Strolling Down the Paper Piecing Path with Carol Doak

I became a fan of Carol's when I watched her on The Quilt Show online and saw her dedication to accuracy and simplifying the process. Her book Simply Sensational 9-Patch Stars turned my pathetic attempts to piece a quilt into a startling success when I followed her thorough and easy to follow step-by-step directions. For someone whose points never came out pointy or whose seams never aligned Carol's instructions and paper piecing in general seemed miraculous!

I do hope you'll welcome Carol. She has a great sense of humor and unlimited patience. Mega talent, too! I attribute her single handedly with turning me into a happy and content, frustration free 'accurate' quilt maker. -- Dawn

Photo of quilt Scrap Stars mini pattern available on Carol's website. Size 12 1/2 x 12 1/2-inches.  

by Carol Doak

When I embarked down the paper-pieced blocks path 15 years ago, I had no clue this concept would consume me for years and years to come.

I actually wrote about this method of creating patchwork on a paper foundation in a magazine article about that time. I wrote that when you approach what you normally do from a new perspective, you would come up with new ideas. I had no clue I would write 14 books on this subject.

I had no idea this method would become a staple in the quilting community. You only need to pick up the latest magazine and see paper-pieced patterns to confirm this. So why did that happen? Upon reflection, it was actually several paths merging that caught my attention and others' and held it.

First, I am a quilt teacher and being able to teach others how to succeed at perfect patchwork easily was a no-brainer!

Paper piecing is a method, not an acquired skill, so someone who has never created patchwork can succeed with this method. I think the old adage; "Nothing succeeds like success" is the reason people love paper piecing. Once you learn how to do this technique properly, you can always count on a successful completed project. (See 2nd photo from Carol's book of 300 Paper-Pieced Quilt Blocks) 

When people do not learn the proper way to paper piece, they do run into stressful situations like not having cut the correct size fabric piece or they place it incorrectly. With just a bit of time invested to learn how to paper piece, you can count on success every time! When I teach a class, I can have students who have never paper-pieced achieve the same success as those who have because it is a method.

Second, I am a designer. Being able to design innovative and dramatic blocks and quilts featuring this method offers excitement. There are constraints with paper piecing such as the requirement to sew in a sequence covering preceding intersecting seams, but the challenge can also offer creative solutions such as making units and mixing and matching them. Because accuracy is so easily achieved, the designs I can create using this method can be so dramatic. They can possess those long narrow dramatic points with multiple merging seams, but the method to create them is easy! We all love easy! (Photo 3 features a quilt Carol made using blocks from her 50 Fabulous Paper-Pieced Stars book)

Third, I am somewhat of an organizer. I love creating an organized sequence for my work as well as my designs. I create cutting lists for the fabric pieces; pre-cut them into strips and then pieces. The pieces are labeled with the location numbers and set on a tray to take to the sewing machine. The blocks are assembly line sewn so the work goes quickly and each step is consistent. I don't like surprises!

Now, when you have a winner, it pays to explore all the options. This wonderful method has taken me from small blocks and quilts like those in Easy Machine Paper Piecing and 300 Paper-Pieced Quilt Blocks. It has taken me to larger blocks like the Simply Sensational 9-Patch Stars, Mariner's Compass Stars and 50 Fabulous Paper-Pieced Stars. I have even made fun miniatures quilts like those in Easy Paper-Pieced Miniatures and incorporated blocks in vests like those in Easy Reversible Vests. (Photo 4: Royal Medallion Quilt from the Mariner's Compass Stars book featuring the England block)

Now, I don't believe I have reached the end of the path with this fun and accurate technique. I am just looking around the corner to see where it will lead me next.

Check out Carol Doak's website and Yahoo group.


(Last photo: 9 Patch Sampler Quilt featuring some of the state star blocks in Simply Sensational 9-Patch Stars.)

Quilting a metaphor for life or the 'if it can go wrong it will' quilt block

I am obviously NO quilt artist.

I barely qualify as a quilter with only a few finished projects. I tend to write about other people's accomplishments and fabric art and quilts instead of making my own. One quilt artist referred to me as a cheerleader. I guess that's as accurate as any label.

