Wednesday, September 14, 2016

Patty's Piecing Makeover review and Giveaway


I want to tell you about Patty. Last year in Houston I went along to one of the 'event' things. You know, everyone is invited and you get a free drink and stand around awkwardly cause you don't actually know anyone. There is some air-kissing (and arse kissing) and smiling politely while trying to sneakily read people's name tags.

 I was busy doing just that when Patty said Hi, and the rest is history. She is a bubbly, fun little-bit-loopy woman and all that time ago when she asked if I would like to see her book I said yes.



So, time passes as it does and eventually I get a message from Patty saying the book is done and would I like to see it ? I can't even remember what the book is about so I give an enthusiastic YES and hope it is not a knitting book.
Ok ! The thing is, this book was written for me. I mean it. I know that I sometimes make quilts but I really do just wing it every time and there is a lot of fudging and swearing and unpicking. There are often tantrums and blocks getting tossed in the bin from across the room.
There is so much fantastic information in this book - stuff that I didn't even know that I didn't know - like the magical little sewey up thing for mitred binding - Seriously !!!


Not to mention the crazy idea of checking that your 1/4 inch is in fact a 1/4 inch 

The book is basically a manual that shows you how things go wrong and what to do to fix them. The day it arrived I jumped into the ironing Vs pressing section (cause I suck at both) and ended up reading about seam setting, open or closed seams and whether or not to use steam.

The book takes you through a whole bunch of different quilt blocks, each with a problem, diagnosis and solution. With sections like "Is my wonky strip still useable?" this book really was made for me.
if you would like a bit more of a look inside Patty's book you can visit the folks below



9/13  AnneMarie  http://www.genxquilters.com/


9/15 Teri Lucas/Gen Q Magazine  http://generationqmagazine.com/

9/16 Sandi Hazlewood http://www.craftyplanner.com/





 Patty has kindly offered to give away a copy of the book here on the blog so I want to know what your quilting problem is ? do you pucker? are you leaning to one side? are your middle bits all congested?

Leave a comment and I will draw a winner by the end of the week.

92 comments:

  1. My quarter inch seams are almost always dodgy. I mean sewing in a straight line takes ALOT of concentration. Turns out, alot more concentration than I usually have.

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  2. My quarter inch seams are almost always dodgy. I mean sewing in a straight line takes ALOT of concentration. Turns out, alot more concentration than I usually have.

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  3. I have to remember every day the pressing vs ironing thing..

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  4. My quilting problem is…….too many UFOs!!! I want to make everything and I want it to come out perfect. Sigh.

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  5. My piecing could definitely use a make over. My fingers are crossed.

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  6. I want this book, Jod - no, dammit, I NEED this book. No matter how carefully I cut and stitch, everything ends up just a little bit wrong. I worry over every seam. My unpicker gets such a workout - it's fitter than I am. As for piecing - forget it. Too imperfect, too nervewracking.

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  7. Measure twice cut once and still you need to trim your block! I thought all my Christmases had come at once with a 1/4 inch foot for my Janome. Then I found out about a scant quarter inch seam. OMG. Plus, sadly my needle won't move to the right just to the left so there is not much room to set up the 1/4 inch. Still I just plough on and fudge things. Sounds like a great book, lucky you for finding Patty

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  8. Any tips to reduce time spent reverse sewing or getting my quilts to lay flat would be very much appreciated !

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  9. My quilting problem? More quilty projects than I have time in my day!! I also have trouble with matching "points" and some funny differential feeding issues (the top piece is often shorter than the bottom piece if I haven't pinned). Patty's book sounds excellent - great for a self-taught quilter like me!

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  10. Cutting accurately is my problem. I sew it very carefully and it is still not correct.

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  11. I think the quilty police would have a long list of what I need to know to make a perfect quilt. To name a few areas it would be matching points (probably why I like the disappearing nine patch it is very forgiving) and the 1/4" seam. I am self taught so this book would be a huge asset and I am sure I would find more areas I need to improve in. As my quilts so far have been for family and friends I just tell them that is the way it is meant to be! Lets face it I'm not going to enter in competitions or win them either.

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  12. I've tried several times to piece curves - by machine & by hand. It's no fun.

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  13. Sounds like everyone who sews quilts needs this book - even just to check if they have learnt/taught themself the correct way or pick up tips to make it better.

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  14. I have a friend who makes some pretty elaborate pieced quilts. And, she is meticulous when matching seams. I understand why it's important, but I dread the fussiness of it. Because of this, I haven't really made anything where matching of seams is critical... which feels a bit lazy. So, I'd have to say my problem is not knowing how to get my seams to match!

