The Sewing Place
The Emporia => Patchwork & Quilting ... Welcome to the Darkside => Topic started by: Iminei on November 09, 2021, 14:04:57 PM
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And so my search for an MJ Kinman Gemstone (https://mjkinman.com/) pattern has succeeded at last!
Ever since I saw this Huge Stunning Quilt at FOQ 2017
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I was enthralled and wanted to try and make one or own one.
I tried years ago to buy one from America and it eventually got here along with a shed load of extra charges from the Post Office. I refused to pay them, contacted the company and got a refund ... All good but No pattern! :(
A year and a half ago (march 2020) I saw that Cotton Patch were selling (from the UK) the patterns as a monthly BOM ... you could even get the pattern with the fabric pack !!!! but the cost ££££££ £374.00 !!!!!!!
They wouldnt let you have just the one, you had to subscribe for the whole 12 and I was out of work and brassic at the time. I consulted with @Puzzler on this but in the end could justify the cost not one iota.
Then a couple of months ago I saw listing on UKQU Destash ... some lady had subscribed to the Cotton Patch's BOM but hadnt made any of them and was selling the individual patterns and fabric packs off.
I was late to the listing so most of the glorious ones had been snapped up but she was awaiting Octobers kit (My birthday) and had a couple more left. I interested my friend in one and decided to take the plunge and buy what was left ... after all What had I spent nearly every waking hour in a Carpark this summer for ????
So after Three years of wanting one I finally have not One, not Two, not Three but FOUR of them.
A lil excessive you may think but you cant look a gift horse in the mouth ....
The lady had to wait until Pink Tourmaline, the October birthstone had arrived at her door before posting so I waited too.
But the wait ended yesterday ... I was surprised at how small the package was but not disappointed by the contents.
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The technique is something Ive never done before but there is a simplified free downloadable pattern on MJ Kinmanns (excellent) website to practice on before going for gold!
So I have Three of these in my sticky paws, which to be true is a tad excessive and wondered whether there may be someone out there who would like the December birthstone, Tanzanite pack ??
If not, No problem, Im in no rush to sell it off but if like me, you have drooled and coveted one of these patterns, now could be your chance.
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I’m no quilter but those are stunning!
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Yes they are!!! :loveit:
The blocks are 17" sq ... The Princess cut diamond Quilt is eeeeeenormous ... well you can see it is: the wall its hanging on is Full exhibition height.
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@Iminei My gosh.... :faints: that looks almost impossible to put together, i would get in a right ole tiz with that.
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It looks like Foundation Piecing, @Diane........truly the work of :devil:
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It looks like Foundation Piecing
I'll have to look that up as i've not heard of foundation piecing
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Wow! @Iminei they are gorgeous :) Is this what inspired you with the Mystery quilt this year?
It does look like FPP and I might have taken one but my birthday is October too and I have nobody to make the December one for.
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NOT FPP ... Freezer paper templates ... very new technique for me ... but this will be next years project.
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I have heard of freezer paper templates, isn't that more like EPP? :faints:
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Oh NO !!! Please dont say that!!!
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I made my avatar using freezer paper and a foundation paper piecing technique whereby you don’t sew through the paper.
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I've just watched a video on foundation paper piecing :faints: I might have a go at some point :S
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Oh NO !!! Please dont say that!!!
Worry not @Iminei I have just watched a video explaining how it works. It is more like FPP but there is no ripping away the paper :) It looks interesting and I might have a go. :)
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I made my avatar using freezer paper and a foundation paper piecing technique whereby you don’t sew through the paper.
@Pearl I have always envied your avatar and want to try making one :)
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It's a form of fpp and thus bound to be the work of :devil:
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I love FPP! So much more accurate and precise :) I haven’t done any for a while as I have been so fixated on my EPP - I may have to find a pattern in the New Year… these gems look lovely Imi and I’m sure you will enjoy sewing them.
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@Iminei My birthday is in December and OH buys me tanzanite jewellery. I might be interested in the Tanzanite one.
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Wonderful! PM me if interested
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It's a form of fpp and thus bound to be the work of :devil:
NO its not ... its made using templates ... as I did with @Acorn 's gift
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... which is beautiful, and incredibly well made. :thumbsup:
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I'll have to look that up as i've not heard of foundation piecing
@Diane it is as @Lowena said, the work of the devil. :devil: It's something that you'll either love or hate. Not a fan of doing it.
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NOT FPP ... Freezer paper templates ... very new technique for me ... but this will be next years project.
