More Paper Piecing

 

This paper pieced pattern was from www.quilterscache.com it's called the state of Connecticut star block. It's a star sampler block that I'm making up as I go along.... Some are measured and cut and some are tried and true old patterns and the rest are paper pieced!! This one happens to be my current fav!! 

Paper Piecing Tutorial

Paper piecing is often daunting because your working on the reverse of the paper pattern.... Recently I sat down and played with paper piecing until I got it and understood it.... Yes I messed up a lot and had to restart several times but I learned each time I messed up.... So I thought I could pay it forward and help a neighbor out by helping to ease those fears of wasting fabric which is a quilters sin and learn to paper piece with confidence!! So let me just explain the pattern a bit, think of this as a puzzle that your piecing, it's numbered so on this pattern I'm over lapping on piece #2 by a 1/4 inch and if you'll look at the photo I've laid my fabric out on the backside of the pattern, holding it up to the light helps you determine fabric placement, also while your checking fabric placement make sure the fabric completely covers the pattern outline your working on.... You can also complete this step on the front side to ensure the fabric piece is big enough. 

In this pic you'll see the backside of the pattern, the fabric goes on the revers with right sides together for step 1 & 2( the wrong side or backside of your fabric faces the paper), your going to completely cover step #1 with the fabric with 1/4 laying over step #2 and sew on the right side or printed side of the pattern as seen below on the pattern line. For this step you'll sew on the line that connects step 1 and 2. Make sure you iron your fabric open after each step to ensure its placement.

Follow the line, you also may want to shorten your stitch length to aid in removing the paper pattern later. The shorter the stitch the less fight you'll have, you can also use paper specifically made for paper piecing found online or in your local quilt store. 

Below I've started step 3... In this photo your looking at the right side with the fabric being on the backside. 

In his photo I'm placing step 3 in place with right sides together I'm overlapping 1/4 onto step 3 because your working in the reverse ok in the photo above you can see steps 1 & 2 ironed open.  I purposely didn't trim steps 1 & 2 because I wanted you to see them open and step 3 positioned with right sides facing each other, ( I went back and trimmed so I could make sure my 1/4 seem allowance was there) your going to sew on the line between step 2 and 3, turn over the pattern open the fabric and iron. Step 3 completed now on to the rest!! 

This picture simply shows you how I trim the excess fabric.... I fold my pattern at the line for my next step.... I have steps 1 thru 4 completed and before moving on I need to trim.

Using a ruler with a 1/4 line marker I lined up the ruler overlapping the pattern by 1/4 in and trim the excess fabric off, fold your paper pattern back out, now you have a nice straight line to add the next step to. 

See the excess is cut and this is the 1/4 seem allowance for that next step, I'll use this 1/4 seem allowance to line up my fabric for the next step.

So following the pattern and moving right along this is steps 1 thru 8, as I finish each step I open them and iron them into place ensuring the next step is ready and flat.

Once I have completed all the steps as indicated by the pattern I lay my pattern right side up and trim around the pattern 1/4 in. then turn it over and start pulling the paper off, you can pull slightly on opposite corners of the fabric and pattern and the paper will tear slightly then it should just come right off with you pulling on each piece because you've shortened your stitch length early on.

Once it's trimmed and the paper is pulled off you can iron again. I layed the pattern out next to the block so that you can see the whole piece side by side..... I hope this helps and that your next project includes paper piecing!! 

This is Betty my vintage 301A that I've been using to do my paper piecing with. She reminds me of Betty Rubble, always there to lend a hand, and she's a wonderful machine!!

Cathedral Window Pillow Covers

I found a cathedral window pillow cover tutorial on Pinterest that I loved and because the covers look fantastic, I decided I had to make it.  After I finished the first one in such a short period of time I decided they would look even better as throw pillows on our bed so I then decided I just had to make a few more!!! So here's my spin on the cathedral window pillow covers!! I plan on making a larger one for the center of the throw pillow pile but I first have to finish a customer quilt!!

Here's a link to the tutorial!! www.pellonprojects.com/projects/cathedral-window-pillow/

Turkey Burgers on whole wheat buns:)

Turkey Burgers, Yum!! 

Turkey burgers with homemade bread crumbs

Homemade whole wheat bread crumbs

I know not everyone wants a turkey burger on a bun with lettuce and tomato, but I do!! I love these things, I also use this same recipe to make turkey meat loaf, which is also a big hit around here. I make my own whole wheat bread crumbs and use the crumbs in recipes that call for bread crumbs. They're full of flavor and smell amazing not to mention a lot healthier!!!

Turkey Burger recipe-

Whole wheat buns

1.5 lbs ground lean turkey
1 c homemade bread crumbs ( recipe below)
2 large eggs
1/2 medium onion diced
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp finely chopped garlic
1 tbsp olive oil for cooking

Mix all ingredients well, shape into burgers and cook in a large skillet for 7 to 8 minutes per side in 1 tbsp of olive oil
Remove from pan and sit on a paper towel lined plate to collect the excess oil. Warm buns or toast your preference. I know not everyone likes onions so you can omit them if you wish, some also
prefer their onions on top the burger, again you can alter this recipe to fit your taste buds!! Serve hot with or with out cheese atop a whole wheat bun with sliced tomatoes and leafy lettuce, a little mayo, mustard or steak sauce.... It's sooo good!!


Whole Wheat Bread Crumbs

12 slices 100% whole wheat sliced bread- toasted really good
1/2 tsp garlic powder-I've also used pre-minced garlic from the grocery store.
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 tbsp dried parsley
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp Italian seasoning

I used a food processor to finely chop the toasted bread, once all the bread is in the processor and ground to your liking add the rest of the dry ingredients and pulse until well blended. These can be frozen in a sealable bag or bowl for later use. If you don't have a processor that's ok just place bread in a large zip lock bag and use a large glass or rolling pin to crush the bread into bread crumbs, then add the rest of  the ingredients and mix well.

Another Vintage Singer Sewing Machine

I added this vintage Singer 327K in December of 2013.... I found her in ATL in almost mint condition, I say almost because her case looks a bit worn, but she's a beauty and is a true workhorse!! She'll sew through anything and makes no fuss about it, she's quiet and trustworthy.... Everything a quilter wants and needs in an all metal sewing machine, and that color!! Swoon Worthy!! 

My new Vintage Singer 301A

This machine came highly recommended by fellow quilters, she's one of several made in and around 1951, in her original cabinet with all of her attachments!! She's been cleaned, lubed and oiled and soon to be sharing floor space with her relatives in my sewing room.... Soon as we make some room....

This was the day I brought this beauty home, I didn't know the dimensions of her cabinet so I didn't have her in the sewing room yet.... She was patiently waiting in the dining room for several days until I made room for her! 

This was the spot we carved out for her but it was a difficult work space because it felt cramped to work in that tiny space.... So we moved her again....

Now she loves her new home and I'm comfortable sitting over here , there's good lighting, everything's accessible.... There's even a small ironing table nearby!!  She's very close to her cousins so I'm sure they're busy catching up while in use!! 

Black and White Animal Quilt

This quilt pattern is from the McCalls Quilt Magazine dated Nov/ Dec 2011, it's the photo/ pattern on the cover of the magazine, McCalls did their quilt in Christmas colors.... This quilt was pieced on my Vintage 301A Singer and she sews well, really well!!

I chose the teal because it just makes the various black and white animal prints pop....  and because I just love teal with black and white!! This is an easy pattern to piece and it literally took one day to assemble and sew!!