English Paper Piecing... my take on it.

So I've been doing EPP for a couple of years now, off and on. I have one quilt I'm making that will be a king size when I'm done (if I ever get it done!LOL) I have another that's to be a gift for Christmas. The top is done but I still have to sandwich and quilt it. I hope I have enough time. eeep!

The King size, not quite there yet. 

And two days ago, I started another one, but this time it's not a Grandmother's Flower Garden. This time, it's a six-point star. I watched a few videos, as always, to make sure I knew what I was doing. And I thought, hmmm... I didn't have much luck with gluing on the hexies, but maybe this is a good time to try it again.

erm... not so much. I'm sure that if I was using store-bought papers that were exactly the same size, laser cut and all that jazz, it might be a different monster, but what I'm finding is that if there's even the slightest difference in size, gluing is awful. When you needle-baste the diamonds, you can finagle the fabric around and ease things where they need to be (within reason of course). But if you glue things down as tightly as they say to on the videos, there's no leeway. You get what you get, and that's pretty much it. Unless I'm doing something wrong. But how many things can you get wrong: lay down a line of glue, press the fabric around the papers to create a nice, crisp edge.

I managed to do about 12 nice looking stars before I tried the glue thing. I now have two awful stars that aren't fit for much beyond pin cushions or something in the sewing room, where no one will see them but me. :P

Oh well... Lesson learned! I'll post pics when I'm able. Just wanted to get these thoughts down, in case I am ever tempted to try gluing again. Note to self: if trying the glue thing, use store-bought or paper-punched papers instead of hand-cut. :P

here's the star quilt after only 8 stars:

Field of Daisies Granny Afghan

 

NOTE: This pattern is in progress. I will post working pics as I take them. :) 

Supplies:

Size I crochet hook

1 skein White Super Saver

1 skein Bright Yellow Super Saver

2 skeins Wildflowers Super Saver

2 Skeins Spring Green Super Saver

*amounts may vary as I finish blanket and depending on how big you want yours and how you crochet. Buy an extra of the last two colors, if you’re worried you won’t have enough.

Center (I used Bright Yellow):

Magic loop, chain 3, 11 dc into loop. Tighten and fasten off.

Flower (I used white):

Attach white in any stitch, ch 3. Work 2 tr cluster, pull through all loops on hook. First tr cluster made. Ch 2.  In next st, work tr cluster: yarn over hook twice, insert into stitch, yo, pull through loop, yo, pull through two loops, leaving loop on hook. Repeat twice, until there are three partial tr. Yo, pull through all loops on hook. Ch 2. Repeat in each stitch around.  12 tr clusters.

At end, join with sl st to top of beginning cluster, then fasten off.

Ground (I used Wildflowers):

Rnd 1:

Attach yarn into any ch-2 space and ch 3. Work 2 dc, ch2, 3 dc into same space. *Chain 1. Work 3dc into next ch-2 space, chain 1, 3dc in next ch2 space, ch1. In next ch2 sp, work 3 dc, ch2, 3 dc. Repeat from * twice. Work 3-dc, ch 1 into each of next 2 ch-2 spaces, join with sl st to beginning chain 3. Slip stitch to chain 2 space in corner. You should have a square with 2 3-dc shells between each corner. Sl st into corner and chain 3.

 Rnd 2:

Work 2dc, ch 2, 3dc into corner. *Work 3-dc shell, ch 1 into each of next three chain 1 spaces. Work 3dc shell, ch2, 3dc, ch 1 into next corner. Repeat from * twice. Work 3dc, ch1 into each of next three ch1 spaces. Join with sl st into top of beginning chain 3. Fasten off and weave in ends if you haven’t covered them as you’ve worked.

Joining round:

With border color (I used spring green):

First square: Work same as for rnd 2, with four 3dc shells in between each corner. Fasten off.

Second square: Join with border color in any corner. Ch 3. Work 2dc, ch2, 3dc into corner. Ch 1. With wrong sides together, sc into corner space of first square. Ch 1, work 3dc shell into next ch 1 space on block two. Sc into next ch-1 space on block one. Repeat to corner, joining with sc into ch1 spaces on block one. At corner, work 3dc shell, ch 1, sc into corner space on first block, ch1, 3dc into same corner space on block two. Ch 1, then continue working 3dc, ch 1 groups and corner groups around. Join with sl st to beginning ch-3, fasten off and weave in ends. (easier if you do it as you go.)

Block 3: Work as for block 2, but at second corner, work sc into joining sc. (see pic)

Block 4: Work same as for previous blocks, but continue the joining until the third corner. (See pic)

I tend to join the first blocks into a strip as wide as I want the blanket to be, then join as for block three on the first block of each row, then as for block 4 for each block thereafter on that row. See pics.