Printer Ink

[View My TQS Profile jetmaio]

I am still floundering with the very first circle. This is the second time I've sewn it. The first time I found at the end that one of my star pieces didn't extend all the way to the bottom. I sure wish the video had shown how to line up the pieces from the back. I seem to have to do trial and error each and every piece. So far I hate paper piecing and am ready to throw it away. Now I do a second first piece and I think it comes out ok except one of the background pieces are backwards. I have to pull it apart and redo. Now it doesn't lay flat enough so I use steam. O.K. now here is the real question. The printer ink numbers are now on my beige background fabric. DOES IT WASH OUT?

[View My TQS Profile PosyP]

The only way to find out is to wash it, unfortunately.
This is because of the variation of the different types of inks from company to company and mainly has to do with whether it is a dye based ink or a pigment based ink. Because it has transfered, I suspect that it is probably a dye based ink - these ones when printed onto fabric without a mordant (ie bubblejet) will run when they get wet, whereas the pigment based ones are usually more secure onto the fabric.

By the way if you were to starch your fabric, the print would transfer to the starched surface rather than the fibres of the fabric, and probably be easier to remove - although I am sure that you would rather not have to remove them to start with

[View My TQS Profile PosyP]

Trouble with the paper piecing technique - Sue Garmen has a useful video from 2009 on how to paper piece, which might be worth your while reviewing http://www.thequiltshow.com/os/lessons_video.php/classes_id/1016/lessons_id/1094

Hope this helps

[View My TQS Profile Reetzbobeetz]

Jetmaio, I know exactly how you feel. I did the centre star but every single piece took at least three attempts. I find the whole backwards thing just too much for my brain. I eventually got it done but now find that I am short on the background fabric at several points. And, I do not have a go cutter or a baby go cutter or any other kind of cutter to cut all those circles so I will be leaving it at that. I might put my centre star into something else or maybe I will keep it up on my design wall to remind me of my limitations.

[View My TQS Profile jennifergel]

I took a class with Carol Doak to learn paper piecing. She also has a video http://www.thequiltshow.com/os/shows.php/episode/602 which helps.

I hated paper piecing before the class, and now I enjoy the results! The block in the video is the same one she taught in the class, so I know the technique works.

Hope that helps and you don't give up!

Jennifer

[View My TQS Profile Reetzbobeetz]

Thanks for the reminder of that show Jennifer. I am not sure I have actually watched it, but I will now.

[View My TQS Profile ajclapp]

Jetmaio, I know exactly how you feel. I did the centre star but every single piece took at least three attempts. I find the whole backwards thing just too much for my brain. I eventually got it done but now find that I am short on the background fabric at several points. And, I do not have a go cutter or a baby go cutter or any other kind of cutter to cut all those circles so I will be leaving it at that. I might put my centre star into something else or maybe I will keep it up on my design wall to remind me of my limitations.

If you didn't live so far away I could show you how I paper piece using an on top method so you don't have to think backwards. You have to draw extra lines on the paper and cut the odd pieces using templates so the prep time takes a little longer but the sewing goes fast. I'm in the process of doing some blocks of the week for my website using my paper piecing method that will be a free download in PDF files. I just started on Friday so it may take a week or 2 to get the first ones posted. Now that I've said it I can't back out. Don't give up on paper piecing. Carol Doak's way is good too.

[View My TQS Profile lsipes]

Ladies, I started a thread about a ruler suggestion and I did it for a reason!

I seriously, absolutely, positively totally suggest using the add-an-eight ruler! There will be absolutely no question of where you're supposed to put your fabric. And it goes SO MUCH FASTER. I made this quilt in about half the time it would've taken me doing it the "regular" way.

As for the ink transferring to the fabric, you should not use steam when doing this project. For several reasons. Whether the ink will come out or not, I would suggest washing the quilt top (pre-quilting) once it's finished with a detergent with an oxy-boost in it and keep fingers crossed!

