Sunday 23 October 2011

F****ing triangles

The one where Sarah attempts more foundation paper piecing, and finds that her brain is so averse to triangles she even struggles FLIPPING them.  Here's what happened.


See number 9?  The stage where you flip over what you've sewn and press your perfect little bit that perfectly follows the proper line and covers all of its paper pattern chunk?

Number 9 has a mosaic of its very own.


And that's not every time I screwed up, that's just the flipping mistakes I made after I broke down, cried, then decided to laugh about it...

I should point out that all of the above took place in spite of all the wonderful tutorials I read, videos I watched, and advice I was kindly given by generous bloggy friends.  There really is a triangular shaped fault in my brain.  Oooh actually, I wonder.....  I do have a neurological brain disorder, a chemical deficiency in the brain - maybe its not just in charge of all things sleep related, and some things weight related, maybe its in charge of all things triangle related too!

Guess my "Forest" might take a wee while...

23 comments:

  1. oh friend, i think they look great! but this is honestly why i have been hesitant to try foundation paper piecing, or paper piecing in general. it frightens me. your trees are fantastic though, i love them.

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  2. I don't think it's just triangles - I would have problems with any shape. Maybe it's a female thing - I have to turn a map so that I can follow the road in the same direction as we're driving!
    But the trees look great - just how big a forest are you doing?

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  3. Your trees are fab! I make those sorts of mistakes on wonky stars all the time because I am trying to use every last scrap of fabric. You swear, you pull out the stitches, you try again, and with me you usually swear again!

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  4. I've had a little 'go' at foundation pp - its like those 'rub your head & tummy at the same time' exercises - once you 'get it' you're away! Fab trees anyhow :-)

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  5. But your trees are fab :-) I don't do the paper piecing, I improvise my own way to triangles which is why mine are not perfect!

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  6. I love the title of your post and the mosaic of its own for #9-- I don't mean to laugh, but the way you posted about it was humorous! I admire your persistence-- I don't even dare attempt trialngles like that. Yes, just blame everything on the chemical deficiency-- that works! Your scrappy triangle Christmas trees look lovely! Good luck with the rest of it!

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  7. I just can`t work out paper piecing - it must be a left brain right brain thing but those trees look great. Persevere and you`ll get there.

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  8. I think you've maybe got isosceles disease ;o) Your forest is looking great for the ones you managed to conquer though :oD Oh, and you wait till you see MY first PP experience. It'll be blogged later. It wasn't pretty...

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  9. But look what came out in the end! Perfect little adorable trees - only you can say whether it was worth the struggle! It is reassuring to know that I am not the only one struggling with paper piecing but I guess you get better the more you do!

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  10. Keep at it babe - you will crack in in the end. I find you have to be quite generous with the fabric, cut the pieces bigger than you think they need to be as well. As much as I want to be stingy and get the best out of every last scrap, I have to overcome this for paper piecing.

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  11. that sounds way too complicated for me! I'd end up making tangles rather than triangles! Sounds like your trees turned out perfectly well though - are they conker trees? those are fun, walking through the piles of leaves looking for those prickly shelled conkers! ... yep, I'm still 10 years old at heart ;)

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  12. OK, so this is my problem too, and that I put the fabric backwards a lot so it flips the wrong way. My solution has been to either cut really big scraps and trim so that no matter what I do there will be enough to flip properly or use the whole fat quarter and just trim bits off after I have flipped. That last is less waste than you would think. Don't give up, the trees are looking wonderfully!

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  13. At the end of the day your trees are fab, and a forrest you will soon have :) x

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  14. Oh no! I've never tried paper piecing. It scares me. Good for you for being adventurous, for trying something and giving it your all. Be proud...cry...giggle...try again. They're looking good!

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  15. Poor honey. Foundation piecing is the reason I learned applique !!! I got my self in a right wupple trying to do a New York Beauty PP. Your trees look fantastic.

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  16. Your trees look fantastic. And your persevered, most of us would have just given up and walked away, so keep going, it will be worth it (honest!!)

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  17. They look great and well done for persevering! (And well done for deciding to laugh rather than crying some more which is what I probably would have done!)

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  18. I was already laughing at the title! But despite having a Triangular Deficiency Disorder (TDS)your sapling forest looks brill! I love trees, esp. foundation pieced ones. Please don't give up! Jxo

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  19. They look lovely, even if they took as long to make as real ones do to grow!

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  20. Oh I;m confused just looking at the pictures!! I can't do paper piecing!! I'm sure you'll get it the swing of it and if you haven't heard me say it already - I call them triANGERles!

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  21. Oh I wish I could scoop all you FP scaredies up and demo it - cos once you get it, you get it and it's good.
    When faced with a triangle, just cut a biggish rectangle - don't try to be too accurate with the fabric piece.
    Buy Carol Doak's DVD - excellent.

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  22. Oh humbug. You might need to actually plant a tree after all the paper you used, but at least your mini-forest looks great! Has it got any easier as you've gone on? There came a point (somewhere in my first circle of geese block) where it all just clicked and I finally understood it. Now, that doesnt meant I dont make mistakes (the most common being cutting a piece just slightly too small in my haste to be frugal). It gets easier... don't you worry!

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  23. I admire anyone how takes up such a project. :) I get pset with tid bits very easily so I try to stay away from it. :) Love your forrest even though it gave you trouble. Happy Blogtober Fest! :)

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