Sunday, August 30, 2015

Thankful for Slow Stitching Sunday

I have spent a lot of time behind my machine this week.  A lot of sewing and trimming was going on.  These little 4.25 inch paper pieced pineapples blocks take a lot of time.  Of course, laying the fabric on one side and stitching on a printed line on the other side of the paper doesn't help.  After doing a few seams I get into the groove, but, there was many a time that the fabric would flip back and I would sew and have to pick out a few stitches.  You would think I would double check that the fabric was laying flat exactly where it needed to be. LOL I finally got into the habit of placing the fabric in place and then hitting it with my iron. That pressing seemed  to help keep the piece in place so that I didn't have to pin.
Then with each seam you have to fold back that paper and trim adding that quarter inch.  Of course there was the time I forgot to add the quarter inch about 3/4 thru the block so I had to start that one all over.  I know for a fact that I have trimmed off more fabric and thread than there is remaining in the block.  But those little pineapple blocks are so cute and yes even worth the effort.  But, I am so thankful that today I can sit and relax and stitch on row 29 of TATW.







I have two sides done and hope to finish the other two sides today.  Maybe I will cut and get the squares prepared for the final row of squares. Now there is something to celebrate!!!!!! Hope you have something relaxing planned for today. I will be linking up with Slow Stitching Sunday!



45 comments:

  1. Wow, those little pineapple blocks are great! They look perfect and definitely worth the effort!

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    1. Thanks! I do love the accuracy you get with paper piecing! It is just not a process you should rush.

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    2. The blocks look spectacular. I have heard that some folks use special quilting glue sticks to add a dot when putting the pieces together. It keeps them from flipping back on you. Still a LOT OF WORK!!

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  2. I tried small pineapple blocks once at 6" and got tired of them quickly - I'm not patient with paper piecing although I have been following a blog where she is making 16" scrappy pineapples and I love them and think maybe in this case for paper piecing bigger is better for me -- little ones sure are working for you!

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    1. Yes size does come into play. I tend to stick to pretty easy paper piecing patterns. I do hate that you use miles of thread and waste more fabric. Can't really see myself ever doing a large quilt all paper pieced.

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  3. Wow, just love those pineapple blocks! And your TATW is looking fabulous and will provide a nice respite from your machine work. Enjoy your slow stitching Sunday!

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    1. Thanks Kathy! I still want to make a red white pineapple in the future. But I can't imagine paper piecing it!

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  4. Kudos for sticking with the pineapple blocks! They ~do~ look lovely!

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    1. Thanks! I only needed nine blocks and I reminded myself of that quite frequently!

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  5. They are beautiful ...and sound quite difficult : ) Such a pretty photo of them on top of the other quilt.

    Enjoy the break : Trip Around the World has grown so quickly...you are flying around the world in a jet !

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    1. They really are not difficult just a lot of pressing and cutting. Each line is numbered and they are all just straight lines.

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  6. I like paper piecing but sometime it can give me a headache. Your yellow pineapple blocks are worth all the trouble.

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    1. I enjoy it if I don't get into a rush! I pushed myself too far a few times making these. But than that is true with regular piecing I do better if I don't work too long. I have to say you can't beat the accuracy. Thanks for stopping by

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  7. Ah... love the toile round after the polka dots on the TATW! Enjoy your stitching!

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    1. Thanks! My stash is pretty much gone after four years of scrap quilts, The toile was a backing fabric I used on my thousand pyramid quilt!

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  8. Your little pineapples are so gorgeous all together--a lot of work goes into them for sure, but they look so perfectly matched that I think it's worth it (easy for me to say, huh??) lol hugs, Julierose

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    1. Yes they are small but I only needed to make 9. That went thru my mind alot.

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  9. The pineapples are stunning and look well worth the effort! Good to have a project going that requires a change of pace, your TATW is looking great too.

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    1. I agree I haven't made a mini in a long time! The cheddar came from my mom's stash so I wanted to make something with it so it could come out and be enjoyed.

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  10. I love the yellow pineapples!!! Your trip quilt is growing too. Happy sewing!

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  11. I LOVE pineapple blocks but have never made one. I have a couple of paper piecing projects on the list so maybe I'll learn the technique and have my own pineapple quilt.

    How many rows will your TATW project have? It looks like a fun project to work on for Slow Sunday Stitching.

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    1. Paper piecing takes some thought but it really is fun! Love the accuracy! A log cabin or pineapple block would be a great project for a beginner. I have one more row to go on my TATW. It is 30 rows of squares and then the final row will be quarter square triangles to square it off!

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  12. Did you say 4.25???? Seriously, 4.25???? Oh, my. They are the cutest darned things, though. Hey, you are almost at the end of your lovely trip already? Seems like only yesterday you started on the journey.

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    1. Yes it has gone quickly! It has become like an old friend always there when I felt like sitting and putting in a few stitches!

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  13. Wow! I think those pineapples are worth all the effort (easy for me to say) - just stunning!

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    1. Thanks! They are just darling. I have a red and white pineapple I want to do in the near future.

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  14. The pineaple blocks looks so pretty. Hope you are having a great Sunday with your TATW. Hugs

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  15. I love those pineapple blocks. I have always wanted to make one of those. I like the fabrics in TATW also.

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    1. It is a fun little project! I saw a mini at the NQA quilt show this summer. Now I wish I had a sashiko machine to quilt it!!! I was planning on adding a border but now that the blocks are done I think I will just bind it!

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  16. My heart goes pitter patter looking at your pineapple piece. Love it! I know the woes of piecing on those small paper pieced blocks. If something can go wrong doing them, I find a way.

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    1. So true! I love them too and it really wasn't too bad. I don't mind paper piecing when I can precut strips. But I was wishing I had a thread cutter on my machine!

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  17. Happy little pineapple squares! I will be getting back to my TATW when the weather cools down.

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  18. I love your pineapples! They are so tiny; you must be very patient, but as an onlooker I would say they are worth the effort. There's something really appealing about tiny, perfect blocks. Hope you enjoyed your time away from the machine.

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  19. I detest paper piecing, but sometimes it is the only way to get an accurate design. Your yellow pineapples are adorable--it will be an awesome quilt!

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    1. You are so right about accuracy! I try to keep it too simple patterns and even then my brain gets tired from it all!

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    2. You are so right about accuracy! I try to keep it too simple patterns and even then my brain gets tired from it all!

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  20. Oh my. Those pineapple blocks are so sweet! I've wanted to make a pineapple quilt forever, but it looks like so much work!

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  21. I still want to make a red and white pineapple. I have had the fabric for over a year I just need to find the time to fit it in. Heading into winter I want to do some hand quilting so maybe it will be my machine project next spring!!!!

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  22. Love your pineapple blocks. They are stunning in that gold and cream.

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  23. Paper piecing just seems so difficult to me. I think I would forget something the moment I turned it over. The results are quite beautiful though. I am loving all your projects.

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    1. I agree about paper piecing, although it is fun to try something different. Not something I would ever do for a large project. Thanks for stopping by.

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