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  15. I can't do the final quilting. It all seems to bunch up.

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  16. My points have a bad habit of losing their pointiness...Sounds like a great book!

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  17. My points have a bad habit of losing their pointiness...Sounds like a great book!

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  18. You know those star points where the bulk of 8 fabrics from HSTs has to magically converge and not look like a pig's breakfast? The only time I ever fluke them right is when (Murphy's Law) it doesn't matter as the pattern says to applique something over the intersection!

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  19. I don't think I have any real problems but I do get lazy and I can use a tune up for sure. I would love to read this.

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  20. I do lubs you Jod. you are a complete nutter. Knitting book.

    If my name gets picked, move along to the next person, I'm buying that book myself, it'll get here quicker.

    I have a lot to learn. I know stuff that you don't know, but there is a whole bunch of stuff I don't know that I don't know and stuff that I know I know, but I can't remember it.

    Or where I put it.

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  21. The quilty police would lock me up, throw away the key & petition for the death penalty. Never mind, I embrace the wonky but that doesn't mean I'm not willing to learn how to improve. I think my problems start with my cutting, include my sewing, involve the pressing & maybe end with my quilting. You get the picture, all enthusiasm,, not much style!

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  22. My binding is bunchy, my seams are skewiff and my quilting is best left off fabric!!!!
    I think this book might be written for me and my issues.

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  23. When using sashing, I have problems sewing the rows so the sashing matches.

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  24. You can never have enough patchwork porn.

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  25. I have an issue with ironing and stretching the fabric.

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  27. an issue with something called "not enough sewing hours in a day", does she have a solution for that!?!? LOL, reality is that this is probably just a really good resource for a load of issues I come across on any given Quilt!!!

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  28. My quilt problem is that my blocks never measure as large as they should. I could deal with them being too large but mine always seem to be a tad too small. Sometimes I can fudge the seams but most of the time I just have to start over.

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  29. Being a huge fan of #embracethewonk this would actually be a great read!!!

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  30. Being a huge fan of #embracethewonk this would actually be a great read!!!

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  31. I always lose my points and wonkiness abounds

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  32. My pressing needs work cause I sometimes distort the block.

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  33. Oh those dang 2.5 in strips with the V's.....would love to read this book!

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  34. Not that I quilt that much but I find that when I add my pieced strips together the ends don't match up. Is it my stitching or cutting or both?

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  35. I don't match.
    I measure and cut meticulously and I sew my patches together and yes I measure the seam allowance - but the seams are just all over the place. Can I get 4 frigging lines to meet at a single point? I cannot. These seams just want to party.

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  36. I had a quilt made up of lots of triangles, and some of the blocks wouldn't lie flat. it was really frustrating.
    Would love to take a look at this book!

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  37. It doesn't matter how careful I am in cutting and piecing, it's always wonky. I am the Sally Kerrigan of the sewing machine.
    I need this book.

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  38. My binding technique is pretty ordinary and my corners are more like lumps- help!

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  39. My flying geese always turn out wonky. Could definitely use some help from this book!

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  40. I always seem to have a little wonky here, a little wonky there. Thanks!

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  41. Books sounds great. I struggle with flying geese.

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  42. Checking my quarter inch is always good but getting rid of bulk at the seams - twirling those pesky intersections - they always seem to be going the wrong way!!! LOL

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  43. Checking my quarter inch is always good but getting rid of bulk at the seams - twirling those pesky intersections - they always seem to be going the wrong way!!! LOL

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  44. When sewing two pieces together that have seams in them that need matching (like when sewing rows of blocks together), it doesn't matter how much I pin, I always sew at least one of the seams of the bottom fabric facing the wrong way. And as much as I'd love to leave it like that, I can't as it doesn't sit properly. Frustrates me every time and makes me question my pinning.

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  45. I do pretty good with piecing, unless my day is rushed, then I get sloppy,lol.
    cork@pa.rr.com

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  46. I think I finally learned how to do a 1/4" seam! Now on to straight lines! HA!

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  47. I'm usually pretty good but that scant 1/4" seam is the key!

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  48. I can't seem to cut my fabric accurately.

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  49. I can not do curves :( thanks!

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  50. I think piecing skills can always be improved. Sewing triangles so the points meet always frustrates me. I never know how to judge the quarter inch seam at an angle.

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  51. I need this book, what's a scant 1/4''? It's obvious I am very new to quilting, this book will help me with adopting good habits from the gecko.

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  52. Ha, ha, you make me laugh, but yes my sides are rippled and middle congested, please help me agony aunt!

