Friday 21 August 2020

A New Hobby

Sewing is something I've barely done in the past, either machine sewing or hand sewing, but English paper piecing seems to be all the rage at the moment and it's really calling to me.


I've bought a few essentials to start me off and I've watched a few tutorials on You Tube, not that they really make all that much sense to me, I think it's just a case of diving in and seeing how I get on.

I don't know how successful it'll be, as I say, I've done very little sewing in the past and I'm not sure I'll even enjoy it but I'll never know if I don't give it a try.

I'll let you know how it goes.

26 comments:

  1. It's a lovely calm hobby, I have made loads of hexagons in many different colours and patterns, I have started stitching some together, having a good ready-made stock, makes producing the designs easier. Fat quarters make loads of hexagons. One tip would be to ensure the fabric weights are all the same, I use cotton as it's light and easy to use, but not all cottons are the same weight.

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  2. I think you'll enjoy it, Jo. I'm too impatient to do EPP but, as you knit and cross-stitch, you'll definitely have the patience for it. Most importantly, have fun! It's a hobby! 😊

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  3. I hope it's something you'll enjoy, it sounds fascinating.

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  4. Good luck with this Jo, I have seen some beautiful paper piecing done by some of the sewers in my charity group Loving Hands, I would love to try it myself but I think it may be beyond me as I'm not much of a sewer. I'm watching your progress with interest, Have a lovely weekend. xx

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  5. I made a single quilt once with paper piecing, I made lots of small squares and then sewed them altogether. The whole lot was done on the machine. this youtube vid tells you how to do it. She is making large squares but you could cut the squares of paper any size, good for using scraps.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZ02NM9-USw
    Good luck.
    Briony
    x

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  6. Not heard of this, I shall have to Google. Good luck.

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  7. I started an English paper pieced bedspread in 1975. It is still unfinished. Mind you it started out as a single and is now on the way to being king sized. Enjoy!

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    1. You've really cheered me up as I haven't finished the one I started in 1981! If I got it out now I'd probably find that the stitching was terrible and I'd need to take it apart and redo it. x

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  8. Someone recommended this to me, I know a little bit about it but like you I am not totally sure it is for me! I hope you share how you get on with it.

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  9. I am in the process of making an EPP hexagon cushion cover in different shades of blue - trying to get an gradient effect of lights to darks. So far, I am just making the hexagons up, but it's a project I can pick up and put down as and when I feel like it. I bought a book 'Quilting on the Go' by Jessica Alexandrakis which I really like - you may find it useful.
    Good luck and I hope you enjoy your new hobby.
    Best wishes
    Ellie

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  10. You will love it!!! This is what started me off sewing many years ago and I have never looked back. Stitching hexagons has to be one of the most relaxing pastimes going. x

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  11. A new crafty endeavor is always exciting. I have no idea what paper piecing is...off to Google it!

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  12. It's a very absorbing pastime. I know someone who takes a pocketful of hexagons with her whenever she travels anywhere by train. x

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  13. It's something I keep seeing everywhere at the moment and I would like to have a go someday too but having just tidied up my craft supplies yet again I don't think I can justify buying more of anything at the moment. I will look forward to seeing how you get on and how you hexies grow though. x

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  14. Ohh ! Fun to start something new! Good for your brain!! Fun for us

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  15. Look forward to seeing your project come to life. I'm not good with EPP due to my silly old fingers not playing well with tiny sewing these days, but have done it a "long" time ago. Have fun.
    Take care, stay safe & huggles.

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  16. Great fun with lots of ideas available to you once you start. Enjoy.

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  17. Looking forward to seeing how you get on, I found it quite therapeutic. Have fun.

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  18. I've often thought of giving this a try myself, so I'm looking forward to seeing your progress. X

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  19. Sorry, late again, just catching up.
    I love EPP, did it first in late 70s when I was a teenager at school; I was hopeless at art, but my art teacher saw a project I had made and asked me to make her something, which she paid me for! It is a very slow hobby, that can be good though. I made my Mum a hexi quilt for her 80th birthday and it took me over 11 months, so worth it though.

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  20. I've never heard of this so it will be interesting hearing more.xxx

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  21. I haven't heard of English paper piecing before, I'll have to Google it :)
    At first glance I thought you were making a patchwork quilt.
    x

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  22. Google informs me that you are making patchwork. I've made a quilt using this technique, I just didn't know that it was called English paper piecing! It's addictive.
    x

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