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Have you considered hand piecing your quilts and why it’s not as whacky as it sounds!
Nic VaughanIf you’re new to hand piecing but not new to quilting you may have never considered making your patchwork by hand or consider making patchwork by hand as a crazy endeavour!
Before sewing machines were invented (in the 1830’s!) how do you think vintage quilts were created… by hand.
Would you like to try hand piecing?
Put your details above to the form and you’ll be emailed the Wheely Fun quilt block pdf. The pdf includes the block, templates and instructions on how to piece the block together, including the seam setting for the block so you have nice, flat blocks. There’s a layout suggestion with sashing measurements, colouring sheet and a coloured mockup so you can make your own Wheely Fun quilt. Get scrappy, dig out as many prints as you can and have fun!
By putting your details below you’ll receive the PDF and you’ll also sign up to my Scrappy Digest. The Scrappy Digest is sent out fairly irregularly and you can unsubscribe at any time. It’s a fun quilty digest. There are also templates available to purchase.
Why hand piece?
Well, I have a few reasons for hand piecing patchwork. The biggest one is the freedom you have. Yes freedom. Partial seams, Y seams and curved seams are a breeze when you’re hand piecing. I also don’t love spending a lot of time at a sewing machine. I love my sewing machine, I just don’t want to spend hours at her. I’d rather stitch by hand.
Stitching by hand will give you nice flat blocks. By not sewing into the seam allowance when piecing by hand your seams and seam intersections can be swivelled to sit nice and flat.
There’s also the process of making A WHOLE QUILT TOP by hand. Yes, it’s satisfying. It’s not always the fastest, no, but that can also depend on the blocks you’re piecing and how organised you are.
Did you know hand piecing is social?
What do I mean by that? Well I can sit with my partner in the evenings and on weekends and stitch away, giving Netflix and chill a whole other meaning… If I’m on a quilt deadline I can take a block or two with me and stitch if I’m going to be waiting somewhere. All I need are my block pieces, needle and thread.
I will often hand piece all the blocks for a quilt and then machine piece the quilt top together. I’ll also attach quilt binding by machine and then flip it over and hand stitch it down.
Preparation is key, get organised baby!
Firstly print the templates and make sure you print them at 100% and check the 1” measurement once you’ve printed them, you can then trace them on to template plastic. Some quilts have with laser cut acrylic templates available, the templates you see me using in the videos below I've had printed on to heavy board and laminate for some test blocks. You want a template that will keep its shape when you’re tracing it over and over. So when making your templates consider this.
The biggest thing I’ve learnt with hand piecing quilt blocks is preparation is key. Once I’ve chosen my fabrics, I'll always grab more fabrics than I think I'll need from my stash and then I'll work out which prints are going with which blocks (I’m a scrappy quilter so the more prints the better) and then I’ll get to tracing all the pattern pieces on the relevant fabrics and adding seam allowances. For the WHOLE quilt. Well, wait. I often make a test block. Making sure I’m happy with how the block is coming together and looking and then I get to getting all my bits organised together. Pattern, templates, tools and fabric etc!
Marking seam allowances, what are you talking about?
Well as I’m not sewing by machine and sewing by hand I need to have my seam allowance marked on to my fabrics. Some quilters can eyeball a quarter inch seam and not mark, I am not one of them! I also prefer to use quilt templates that don’t have seam allowances as I like to trace the shape as accurately as possible and then add the seam allowances.
How do you add seam allowances to curved seams?
If tracing an acrylic template that has the seam allowance included then I’ll trace the shape, mark any seam points and then using the template markings add the 1/4” seam allowances. To add curved seams, find the opposite template to your curved seam and you’ll be able to use that to trace your allowance, probably in two halves.
If tracing a printed paper template without seam allowance I’ll use a small seam wheel to add the seam.
SIGN-UP FOR MY FREE MINI MASTERCLASS ON HANDPIECING PATCHWORK
Delivered to your inbox and you can complete at your own leisure. Includes written, pdf and video instructions.
If you have any questions about hand piecing your patchwork and quilts, drop me a comment below. I truly love making quilts by hand and yes I have more than one WIP on the go... don't we all?!
EDIT: I have a post about tools I love and use. LINK
14 comments
I usually take one look at hand-piecing a block with all of those little ‘bits’ and shut the page. Then, I find my fusing paper and then do buttonhole stitch applique. After reading about your enthusiasm for this technique, I am going to give this a try. Thank you for your generosity in providing this technique for us to follow.
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Craftapalooza Designs replied:
Hi Jaydee! Oh I love to hear this.l!
[image: Craftapalooza Designs] <https://mysig.io/P4Grmnqk> Nic Vaughan Craftapalooza Designs www.craftapalooza.com <https://mysig.io/zE4VD1d6> nic@craftapalooza.com PO Box 99, Greenwood WA 6924 [image: Craftapalooza Designs] <https://mysig.io/rlL1geQ7> [image: Craftapalooza Designs] <https://mysig.io/abR1nN3O> [image: Craftapalooza Designs] <https://mysig.io/LB4eDamY> [image: Craftapalooza Designs] <https://mysig.io/GbL1goNO> [image: Craftapalooza Designs] <https://mysig.io/Je4ED8NB> <https://mysignature.io/editor/?utm_source=expiredpixel>
I am a quilter and have a deep interest in the whole process of prep, sewing and finishing a completed quilt.During the past year, I have been hopitalized the majority of the time. I have only been at home for maybe 6 weeks total. The family doesn’t believe having a sewing machine in the room is needed. Someone suggested to take up hand sewing, like our ancestry did. To some extent I have and guess what, I enjoy and look forward learning more from you. I only have a small amount of available space and usuable fabric available and funds are limited. I will enjoy further knowledge. Thanks
Looking forward to your tips, calendar, projects, freebies, patterns, shoppe, and expertise!! I enjoy hand embroidery as well as quilting. Let’s get this party started!
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Craftapalooza Designs replied:
Ha! Thanks El, love it. Nic
nice idea, will give it a ty for bigger pieces
I just finished all my hand piece blocks from a Jenn Kingwell pattern. The only problem I have is the backs aren’t always flat. Will it still quilt ? I appreciate any help you can give me. Thanks should I impress the backs of the blocks?
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Craftapalooza Designs replied:
Hey Carmen! I hope you’re well. OK so first up you could absolutely get in
touch with Amitie Textiles (it’s Jen Kingwell’s shop) and ask if they have
any tips. Seam setting or managing your block seams is just as important as
the piecing of the blocks. As you’ve discovered you’ve got some bumpy
backs! If you want to email me a photo I can have a look, but otherwise
definitely try getting in touch with whoever you bought the pattern from or
Jen at Amitie Textiles.