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  53. I struggle with keeping my seam allowance consistent.
    jen dot barnard at btinternet dot com

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  54. When sewing thin fabrics the top one always ends up longer than the bottom fabric.

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  55. I still need work on my seams. If I make what I think is a scant 1/4 inch seam, my block still doesn't quite measure up.

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  56. I struggle with Flying geese too...but those Partial seam thing get me every time...so now avoid having to do them! (Arrrgh...)

    Thank you for chance to win this Awesome book!! My Sewing Spot neeeeds it! lol

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  57. This book would be wonderful for the trial and error, self taught, always unpicking seams type of patch worker. Such as myself!

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  58. Still have trouble matching up HST's!

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  59. hmmm... sounds like a very interesting book. I have a very close love/hate relationship with my seam ripper. Maybe this book can tell me how to gently break it off. LOL

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  60. Flying geese. Seriously those bloomin' geese drive me INSANE!!!

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  61. I have been known to sew off a few star points. Honestly the bulky centers can be a problem.

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  62. The Y seam things, don't practice them enough cause they intimidate me!

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  63. I have only made one triangle quilt but the perfectionist in me almost tipped me over the edge trying to get every triangle to have completely perfect points.

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  64. I pucker, i'm wonky, i've never sewn a true 1/4" seam, can't do curves, can't mitre...!

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  65. Sewing straight all the way down, must slow down.

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  66. Sounds like I need this book. I tried to get 1/4 inch seam and it never works.

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  67. I just simply can't make my points pointy... instead they are blunted or missing the pointy bit... I'd like to get the point, instead of missing it! (In more ways than one!) Thanks for the opportunity to improve on this skill... lovely & practical giveaway!

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  68. I can do all the right things but not neceaarily all in the same quilt.

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  69. HI,little variance in my 1/4" seams sometimes. Book looks so neat! Thanks for sharing! msstitcher1214@gmail.com

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  70. This book sounds like it was written just for me! I tend to be a perfectionist--including all aspects of quilt sewing.

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  71. I need to win this book ! I have problems with scant 1/4 inch seams, getting corners and triangles to match, blocks that come out too small , etc

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  72. I'm still learning it all--a new quilter here!

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  73. Bulky seam intersections should be one of the next things I tackle.

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  74. Too small blocks are my problem

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  75. I am basically too lazy to do all of the things in the correct order so my blocks are always a bit wonky and un-ironed...I like to think of it as my signature style ;-)

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  76. I love to quilt and am hooked on attempting to get the sharpest look I can in my piecing. I am fascinated with tips and tricks.

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  77. It sounds silly, and maybe it's a lack of attention problem on my end, but I have an issue with nicking my rulers with my rotary cutter when I'm cutting/trimming fabric.

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  78. I find myself grinding my teeth over making a "scant" quarter inch so everything works out right. And then there's that crazy making thing about that angley thing you do to join the binding when they meet--Yikes! BTW, I wandered around your site--and am totally smitten with your patterns. They are totally wacky--just my style :) (Now if I just had a grandchild. . . )

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  79. I find myself grinding my teeth over making a "scant" quarter inch so everything works out right. And then there's that crazy making thing about that angley thing you do to join the binding when they meet--Yikes! BTW, I wandered around your site--and am totally smitten with your patterns. They are totally wacky--just my style :) (Now if I just had a grandchild. . . )

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  80. getting my 1/4 to be consistant.... i make blocks for a quilt, measure them and find that they all seem to be slightly different.... then seams get stretched, tears flow and projects sometimes never get finished :(

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  81. My blocks always end up a little bit wonky. Maybe I sew too fast and veer off track lol.

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  82. For some reason my flying geese are never perfect. Need some help, the book would help.

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  83. I'm not very accurate at the cutting out or sewing, so some of my seams don't line up very well. I'm also not very patient, so I tend not to go back to fix the aforementioned wonky seams.

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  84. We all can get a pucker or a warped seam sometimes. Cutting strips accurately and not stretching the fabrics helps. I recently starting using Best Press to add sizing to my fabrics before I cut them. It's helping. Keeping lots of sharp rotary blades or getting a fabric cutter also helps a lot. :)

    This book would be a welcome addition to any quilter's library.

    tushay3 (at) yahoo (dot) com

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  85. I love books that help with the best and easiest way to do things! I think this book will be right beside me all the time!!

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  86. I would love to win this book and learn how to make my piecing more accurate.

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  87. Sewing accurate 1/4 inch seams is a challenge for me -- would love to win this book!

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  88. Anything involving triangles is a challenge!

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Hellloooooo !!!!