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Saturday, June 15, 2013

Quilting on the Go blog tour

Today I'm happy to be a stop on the Quilting on the Go blog tour.
Quilting on the Go is written by my long time blog friend Jessica, who blogs at Life Under Quilts. I have admired her beautiful travel quilts for many years. In fact, she is the one who got me started on EPP over two years ago. I'm so excited for her beautiful book! It clearly covers every step of the EPP process-preparing a travel kit, choosing fabrics, how to join the pieces, very important assembly instructions-like finishing the edges of your quilt (that's a biggie for me!)-and so much more. The book has several small projects: a pincushion (adorable), a tiny sewing kit (a must make!), pouches, bags, and a pillow. There are several quilt patterns in the book, too. Of course! The book is a great resource if you are just beginning EPP, but it's also a great motivating resource if you are in the middle of an EPP project. For me, it was wonderful to see finished quilts! It gave me hope that one day I will have a finished quilt, too. May sound silly, but if you are in the middle of a hand pieced quilt, I think you know what I mean. :)
EPP (English Paper Piecing) is a slow process, yes, but I really enjoy having a portable quilting project ready at all times. The kids and I love to get out the picnic quilt (they select an activity, I grab my stitching) and we hang out on the lawn together. It's a wonderful way to spend a summer afternoon!
Here's a progress picture of "Oh My Stars" quilt. The countdown has begun! I only have 27 stars left to add to the quilt. (And the filler pieces, too). I'm getting there! It's exciting to be this far along in the journey. I'm looking forward to lots of hand stitching this summer! (Really, I am!)

Since this is a blog tour, of course there are some freebies! You can visit Lesly's blog to enter to win your very own copy of Quilting on the Go. (Giveaway open through today.) Next week Lucy will be giving away a copy, too.

If you need paper pieces, you can use the code UNDER20 for a 20% discount at Paperpieces.com.

Be sure to visit the other stops on the blog tour:

June 11 Lesly at Stitch Literate http://pickledish.blogspot.com
June 12 Clare at Selfsewn http://selfsewn.blogspot.com/
June 13 Christina at A Few Scraps http://afewscraps.blogspot.com/
June 14 Victoria @ Bumblebeans http://bumblebeansinc.blogspot.com/
June 15 Amanda Jean at Crazymomquilts http://www.crazymomquilts.blogspot.com/
June 16 Laura at Quokka Quilts http://quokkaquilts.blogspot.com/
June 17 Lucy at Charm About You http://www.charmaboutyou.com/
June 18 Katy at I'm A Ginger Monkey http://www.imagingermonkey.blogspot.com/
June 19 Ara Jane at What Ara Jane Loves http://whatarajaneloves.blogspot.com/
June 20 Kathy at Pink Chalk Studio Blog http://www.pinkchalkstudio.com/blog/
June 21 Jessica at Life Under Quilts http://lifeunderquilts.blogspot.com/
And if you would like to purchase a copy of the book it's available at:

 
 

So, my question to you is, do you EPP? I'd be curious to hear your thoughts on it. Personally, I'm looking forward to making a hexagon EPP project after I get this diamond quilt done. I think I'm hooked!

56 comments:

  1. I love the summery colours in your star quilt! And yes I'm an EPP addict :)

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  2. Beautiful quilt! And I love EEP too! I am looking out for a summerproject now.

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  3. Your star quilt is beautiful! It almost makes me want to learn EPP... wait, this is me I'm talking about. I loathe hand sewing so I don't think it will ever catch on for me so I'll let you do enough hand sewing for both of us!

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  4. Your quilt is awesome!! Can you tell me what size your diamonds are? I think that might be my next project once I finish my hexies. Thanks!

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  5. I love EPP and have been working on a Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt for about a year.

    I'm wondering if you intend to add borders and how many rows across and down do you have in this quilt?

    It's beautiful!

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  6. Judy,

    The diamonds are 60 degrees and 2" long on each side. Hope that helps!

    AJ

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  7. Paralegal Mentor,

    I'm probably NOT going to add borders. The rows are 9 stars across and I have 10 rows completed. I plan to add 3 more rows. Hope that helps!