Still the work of the Devil. :devil:
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@Lilian My avatar is this block. The link to the pattern is in the info below the video. Link to video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8c2M3BrBY4&list=PLtYRdmvOdJf7nX3Rao7DlWrLpVmOAqVb_&t=1855s&index=29)
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Thank you @Pearl I look forward to trying this out :)
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@Lilian ... you watched a video ????? on how to make the gemstone block? or freezer paper templates???
If its the former can you post the linky please ... When Im searching all I find are 2 minute I'm Mj Kinman blurbs ... nothing about the process and these patterns are a darned sight more complicated than any foundation piecing Ive ever done.
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I recently watched a video on freezer paper templates, it came up on FB.
I’ll try to remember who did it and find a link.
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@Iminei not a video on the gemstone block, just how to use the freezer paper templates. I will find the link whe n I get on my laptop :)
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I'm far too impatient to ever consider doing anything like that but I'm sure it'll be lovely when you complete it @Iminei
I tried FPP once probably 20 years ago and didn't even last a single block. It was so tedious.
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Looks like a lovely challenge which I have no doubt you will succeed at magnificently :thumbsup:
And as an aside to all you fpp groaners....I say "pfooey" to you all! :) :ninja:
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Yes The FPP Queen downunder says Phoeey!
(Insert Light bulb emoji here please @Mr Twingo )
Of course Rubywishes is brilliant at FPP, she lives downunder and FPP is sewing back to front!!
Simples!!
Brilliant!!
But this isnt (apparently) Foundation Paper Piecing ... its pieced using templates
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You lot have lost me completely with all this lingo :laughing: FPP/EPP all looks the same to me, mind you i wouldn't mind having a go but it does look rather daunting :faints:
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English Paper Piecing ... from years of yore ... cut paper shape (usually hexagons), wrap fabric around shape, Hand sew onto paper, repeat ad finitum, sew shapes together, remove (or not) paper , Book into asylum.
This is usually the first introduction small people get into patchwork and is guaranteed to put them off for life ...
But some people like it. -<
Foundation Paper Piecing (https://thesewingplace.org.uk/index.php/board,75.0.html) ... using a pattern printed onto paper you place fabric on the reverse, sew along the lines in the designated order, flip and Iron the sewn piece and repeat until finished, then remove paper ... its bassackwards but some people excel at it
Theres a few patterns and tutorials (https://thesewingplace.org.uk/index.php/board,75.0.html) you can try in the Darkside if youd like.
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Really like the look of this one https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipPRyFLxaOIbksoQGcrfKdxFvsKBH0pO905wfuUqOEOOMQoEYWaQqO34kNdWFyHraw?key=dlp0VkFEcU9vcU4zZXl1OF9JM0w2VUNQOHFTOXpn not sure if that link works but it is the super card trick block. I might even be tempted one day if I stray into the dark side by mistake. :devil:
How about you trying it first @Diane :devil:
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@Celia ME.... :scream: I think you should try it first seeing as you found it :laughing: I mean you must be tempted to come across to the darkside seeing as your looking at blocks :devil:
I might try something small that i could use as an applique on a project that i have in mind
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Made me smile and today that’s not easy :hug: @Diane
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And there was me thinking you just cut the shapes out (after meticulous mathematical planning) and sewed them together :thinking:
Or are these paper pieces just ways of doing it but you can also just cut the shapes out and sew them together?
BB
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I think the video I watched was by Rebbeca Bryan.
https://bryanhousequilts.com/
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@Bumblebuncher if you look at the detail of one of these blocks
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I think you'll agree there may be a bit more to it than just cutting the pieces and sewing them together
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@Iminei Which was why I also said 'meticulous mathematical planning' ;)
BB
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Its put together in Quadrants ... If you look at the Emerald, you can see where they lie ...
Very apprehensive of this ... even with the practice block to make, which is an extremely simple diamond shape
(https://media.gettyimages.com/vectors/diamond-line-icon-editable-stroke-pixel-perfect-for-mobile-and-web-vector-id1172210091?s=612x612)
the thing proper is start to make my legs wobble!
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Ah ha, now you say quadrants I can see how it's put together. The 2 side quadrants look quite straightforward the top and bottom ones not.* The colour choices are what make it so special.
We know you can do it @Iminei we'll be cheering you on.
* that doesn't mean I have any intention of attempting it ;)
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So a play day was had with my friend Helen who bought one of the patterns from me (Emerald ... doh! ) and we printed off the MJ Kinman practice template ...
Unfortunately my printer is rather fuclogged so the destruction were pretty illegible but after a couple of wrong turns we figured out what we had to do ...
and after sticking the template together, tracing the pattern onto the FP, choosing the fabrics,ironing the bits onto them, and cutting them out it was fairly straightforward.
