Friday 23 August 2013

Fugly FQ Freebies and Friday Finishes

As I was rummaging through my stash (heh - I love being able to say that) I thought it was time to drag out my fuglies for Lucy's link up party. These babies are free to a good home - and it's not this place. They were purchased about a year ago at my LQS in an effort to keep Princess quiet (I want them Mummy, I want them) while I finished buying me fabric. 

Three lonely fat quarters, looking for a home


Do you want them?  Well let me know if you do. My decision making process for giving them away is up in the air. Maybe the most needy?  Maybe someone who truly loves them? If there is more than one  worthy recipient perhaps the Princess random number generator could be called upon. To be honest I'm not sure if they'll be anyone's cup of tea. Leave me a comment and let me know. 

In between looking for ABC quilt inspiration (let me know if you're in for the quilt-along - I'll put the "getting started" post up next week) I have been trying to finish my "stick no bills" poster using Kristy's Just My Type paper piecing pattern. The good news is that I know how to paper piece now, thanks to this YouTube tutorial.  The first letter took me two whole hours. It was "I". *sigh*  Anyway then I got into the swing of it and they take me about 40 minutes now - and that's the tricky ones. I've kinda learned to love it too.  Like I need another obsession. 

I'm not quite finished, but here's my current wishful thinking. I mentioned this to my bank manager, who thought I was hilarious. *sarcasm*

Yeah, I know, that L doesn't line up very well.

Kristy gave me some great tips (she's super dooper helpful) and I learned a few things of my own. So, if you're a foundation piecing virgin, this is what I recommend:

- watch the tutorial
- finger press for small pieces, but iron the big ones.  If you iron all of them, it takes forever and I found with little bits it didn't make much difference. 
- just trim your seam allowances with a pair of scissors sitting at your machine - there is a technique in the tutorial which is good for large piecing but a waste of time for little bits - and it takes forever getting up and down all the time. 
- once you've pieced each component (A, B, or C) baste them together with your largest machine stitch to check they're lined up. This was Kristy's best bit of advice - I must of re-sewed some of them four or five times, and it was really easy to unpick. Once they're lined up, sew with your tiny stitches.

Give it a go - it's a bit frustrating at first, but then really fun.

Linking up to the Friday linky parties.  Howdy visitors!


26 comments:

Megan said...

Oh you've done brilliantly with the letters. I made the word 'kindness' for Kristy and those s's nearly drove me demented. I'm not nearly as patient as I imagine myself to be!

Annette said...

Oh, yes! I want them and you know why? Because I can't say "from my stash" yet. I tend to be the type who only buys with a project in mind. You can all hate on me now but you should really feel sorry for me.

Emma's Daughter said...

I love the colors in your fugly fabrics! Rcoyle at olemiss dot edu

Serena @ Sewgiving said...

So true about FPP - frustrating but fun! :)

ipatchandquilt said...

Great poster idea! :-) your pp is perfect! You are an expert now!!!
Good luck with finding a new home for the fuglies, LOL!
Esther
esthersipatchandquilt at yahoo dot com
Ipatchandquilt dot wordpress dot com

Kristy @ Quiet Play said...

"No Bills" sounds good to me! ;) I think you've done a fantastic job and really you won't be able to call yourself a paper piecing newbie for much longer!

And might I wish you the best of luck on passing on those acid-trip animal fabrics. I'm afraid my quota for those in my stash is pretty much at its limit. ;) hehehehe

Betsy said...

I would love them because I am making a hexie charm quilt and I am totally out of charms. These would look great in the quilt.

Leanne Parsons said...

I wonder is my post office would accept a No Bills quilt shoved in our mail box?! They could always move it out of the way for fun stuff like quilting magazines!

I actually like the fugly fabrics...they'd be great in a fussy cut quilt for kids.

Laura said...

I'm a scrap quilter, so I'd love to have your unwanted fabric. I'm thinking about making a quilt from my oldest and oddest fat quarters, and yours would fit right in.

Amy Given Sewist said...

The snakes are kind of awesome, actually. :D

hydeeannsews said...

I should give up my kids fuglies, but they are already in their own sewing boxes. =)

the letters are looking awesome, really awesome! do you really have to stick them with all those fugly zombies?!

and here's how I know we're quilting kindred spirits - check out where I photographed my blocks for today's post! rather uncanny.

Barbara O. said...

I want these fuglies, I want them! They're extra cute, I can see fuzzy cut hexagons, I-spy-blocks and appliqué on children's quilts.

Helen said...

I make charity quilts for the Mayo / St. Mary's Hospital Pediatric Infusion Therapy Unit (kids chemo). These fuglies would be PERFECT to bring a smile to a child's face. I promise that if you send them to me, I will make a bright, colorful quilt, or maybe 2 if there is enough, to tell a child(ren) that they are loved!

Nita said...

I make charity quilts as well, and would put them to good use for children in foster care. ;) If not me, than anyone making charity quilts for children would appreciate the donation. I find it is very expensive to purchase fabric to make these quilts and so I don't make as many as I would like to.

Bonnie Pfrimmer said...

I don't think they are "fugly". I kind of like them besides I don't have stash. They would do nicely as a pillowcase or children's quilt. Thank you for sharing them.

Teje Karjalainen said...

Looks exiting to me! Lots of possibilities - welcome to Greece! x Teje
nerospost(at)gmail(dot)com

Needled Mom said...

Your letters are fabulous.

I'd love the fuglies. They would make incredible I Spy blocks for our guild.

barb said...

I would be happy for any fabric. I hand piece and hand quilt and donate to charity. My income is less than four hundred dollars monthly for disability, so i cannot afford fabric blessings, barbara babscorbitt@gmail.com

Vicki H said...

I like your fuglies. I can see the fussy cut and used in a childs quilt. Thanks.

Joyce Carter said...

I sew for children in need and I think these fabrics are adorable. i would love the chance to win them. Thank you for the giveaway.

Nupur said...

I love those fabrics! I'm a new quilter and sewist, and with a toddler, cute prints like these will always get used. Thanks for being so generous.

onehotstove AT gmail DOT com

barbara woods said...

I could put them in one of my grandkids quilts, thanks

Leonie said...

go you and your piecing! a labour of love but as you say, once you get the hang of it, it becomes strangely addictive! Looking good!

jan said...

Ok everywhere I go you guys are paper piecing - I am bookmarking that you tube and I hope to dive right in . Yours look terrific!
xo jan

Lisa said...

Your letters look great! I love the one with the elephant and animals on it! I will swap for it if you want!

hueisei said...

I love letters quilt. I am making a Alphabet quilt for my son too :D
Love those cute fabrics. Thanks.