Foundation piecing is so much fun! I love that you can make a picture from fabric with only straight line seams. It’s like putting together a jigsaw puzzle.

I’m almost finished with Carol Doak’s Scrap Scramble block-of-the-month project that she’s been running on her Yahoo! Group here since last fall. You’d think that it would by easy to keep up with one block per month, but I managed to get 4 months behind! Now I’m caught up and and I’ve sewn all up the whole thing. It still needs a border, batting, quilting, and binding, but it’s at a good pausing point. Thanks to my hubby for helping me with the photograph!

If you’re looking for more fun designs to try, try searching for “Paper Piecing” on Pinterest or Google. I also love everything that Wombat Quilts makes. Paper Panache looks extremely interesting as do these designs on Etsy and Craftsy. I also love this design of a farm scene. And I’m currently working on this Christmas House project offered by Quilter’s Newsletter for this fall season. Here are some of those blocks in progress:

Carol Doak is having a sale on her website and I picked up the foundation pieces for two miniature quilts. So now that’s on my list of things I want to do. There’s just never enough time for all of my projects!

What’s so great about quilting? There seems to be a divide between quilters and garment sewers and I don’t really understand why. Here are some of the reasons I like doing both.

I like fabric. If I see a nice piece of fabric, I want to do something with it. Either turn it into something to wear or use it in a bag or quilt. I also like seeking out coordinating fabrics. Any excuse to acquire more fabric is good for me.

I like making useful things. Clothes are useful. Bags are useful. And quilts are useful. Even small piecework can be turned into nice pot holders, tote bags, place mats, pincushions, pillows, or other gifts.

I like technical challenges. Garment fitting and construction are sometimes quite difficult for me and I have a long way to go to get better at it. Piecework and quilting are also technically demanding requiring attention to detail and learned skill.

I love tools. Both hobbies benefit from specialized tools that are fun to discover and use. Why limit your tool collecting to just one hobby?

So really I think if you’re on one side of the fence or the other, there may be something to offer on the other side that feeds the same pleasures that you get on your side of the fence. Just think of the fabric stash you get to build if you both quilt and sew garments!