The only thing is, the practice gem had 13 facets whereas the real deal have 13 million !!! But the edges of our gems matched tho' the inside facets didnt so well... that will be dodgy drawing or cutting or sewing then ... They still looked pretty damn good for a first effort.
Ive spoiled myself recently buying things that I really dont need but justify them by five months stood in a carpark for hours and hours on end and I have bought her Gemstone quilts book ...
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where she encourages you to design and make your own gemstone ... :laughing: ... Who knows ... maybe one day!
I will practice with the template I downloaded until Im very confident I can do the lovely fabrics included in the kits justice.
But for a first effort, I dont think its too shabby ...
here we go,
Helens Pink Tourmaline
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and my Emerald
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But I do console myself with a line in the destruction leaflet for the kits ....
Tip No 6 - The seams in these gems arent supposed to match !!!! :dance: Im good at that!
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They look great, you have bothe done a lovely job, I can’t wait to see more.
The one on the front of the book looks amazing but how many colours are there in it?
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There is a gallery at the back with her and others creations.
the pic on the cover is identified as Between River and Sky.
It is 69" x 71" was made in 2018 and is part of the Bourbon Diamonds series.
Its freezer paper pieced using solid fabrics and machine quilted.
She had help creating this, crediting Amy Del Grosso and Bonnie Taylor but I dont know what part they played.
The later quilts credit these two a lot and when I read further I might find out what they do.
One of her earlier quilts is called ****'s wedding quilt (36" sq) but she must have got my address wrong as it never reached me!
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@Iminei they both look wonderful! I am sure when you start it for real it will be stunning, well done! :thumbsup:
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Freezer paper pieced? How is that done?
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She had help creating this, crediting Amy Del Grosso and Bonnie Taylor but I dont know what part they played.
The later quilts credit these two a lot and when I read further I might find out what they do.
Bonnie Taylor Tyler must have sung to her while she was doing it.
Sorry :P
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Freezer paper pieced means drawing out the design on freezer paper, cutting the various elements of the design up, ironing them onto the different fabrics, cutting the shapes out ... adding your seam allowance as you go ... and then sewing the pieces together while trying to keep the darned templates in place!!!
This means you have ample opportunity to bugger things up ... when you're drawing the templates, when you're cutting them out, when you're cutting the fabric with the seam allowance and when you're sewing the pieces together.
You iron them onto the right sides of the fabric and keep them in place trying to match the hash marks on the templates (like matching notches in a dress pattern) on the two pieces even though they are on the inside of sewn pieces ... Oh yes a veritable funfair to be had!
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Sorry this might be a very silly question but why not iron them on the wrong side then you can see them?
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Told you, it's the work of :devil:
I just know I'd forget to add the seam allowance :facepalm:
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Sorry this might be a very silly question but why not iron them on the wrong side then you can see them?
I will find the video I watched about how to use FP, I am sure the paper was visible when being sewn :thinking:
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I dont know, thats just the way she does it ... maybe because adding a reverse image/template is too complicated????
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maybe because adding a reverse image/template is too complicated
I've used this method for making Mariner's Compass. The instructions for it in Judy Mathieson's book tell you to iron the freezer paper on to the wrong side of the fabric but also reminds you that you have to make sure you have worked out exactly which piece goes where and what colour or you end up with a 'right side' that is the reverse of your original plan. I surmise that these gemstone patterns advise you to iron on to the right side to save having to think/overloading your brain. As with many things in this life, you do what works for you...
(https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mariners-Compass-Quilts-Print-Demand/dp/0914881973)
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@Deaf you are as always wonderful
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MJ Kinman explains the Gemstones (https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=796462631194699)
Worth getting through the fawning presenter to her methods
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MJKinman explains the Gemstones (https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=796462631194699)
Worth getting through the fawning presenter to her methods
I read that as Milkman explains Gemstones!
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I read that as Milkman explains Gemstones!
So did I!! 0_0
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Looking at my Emerald, a very simple block
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I think the knockout facet is the lightest which really does look like its reflecting light and the fabric I wish Id had the courage to use more of was the mottled one and lastly the fabric that just didnt work (in my eyes) is the one with the curved stripes ... but it was the only other green which was the right tone of green.
It is all about the colour placement so Im now on the hunt for the best solid range of colours, not just one green or red but multiple tones and hues og green and red
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Wow - just look how 3-d that is in the thumbnail! :thumb: Thumbnails are brilliant for assessing quilt blocks.
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Exactly my thoughts @Acorn
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Love the second from left, top row.