    AJ

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  8. Only three more rows to go! You are a rock star. Loved seeing this quilt's progress.

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  9. Yes I am working on some EPP. It is taking its time though. I like working on the sewing machine a it more :-)
    Love your stars!
    Esther
    esthersipatchandquilt at yahoo com
    ipatchandquilt dot wordpress dot com

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  10. Doing my first EPP project which is hexies. So fun and I really like taking it with me places. Recently did about 50 traveling to/from a wedding. Thankfully I don't get sick traveling and sewing. Love your stars. A diamond shape might be next for me!

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  11. Anonymous1:50 PM

    I've never EPP. It seems so intimidating. But I went over to Jessica's web site a few days ago and watched her video of the process. I like that she uses plastic reusable templates. Maybe I will try it one day. I sure do love the finished look! It just scares me to start such a slow project.

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  12. Anonymous2:36 PM

    I have just started EPP and am hooked already. I have lots of them done, just now have to figure out what to do with all of the hexagons I have!

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  13. Yep...I love EPP. I've made several small projects and I have one more row to sew on the Hexy MF I started last summer....then I have to applique it down to the borders....and so more applique....one day it will be ready to quilt!;)

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  14. I was introduced to epp a couple of years ago, when everyone was doing hexagons. Loved it & I'd like to do some more. Thanks for the giveaway!

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  15. I love English paper piecing--I was hooked from the time I first tried it a year ago! I am a big fan of hand-sewing in general, but I especially like the interplay of shapes in EPP.

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  16. Your star quilt is beautiful! How exciting to be so close to a finished top.

    I love pep - I'm working on a little summer project with hexagons right now and I have a long term project that's a mix of hexagons and diamonds that I'd like to finish someday... :-)

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  17. Yes I am making a hexagon one, I am still unsure how I will set them all but as you say it is a long term project one especially for being on the move, that's why I started it:O)
    I have just fallen for your diamond star quilt so I will definitely be making another EEP

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  18. I made 3 tortoise pincushions once with paper pieced hexagons on the shell and rather enjoyed it, but haxagons aslways seem old fashioned to me. Perhaps your diamonds are the way to go as they don't seem old at all. Or perhaps this hop will convert me???

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  19. I do not EPP. But I think I do now. :) I love the idea of having an on the go handwork project! I never have enough binding or blanket stitching ti consistently have those kinds of projects. Thanks for the introduction. I'm sold!

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  20. I EPP. I'm piecing smaller parts to make up 2 inch hexagons. I've been working on the quilt for 18 months. I'm hoping to have the top pieced by the end of this year (I'm aiming for queen sized) and then the hand quilting will begin.

    It's a great portable project.

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  21. I EPP most of my projects. I am working on the Nearly Insane quilt at the moment. I love it.

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  22. I'm hooked on EPP. I've been slowly working on a stars quilt that is very similar to yours. It's been about 5 years now, but that's because I only work on it in the car, the hospital or quilt get-togethers. Mine will be all 30's repros but when it's done I'd like to a civil war version... or maybe do hexagons for a change. Love yours!

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  23. Wanting to win the book for future reference when I have time to do EPP.

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  24. Great hexagon projects you have here. And I totally understand you, I also hope that I'll finish one of my hexie project some day.

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  25. I haven't tried EPP yet, but your diamond quilt really inspires me. I'm ready to jump right in!

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  26. I love EPP. I have a number of different projects in progress!

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  27. I wonder why the method is called English Paper Piecing?

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  28. I have never done EPP. I am still very new to quilting. :) Your stars make me think I need to try it!

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  29. For two years I've dreamed of having a travel quilt on the ready...since you blogged about it the first time! My very first quilt is mostly hand pieced and quilted...still not finished with the quilting, that's a little too big for on the go, frame and all!

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  30. Yes I've done EPP hexies and 1 inch tumblers. The hexies became a pillow and the tumblers a mug rug.

