A few weeks ago, I downloaded Katja’s Dresden Dreaming block instructions for the 2018 Aurifil BOM for January after I posted about it, and then I got a little worried. You see, I haven’t done EPP before. It’s not that I am scared, or unsure of how to proceed… it’s that I’m kind of afraid I will LOVE it! Oh well, nothing to do but give it a try and see where it leads, right?
Fabric Selection
The first step for me was to consider how I am going to approach fabric selection for the BOM for the full year. The theme for the year is “The Places We Go” and the designers are challenged to use black & white fabrics and a color of their choice. After culling through my stash, I hope to use my prints to see me through the year. For this block, I chose to stick with Katja’s suggestion of orange and I was able to select all Carolyn Friedlander prints!
Preparation Work
Once the fabric selection was made, I printed out the templates Katja provided and traced them onto heavier stock paper.
Basted Center
I started with the largest piece to gain a bit of confidence using my glue stick and basting the fabric to the templates.
Basting in Progress
I was surprised at how quickly the basting process went once I got into a rhythm.
First Stitches
And before I knew it, I had joined my first two pieces together! I selected 50wt Aurifil 2220 (Light Salmon) for this combination of fabrics.
Closer Detail
I wasn’t sure how far along I would be able to get the block, but I had an unexpected 4 hour delay at an airport…
Airport Stitching
…and I made a lot of progress. I was able to get all the basting finished and 3 quarter arcs stitched together.
Finished Block
And after that the block came together quickly! I used 50wt Aurifil 1104 (Neon Orange), which matches the center print better, to stitch the center circle down.
I need to give the block a good press and final trim, but since I will be storing it for a year while the BOM continues, I will probably wait on those steps until I am ready to assemble the quilt top.
If you are sewing along, don’t forget to link your block collection up with Pat to enter to win a box of Aurifil thread. All the details about the block and linking up are in Katja’s Dresden Dreaming block post on the Auribuzz blog.
Looks awesome Yvonne! Your circle is perfect!
I so understand your comment about being afraid to start something new because you will love it! I hesitate for the same reasons. I don’t want to add another WIP to my pile. However a project you can work anywhere….especially at an airport…I’m in! One nice thing about stitching in public is that people will start conversations with you, I love it.
Very pretty! I’m quite tempted. Just started with hexies and I’m looking to play with new shapes.
Looks perfect from the colour choice to the piecing! WOW!
What a pretty block; I love the fabrics (some of my favorites, although I don’t have any in my stash). I wasn’t going to do this one, but you make it look so easy. I’ve tried EPP, but I can’t get the stitching good enough and it shows between. Drives me nuts. I might rethink this and give it a try. So? Are you hooked on EPP yet?
Love the way those orange fabrics “sit” upon the black, Yvonne. I made one of these blocks too, but converted the pattern to sewing the wedges together. Pat showed fusible applique, but that’s not my preference. I’m adding my block to an in progress dresden plate quilt. I made my circle over freezer paper (instead of light cardboard) and did have a few irregularities. Next time I’ll try light cardboard like you did. Thanks for the wonderful photos.
You go girl! So do you leave the glued papers in until you put the final quilt together?
This is such a great block Yvonne and well done to try something new! I’ve seen a few of these blocks on Instagram and they’re making me twitch a bit!
It looks fabulous! I’ve done EPP before but never curves, so I’m so impressed you jumped right in with curved EPP! So did you love it?
I have the pattern downloaded too! You did a great job for your first time Yvonne. I know all too well how addicting it can become!
What a pretty block! EPP is the perfect antidote for airport delays.
You are braver than I 🙂 I finished my block last week, but chose to use Pat’s applique method instead of the EPP technique. Love the orange with the black and white print!
Your fabric choices are great! I just discovered EPP a couple months ago. Love the Lucy Boston blocks!
Love the prints and colours (he he he) you choose. I didn’t get a chance to play along this month.
Yvonne, it looks great and looks like you enjoyed the process. I just saw this somewhere else and keep getting tempted by it…. I think I will really download this time!
I love your color combo and the English Paper-piecing. That is something I intend to learn this year.
Beautiful! You are such an enabler and now I want to get out my EPP supplies and actually start something. I saw a pic of a quilt in orange, chartreuse, gray, and white that has been calling my name, and hubby will be in the hospital for a couple of days so that may be a great take-along project. Thanks for the inspiration and one of these days I’ll try one of the transparencies!
Good for you to dig into learning something new! It looks like you did a nice job. Next thing you’ll know, you’ll be addicted!
Well Done. You block looks fantastic. I hope you enjoy the technique. I found EPP very addictive. I always have one on the go.
Your block looks fantasitc! EPP is great for traveling and flight delays, while not fun, do lend themselves to lots of extra stitching! What is your decision on EPP: did you love it as much as you feared?
Looks like perfection on your first go! Well done!
It looks great, Yvonne! I love that you’ve avoided it for fear of loving it…that’s exactly why I won’t allow myself to try knitting 🙂 Well, that and where would I find time for another obsession?? So, now that you’ve tried it (with great success), do you think you’ll want to do it again?
This is really beautiful. I can’t believe how quickly you embraced a new technique. I applaud your fearlessness!!
I have been “saving” some of these fabrics for a special project, as yet unformed. I love how they look in the dresden plate. I have never taken part in this, but was going to this month for the first, but there weren’t enough days in the month, in a month with 31 days!
Looking good! You done great on your first go!
Oh no. not something else to grab my attention.
I tried EPP for the first time this year as well! It was a small set of hexies & I liked it more than I thought I would. Now I want to make something bigger, so I understand being scared to start something because you might like it! 🙂
This is awesome! I love that you’ve jumped into the EPP wagon, but at this point…isn’t yours more like appliqué? Sometimes I’ve printed out my EPP pieces on 24 lb. paper, and that’s worked okay too, if you get tired of cutting out the cardstock.
I often wonder about EPP – there is quite an appeal to something that lends itself so well to being a portable project. Maybe when you’ve done a bit more you can share your thoughts on the technique – do you enjoy it, is it too slow, or hard to be precise (that’s my worry, though of course your block looks perfect).
You did an awesome job for your first time EPPing. I’ve done hexies but that’s it. I wish I liked it more because it’s transportable, but then again, to your point, there’s the fear of liking something too. I already have so many things that I want to make and other WIPs and don’t get to sew as much as I like (not to mention that I’m not a very fast sewer).
Pretty awesome for your first foray into EPP. I’m not consistent about doing this (as I don’t travel much) but I do love handwork for travelling. Have fun with the BOM!