You know those moments where you try something new and challenging and then it works and you just want to squeal and shimmy in glee? This English paper pieced Liberty mini quilt is one such moment. Me, English paper piecing, what?! Mercifully, I decided to tackle it again by choosing to use my rapidly growing Liberty stash, because this luscious fabric is a dream to piece by hand. So smooth and fine! And pretty. So pretty. I used a range of Liberty fabrics, starting with the 10cm charm packs I bought in Japan, and adding in a few bits and pieces I’ve since picked up here in Australia. I tried to stick to one colour or palette per blossom, alternating with saturated and less-saturated prints around the block, and alternating two different greener prints for the leaves around the outside.
I contemplated piecing them together using the kite shape to connect them, but in the end, the looming Shape Family Challenge deadline and my lack of any urgency to fully EPP this project meant that I machine-appliqued them to black Essex linen. Which, by the way, was very difficult to get any results in Google on how to machine applique EPP?! So I took some photos as I went so I can share how I went about it later on. I finished it off by sewing around the outer edges of the blossoms, and then the inner edge, before using the same Liberty print for the binding that I used for the backing – a multi-coloured affair that my husband bought me in Japan. Slippery little sucker to machine bind, let me tell you!
So that’s my first dealings with English paper piecing. It’s imperfect, it’s wonky, it’s all mine. Over the past few months, I’ve really come to embrace the handmade beauty of quilting, where done is better than perfect, and where challenging yourself and growing as a quilter is more beautiful than perfection. And I feel that this piece expresses that personal growth just perfectly 😉
Serena@Sewgiving says
I love your little Liberty master piece. I embraced EPP when I started sewing with people “in real life” as it was so portable – it’s nice to sit, chat and have something to show hubby when I get home .. “See we do actually sew at these get-togethers! It’s not all wine and cheese … promise!” he he he 🙂
Alyce says
Haha! Exactly!
Carla says
I have been at those get-togethers, Serena. Sometimes it is just tea and cake (but we do not need to tell him that).
😉
Kay says
I love Liberty and EPP, one day I will finish my EEP hexagon quilt which seems to be taking me forever. x
Margaret (margiestitcher) says
such a pretty quilt. I usually sew my blocks to backing by hand but I do enjoy hand stitching.
Carla says
Your first EPP and you went straight for the Liberty! Wow!
If it reassures you, all other fabrics will now seem much easier. Liberty is so fine that your EPP stitches have very little place to hide.
Ioleen says
Well done, Alyce!!!!! I took a course a couple of years ago and really enjoyed the hand work . I’m in the process of making a Xmas table runner.
Alyce says
Thank you so much, Ioleen! I definitely feel like I’ve reached a milestone – first finished hand work piece. Next, I should try a fully hand work piece!