[View My TQS Profile Scoopie]

For those people who have had a bad experience with printer ink bleeding into the fabric or seamline thread, I will share how I did mine. I'm not saying my way is right or wrong, just an alternate way of doing it. I printed out my patterns onto paper piecing paper. I lightly glued the paper to a foundation (mine happened to be EQ Printables, but it will work with Ricky's SS). Once the fabrics are stitched to the foundation/paper units (foundation between fabric and paper) and all are pieced together, the paper (with the ink on it) can be removed, leaving the foundation and fabric. No more ink! (I would leave the paper on the outermost areas for the seamlines to match up with the next units seams.) I hope this is clear!

Dawn
In beautiful Northwest Montana

[View My TQS Profile lsipes]

Jetmaio, I know exactly how you feel. I did the centre star but every single piece took at least three attempts. I find the whole backwards thing just too much for my brain. I eventually got it done but now find that I am short on the background fabric at several points. And, I do not have a go cutter or a baby go cutter or any other kind of cutter to cut all those circles so I will be leaving it at that. I might put my centre star into something else or maybe I will keep it up on my design wall to remind me of my limitations.

I didn't use my Go cutter for the circles. I used a mathematical compass and drew them onto my fusible with that, then cut them out with scissors.

[View My TQS Profile adamsme]

I do not think this project is for the faint of heart. If you have never done paperpiecing, it's going to be a challenge, for sure. The whole backwards thing becomes really intuitive, but I have had a lot of practice. In the beginning I thought it was a nightmare. I taught myself with the Carol Doak book and that was before there were videos available. I wasted a lot of fabric at first, but the project was very small and the pieces I was throwing away were small scrap sized bits. I would also be tearing out my hair if I made mistakes on the big chunks we are using for Sedona Star.I second the recommendation about the Add-a-Qarter or Add-an-Eighth rulers. I always use them for paper piecing. I have been printing the templates onto Deb Karasik's Perfect Paper Piecing Paper. The ink does not run or smear (I have an HP inkjet printer). It is made of 100% cotton fibers, despite its transparent appearance, so it doesn't dull scissors or rotary cutters. It also serves as a stabilizer for stitching around the fused pieces.

[View My TQS Profile LeslieJC]

I hope people give this BOM and extra shot. I had several problems with the January part, and had to do quite a bit of unsewing/resewing, but I am so pleased with how it is going now. And... although I have "wasted" some fairly large pieces of fabric as well as stabilizer, I have learned so much, that I guess it will all be OK. I hope that in the end (when I am enjoying my finished quilt) I can look at it and feel good about what I have learned and my perserverance.

However... I have only just begun(!) February!

[View My TQS Profile Reetzbobeetz]

It might have been a good idea to start on some practice pieces of fabric first to get the technique going before moving on to the real fabric. I watched Carol Doak's show last night and it did help a lot. But I am still finding it hard to position the pieces with enough on the top and bottom. I had an 'add a quarter inch" ruler which I now know how to use properly thanks to Carol Doak. Maybe, with some more practice and a lot more patience I will get this eventually. Thanks to everybody for encouragement and suggestions. And Lisa I am looking forward to seeing your video tutorial - videos definitely work best for my brain.

[View My TQS Profile neunzap]

If you are having trouble getting the pieces positioned, start with bigger ones! You cut off the extra anyway, and it can save a lot of aggravation. Sarah's sizes are just big enough, so cutting an extra 1/2" on length or 1/4 on width will probably help a lot - especially if you are a beginner.

[View My TQS Profile jetmaio]

If you are having trouble getting the pieces positioned, start with bigger ones! You cut off the extra anyway, and it can save a lot of aggravation. Sarah's sizes are just big enough, so cutting an extra 1/2" on length or 1/4 on width will probably help a lot - especially if you are a beginner.

Here comes try #3. This time I am cutting the pieces larger to avoid further frustration. Thank you ladies for suggesting I watch Carol Doaks and Sue Garmin. Both of the videos were very helpful too. I really would like to get January done before March is posted. Will let you know.