Testing patterns

I love paper piecing and I had no idea that I did .... that is until I volunteered to be a pattern-tester not knowing that the patterns were all paper-pieced ones!

Here are two from recent pattern testing gigs ....

This Geometric USA pattern is due to be released later this month by Quiet Play (aka Kristy Lea in Australia).  Check her many patterns on Craftsy (www.craftsy.com/profile/quiet-play-s-pattern-store ) & Payhip -- or browse thru her awesome posts on Instagram  ....

I finished the USA on July 4th, so added (digitally only right now) the "Happy 4th of July" across the top.  I'm pondering doing a paper pieced red-white&blue USA to put there but haven't decided.


I also tested this amazing lighthouse pattern, also by Quiet Play.

The model sailing ship was hand crafted by my dear Papa Herb (may he rest in peace).  I stitched up the sails for him and the ship is named for his sister Edna (also of blessed memory).  Papa Herb is/was my father-in-law and I still miss the quiet times we shared -- we were the two craftsy people in the family at the time.

The Geometric Lighthouse was released this spring and a bonus pattern to the "Release the Kraken" block of the month that Quiet Play and Gnome Angel are hosting.  These two creative Australians have teamed up as "Quarter Inch of Quirk" for this block of the month (I'm guessing it is the first of more that will come).  Check out hashtag: "release the kraken b-o-m" on IG for more of their joint block-of-the-month quilt (there are mermaids, sea creatures, and much more!).  By the way, the website for Gnome Angel (aka Angie) is www.gnomeangel.com and the website for their joint venture is www.quarterinchofquirk.com/




An important reminder (or lesson, or tip) is to ALWAYS be sure to double check your "printer settings" before printing your paper piece patterns. 

Most every pattern will have a test square that (once printed) will measure to be an accurate 1" square.  Print your patterns at 100% and then be sure to measure your test square.  When you do this, your finished paper-pieced block will end up the size as stated on the pattern (ask me how I know?  and no need to ask how many times I forgot to measure my tester square before piecing the entire block...)

Look carefully above -- my 1" square is SMALLER than the 1" ruler markings -- this is not a good sign.  If they do not match, go back and carefully examine your printer settings ..... 

New list of finishing goals ....

Here is my current top ten (plus 2) list of projects that I aim to finish by the end of September....  All have indeed been started and yet are lingering too long in this unfinished limbo state.

1) bind my first Red-n-White quilt (& label)

2) bind my Oopsie Daisy quilt (& label)

3) finish my cross stitch ABC Words of Wisdom

4) buttons and buttonholes on peach plaid shirt

5) stitch up rayon peach top

6) quilt "Dream" quilttop (or will it be a pillow? or pillow case?)

7) quilt "Geometric USA" then finish into mini quilt or pillow

8) finish assembling 2015 Row-by-Row (water theme)

9) finish piecing, quilting, binding & label the latest Thangles pattern

10) dress and garnish my first spirit doll (maybe more than one)

 11) bonus:  quilt and finish my original Instagram logo mini-quilt (and finish an identical twin for a future swap ...) pattern by Lori Holt (IG: beelori1; her website: www.beeinmybonnetco.blogspot.com/)

12) might as well go for an even dozen:  finish any old UFO that I re-discover in the next two months .... (hee hee hee - there are many that I've forgotten about!)


This is my official list for the Finish-Along group effort -- teams of fellow finishers are wonderful spirit-boosters!  Check out this link or this one for more information and join (if you act fast .....).

Thank you to all the Finish-Along hostesses and prize donors and participants for inspiring me to get things DONE!

I am happy to report that I am linky number 87 for the 3rd quarter of 2017 Finish-along fun.