Wednesday 20 November 2013

Adventures in hand piecing

Each month since May, I've been getting a squishy parcel of fabric for the Bring Me Flowers BOM (run by Amitie Textiles), but until fairly recently they've been sitting untouched. When I joined up for the BOM (which is designed with hand piecing in mind) I decided I'd really like to hand piece this quilt. Only problem was I was really dubious about my ability to actually piece anything by hand.

Long story short, I decided to just give it a go and hope for the best. I never really understood the attraction, or how people like Alison could be bothered spending so much time hand piecing something when machine piecing is so much faster. But at the same time, it was something I really wanted to try (because, you know, I'm a huge fan of learning new skills when it comes to quilting). I am SO glad I tried it, because I am absolutely addicted. I love the slow pace, the portability and the satisfaction I get from making something with my hands as opposed to my machine. I still really love machine piecing too, but I can see how hand piecing will become a handy skill especially with y-seams and the like.

I've finished the first month blocks, and am working on month two.


I think the other thing I love about these blocks is Jen Kingwell's amazing fabric choices. It is really fun to be using fabrics chosen by someone else, and seeing how they work together. I'm learning a lot through this process as well :o)


xx Jess

21 comments:

DeborahGun said...

next time they do a hand pieced BOM I definitely want to join up. Loving all the pictures of this one, and so fun that you are now addicted to hand piecing. I love it too :-)

Nancy Near Philadelphia said...

Ditto what DeborahGun said!

Serena @ Sewgiving said...

Yay for hand piecing! I've just started hand piecing FW blocks and am loving it :) The colours in your blocks are lovely, looks like a fun BOM :)

Debbie said...

Very cool! I learned to quilt by hand piecing, and sometimes I do miss it.

Lucy | Charm About You said...

They look gorgeous!

Needled Mom said...

Those look great!

Di said...

Very pretty. Di x

Charlotte said...

beautiful blocks!

Unknown said...

I have the first four months of this BOM just waiting for me to have the time to start. I intend to make it my christmas treat and will make time to start it then. Yours look so lovely I hope I can do the gorgeous fabrics justice"

Little Island Quilting said...

Yay...a convert!

Susan said...

They are fun blocks! I love how hand piecing gives us the opportunity to get up close and personal with fabric!

Mrs Flying Blind... said...

Now I am just jealous that you will be porting yours to the beach, whilst I am wrapping up warm to sew in my conservatory for the next 3 months!!

Benta AtSLIKstitches said...

Lol, I thought the same - life is too short for hand piecing - but now I love it!

Ella said...

I'm already planning what hand sewing (EPP maybe) to take when visiting my parents.

Adrianne @ On the Windy Side said...

Jess these blocks are looking stunning! I am still not that tempted by hand piecing but now that I know how wonderful Jen Kingwell's patterns are...well...we'll see.

Anonymous said...

Wow, you must be good at it, because that looks like it was done by machine.

Vicki said...

These are fabulous! Yes, the fabric choices are so much fun.

Catherine said...

These look fantastic

Katy Cameron said...

Those are looking fab missus! I'm not even going to kid myself that hand piecing will be good for me!

Nat at Made in Home said...

So so pretty!

Rachaeldaisy said...

That would be such a fun BOM to be doing. I love the fabric choices too. I always have some sort of hand piecing or hand quilting on the go, it fill's in those times when you can't be machine sewing.