wonderful? I have made many two-color versions, now I am glad to see the rainbow version. I started with a 2'' octagon (1 1/2'' finished) and this is the first row of triangles added around the octagon... And this is the second row. It measures now 8 1/2''. Happy quilting! Want to learn more about this piecing … [Read more...]
How to turn an octagon into a square
I started this quilt a few years ago (pattern here) and I am happy that I am finishing it (my baby nephew needs a new quilt!). It started with a 2'' octagon; 8 triangles surround it. The result is a new octagon. Other triangles were added and a new octagon was born. One more time! Isn't the Fossil Fern fabric (by Benartex) gorgeous? A new octagon! I love this shape but it … [Read more...]
Continuous bias binding – cheat sheets, formulas and more
In the previous post, I showed you how to make continuous bias binding. The technique is great, but to really benefit of it, you should know how to calculate how much fabric you need to make the desired length of your binding. I am glad to help you with this; I did the math for you, I made some cheat sheets and I also shared the formulas with you. You can download everything at the end of this … [Read more...]
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