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  31. I love EPP! I've only ever done hexies but I really love your diamonds. Those might be next! :)

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  32. I just started piecing hexagons recently. I'm loving it! I sew while I watch tv at night - now I don't feel like I'm wasting time every night. I'll be traveling in the fall and I'll be bringing this project with me. I love your project with the epp stars. Now I want to make one of those too!

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  33. I love your stars quilt, it will look fantastic (as all your quilts do!) I first tried EPP last year as part of the Amy Gibson Craftsy BOM quilt - I hope to one day do a Grandmother's Garden...

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  34. Your quilt is amazing. Can't wait to see it completed.

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  35. I love epp so much I have rsi :(
    The projects in my head are endless!

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  36. I have a hexagon EPP quilt that I am currently stalled out on. I need to cut some more fabric squares and hexie cardstock pieces.

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  37. My thinking used to be that I would never do any hand quilting because I hated hand sewing......until I came across Jessica's web page one day and saw her EPP. Gave it a try and got hooked big time. I am working on a grandmothers flower garden quilt.
    thim3@hotmail.com

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  38. I don't EPP, but I have hand pieced a quilt. It was a lot of fun, but I'm not sure I'd do it again. The hand quilting was a lot more fun than the piecing.

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  39. Yes I do paper piece. A friend of mine got me started a while back and I have been hooked ever since.

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  40. yes I bought this book a few weeks ago and it has me hooked, very relaxing to do and the book takes EPP further than I have seen it done before.

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  41. Well, I am very confused. What is the difference between EPP that you do in your hands and the kind that you have to trace and sew on the lines?

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  42. i do epp too, but I guess we knew that already. Thanks for a great post AmandaJean~ only 3 rows left?! you can do it!!

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  43. A couple of weeks ago I finished a gfg with just shy of 5,000 one inch hexies. Finished dimensions of 126" x 102". Took just over two years from the absolute beginning thought to final stitch in the label. I broke so many "rules" of a gfg that I called it Not Your Grandmother's Flower Garden but it was fully epp by hand and went everywhere that I went. Loved it but now I am trying to figure out what to do with my empty hands in the evening.

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  44. I'm doing my first epp project this summer through Wild Olive's Summer Stitching Club!!!! So excited!!

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  45. I just finished my first project a baby hexagon quilt

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  46. I have only done hexagons, what size diamonds do you use?

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  47. I have just started playing with hexagon flowers. I'm not sure if they will be a cushion, a wall hanging, a lap quilt, or appliqué on something bigger! My hands get twitchy if I'm just watching tv and not stitching- unless it's something with subtitles!

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  48. I love EPP--I have four projects going right now, three of which are just hexies!

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  49. I am making a tumbling blocks quilt with EPP. I have my blocks all done - now to put them all together. This is a multi-year project to be sure!

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  50. EPP is very relaxing for me. I've only done hexies but would like to tackle the diamonds at some point.

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  51. Anonymous9:46 AM

    I´ve started doing EPP more than 20 years ago and finished some quilts over these years. I still love that technique -well, maybe it´s more a kind of lifestyle than a simple technique.......at least I believe that while I´m sewing EPP:-)
    It´s so relaxing and I love to be able to take it with me almost everywhere I go.
    I always enjoy visiting your blog!
    Greetings from Germany,
    Ulrike

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  52. I don't paper piece...yet. :)

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  53. I love EPP. I think I need this book. For me, I love the hand stitching. The hard part is getting started and picking my fabrics. (as always)

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  54. I'm just learning to do Hexie's... loooove it already too...tho am sloooow at it. My BFF is learning with me...so is definitely being sooooo much fun!! We are addicted! (& neeed this Book!)

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  55. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  56. I am somewhat confused as to which blogger and blog post should receive a comment post and cannot see if my earlier attempts actually posted. I want so much to win a copy of this book. I've made one teeny EPP (of sorts) hexagon flower that I don't know what to do with…. I would love to win EPP On The GO so that have some expert guidance on EPP "how to", EPP with shapes other than hexies (like diamonds), and have quilt projects that I can make. mlwright29(at)hotmail(dot)com So, you will see this comment multiple times.

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