Collaborating with Accuquilt and the edition of my new die!
If you know me, you know I have a big love for English Paper Piecing, especially when I am away from my studio, and a love for the Accuquilt system!
Last year, I found a geometric shape that I love, the 'jewel petal' but I was having to cut each individual petal with an acrylic ruler and rotary cutter. It was very time consuming! I had already been using the Accuquilt hexie die so after a gentle nudge, I decided to have my own jewel petal die manufactured just for my personal use since they didn't carry this shape.......until now!
I started using it along with my 1" EPP GoQube and having the best time!
The Jewel Petal Die gives you four individual jewel petals with a single pass through of the die. So, if you stack (6) 6" squares on the die, you get a total of 24 individual petals! TIME SAVER! But the added bonus is you can also cut 4 jewel petal papers (or like me, Firm Leave-In Stabilizer)! If you want to know how I cut those, here is my tutorial.
The Petal Starburst Quilt
I decided to use some left-over Cinnamon Tea fabric scraps from my Riverglen Cathedral Window Quilt. I slowly stitched each Petal Starburst Block during camping trips, when riding in the car to visit my father or just to wind down from the day. They made me so happy that I decided to create a very simple quilt out of them by machine appliqueing them to fabric squares. During this time, I was in communication with Accquilt about my new die and they were excited for us to collaborate to bring this die to you as part of the Die to Try program for October!
As part of the launch of the Jewel Petal Die, I have created a Petal Starburst Quilt video tutorial pattern for you! The FREE PDF download includes fabric requirements and cutting instructions and then a link and UR code that takes you to my video of how to hand stitch a Petal Starburst block together. You can get that FREE Petal Starburst Pattern by signing up in the box provided.
Need the best thread to use for EPP? The game changer for me has been using Wonderfil 80wt poly DecoBob or 60wt Egyptian cotton Efina thread! I'm officially launching two specially curated thread bundles of both this month! You can find my Seams Sew Me Wonderfil Artist's Pallett Efina 60wt and Bobbinator 80wt DecoBob sets on my website. Both hide your handstiches so well!
My friend Mendy of Mel's Modern Quilting created the most beautiful custom free motion pantograph when quilting my quilt. The negative space really allows for that special 'extra' I was hoping for. I can't wait to see your choices of fabrics and quilting pantographs!
A Single Petal Star Block
If you aren't up for making my large Petal Starburst Quilt block then perhaps you would like to start small and make a single Petal Star block. I have a free EPP Petal Star video tutorial, in which you can use the Jewel Petal Die and it's a bonus block pattern when you sign up for the FREE Petal Starburst Quilt. That's a great place to start as well if you are feeling a wee bit nervous. But as we say in our household, "I believe in you", so I know you will be successful no matter which you try.
New to English Paper Piecing?
If you have never tried EPP, then this is a great time to start. It's a win win in my opinion because EPP is a great on-the-go project PLUS an awesome way to use up all of those scraps that we constantly accumulate. You can do so many things with various EPP blocks such as appliqueing them to a tote, mug rug, and even clothes! I have created a Seams Sew Me Beginner EPP Kit which comes with links to a three-part video series to get you started.
I hope you enjoy this new Jewel Petal Die as much as I do! If you create something with it and post on your Instagram social media, I'd love for you to tag me and use the hashtag #JewelPetalDie so I can see all of the lovely things you create with it!
Until next time quilty friends.....
Make Lovely Things,
Belle 🔔
Congratulations! So proud of you:)