But during a venture into paper piecing I stumbled upon a truth that too often is forgotten. No professional, artist, master quilter makes a completed work of art without some effort and yes frustration and YES -- ripping!

And I also discovered that even with all of those stumbles and do-overs, when you enjoy what you have a sense of where the project is heading or have a vision of what you want to create -- well, there's a certain determination and even joy in overcoming the problems set in your way.

I guess this could be a metaphor for life. Maybe this little 9-patch star is a metaphor for my life. Such potential here less than half completed. And yes, it is imperfect. Like me. Can you pick out the square -- the one where I cut off the seam allowance?

Yes, this definitely has been a 'if it could go wrong it did' project. And it isn't finished, yet. 

This began after watching Carol Doak's video on paper piecing at The Quilt Show, Alex Anderson's and Ricky Tim's internet show and quilting community. I searched the Internet and found a pattern for a modest little tulip square. There are tons of paper piecing patterns, free for the taking online. Here's a photo of my first little tulip. My husband says it looks more like an ice cream cone -- I have to agree. Poor choices of color, I think.

With that first attempt, I was hooked on paper piecing. I grew up among traditional quilters who judged a quilt on perfection. Perfectly aligned corners, sharp star points, teeny tiny even hand quilting stitches.... Well, you know I'm sure what I'm talking about.

It just so happened that I have a copy of Carol Doak's earlier book Simply Sensational 9-Patch Stars and decided on one star to make. Not too intricate, doable. Definitely within a beginner's realm. And the paper piecing went smoothly. Carol includes a CD with the book that allows downloading a Foundation software and from there I can print off the patterns.

Easy! No problem.

The problem came with my rusty sewing skills and absent minded senior-moment brain! I carefully worked out the fabric placement then the very first piece I sewed into place was WRONG. I precut strips to the sizes Carol suggested for the pieces and when I begn to use them I realized that I had no idea where I got some of those dimensions but they made no sense. What was I thinking?

I asked that question alot!

What was I thinking indeed when I cut the seam allowance off the side of one of the nine-patches. And what was I thinking when I put a couple of fabrics on and realized after they were sewed in place that they didn't quite cover the required area! Rip! Rip! Rip! Or as someone kindly suggested 'reverse sewing....'

Just when I thought I'd finished with the tough stuff. All squares were paper pieced and were done correctly. So I sewed them together. First two rows of three -- perfect. OK, I STARTED to place one upside down, but caught it before the first stitch.

And then I held it up -- all done. And there was the last row UPSIDE DOWN!

Rip! Rip! Rip! I don't think I have ever done as much reverse sewing and re-sewing on any project including the clothing and home decorations I have made through the years!

Finally finished.

Maybe not totally perfect. But I'm impressed. And yet I didn't want it to just be one square. I was making it to use with a couple of other 12-inch blocks I had previously made from the same fabric.

Now how does one make three 12-inch blocks and end up with a 12 inch, an 11--plus inch and a 12-plus-inch square?

I squared them up, added border and went to reach for some black to run along oneside to turn this into a wall hanging that says 'welcome.'

Did you guess? Of course I cannot find my stash of black cotton fabric. Will this project ever truly reach the 'finish' line and will it actually turn out okay? Stay tuned! :)

I've included a photo of the blocks set together. The center star is the one taken from the Carol Doak book.

Oh, and of course the photo wouldn't download on first try. Do I really trust this wallhanging to stop giving me trouble after it is completed?!

My experience is only a sample of what others have gone through to finally complete their quilt whether it is for a bed, a wall, an exhibit, or an award winner.... Everyone who sews have days like this. As with life it is not meant to be easy -- but the process, the journey, ahhh there's the fun. The challenge. Overcoming. Yes, and like childbirth no matter how ugly -- looking at the thing you've created and knowing that you've put a bit of yourself into it. Pure joy!

So as you read the guest blogs -- read between the lines and realize that each piece of fabric art that touches our hearts and gives us glimpses of breath taking beauty included pin pricks, ripping ripping ripping, and redos many many redos. But they persevered.

You can do it! We can do it! And it is all worthwhile. Ever had a day or a project like this one? Tell me more! -- Dawn