Today is my stop on the 318 Patchwork Patterns blog hop. If you haven’t heard of this fabulous book before, then you are in for a treat. After being out of print for many years and only available in Japanese, this collection of 318 patterns is now being republished and available in English.
During the blog hop you will see all sorts of different blocks from the book. But I took advantage of the timing of this blog hop and jumped straight for the Halloween blocks. There is something so charming about them. I chose 4 of the 6 blocks to make into my bunting.
The blocks are technically made for hand sewing but many people choose to paper piece them. However that can require some extra work because that is not technically how the blocks are designed. A little redrawing of lines and some numbering will be necessary if you want to paper piece these. (* I ended up redrawing some of the lines above so don’t follow that picture too closely.) Also, it should be noted that the blocks are presented in very small format. So you will want to enlarge the blocks. 200% I believe gives you a 6″ block. But I chose 300% which gave me about a 7.5″ block. Those pieces were still plenty small. 😉
Another nice tip is to make a map of sorts of the fabrics you plan on using for your block and color your block so that you can easily see what the tiny pieces should be once the block is all cut up. I make a little guide for myself with scraps of the fabrics and a list of what they will be used for. Then I break out the colored pencils and give myself a rough guide. And then I made four blocks!
I’m not particularly fast nor ridiculously slow…so I say that each block takes me about an evening to make. Especially if you include all the prep work of enlarging the block, drawing and numbering for paper piecing, and selecting fabrics. But the beauty of paper pieced blocks cannot be denied. They are picture perfect…with some careful attention to matching seams.
I didn’t want another wall hanging or quilt, so I decided to make something a little different and went with a decorative bunting. I used a woven interfacing to line the back of each pieced block to provide stability and then sewed them into a little “pocket” with the orange polka dot fabric. I wanted the back to be completely finished. I interspersed my pieced blocks with some fun burlap that I added raw edge appliqued letters to. A simple “BOO” says it all. Then I sewed them at evenly spaced intervals to a double fold bias tape (one package did the trick).
And tada! A holiday bunting that I will definitely use for years to come!
For me it is all in the details. A bit of hand embroidery. Carefully fussy cut fabrics lined up to match. And using just the right fabric for each little part. Oh and by the way, this fabulous line of fabric is called Witch Hazel and is available now from Riley Blake fabrics. In fact you can probably find it on sale since we are so close to halloween.
Love how your blocks turned out!
Fun fabric and giveaway! Thank You.
I've been following your bunting on IG and it is just darling.
Cute blocks! Thanks for the giveaway!
You are right. The details are wonderful in your blocks. I especially love the witch!
Your mantel looks great. The burning is cute. I also like the framed initial.
So excited to see all the blog hop has to offer! Thanks so much
Lovely bunting, I especially adore the cat!
I think the ghost behind the tombstone looks a little like Yoda.
Love your bunting – such cute blocks!
Thanks for the chance to win, this book is definitely on my wishlist. It looks like hours of fun!
The blocks are very cute and I loved how you turned them into bunting. I will actually go looking around to see if I can find that fabric on sale since yours is so cute. I don't like the thought of doing something exactly like someone else has, but I might have to relent on that a bit. 🙂 And I love the Mimosa fabric!
Beth
Magistra13@yahoo.com
The bunting is gorgeous. Thanks for this giveaway.
Thank you for the review and giveaway! I love the Halloween blocks!
I love your bunting!
So pleased this book has been reprinted in English!
Your halloween bunting turned out great! Thanks for the giveaway opportunity!
I have never tried paper piecing before. The book looks interesting so i might have to give it a go! sandybailey55@hotmail.com)
I love this fabric so much I pinned it to my favorite fabrics board! Thanks for a chance to win one of these lovelies!
Love the banner!
FAbulous bunting
Fabulous bunting – well worth the hard work involved! Would love to win a copy of the book as I have seen several blogs refer to it in the past. Beautiful fabrics for the giveaway – thank you for the chance to win.
fabricstasher24@gmail.com
Such a fun holiday project!
Fab, thanks for the chance to win! nnonaihr@hotmail.co.uk
Very cute! The witch block is my favorite.
Fun blocks – thanks for sharing & thanks for the chance to win.
What an awesome idea! Thanks for sharing it.
Please click on the delaineelliott above for my email link.
Gorgeous bunting!! Love your fabric choices!
LOVE the patterns and fabric!!! Thank you for the chance to win.
love the halloween bunting! and all the inspiration!
The bunting looks great!
Cute, cute, cute! Have fun at market!
That bunting is so cute! It looks great! thanks for the giveaways!
You are very good at fussy cutting! I really love your fabric choices and the way that you interspersed the 'Boo' letters with your pieced blocks. I also love the framed 'P' on your mantel piece! Great idea.
I'm loving that Blueberry!
lag110 at his dot com
These is a wonderful project: a very precious Halloween bunting with that perfect paper piecing!
I've dabbled in simple paperpiecing and found that tricky but your talent amazes me! WOW! Beautiful and perfect!!! ps the witch block is my favorite and then the cat, and then the pumpkin… oh man! love them all!!
Such cute blocks!! Great job!!
Love your Halloween bunting! I'll put that on my list for next year!
I love that you used pumpkin burlap. Did it come that way, or did you print it? Lovely bunting!
thats great… looks so good on your mantle…now i just need a mantle hahah
erin2470@hotmail.com
Oh, these patterns are wonderful! And the fabric choices are the best! Thank you for the chance to win!
Love the orange/yellow bundle. Happy Halloween! 24Tangent@gmail.com
Sounds fun! Thanks for the opportunity!
Your bunting makes me wish I had a mantle.
Thanks for the chance to win.
What an adorable Halloween bunting! I think I would really like to make it for my mantle next year.
Thanks a bunch for the drawing too…..
nettiecrain@live.com
Your bunting is so cute! Looks like a great book.
I love how you turned the blocks into a bunting.. so cute. I really love these blocks and as I normally do not make holiday themed quilts I would love to make one using these blocks, this is just adorable! would make a great little quilt for my wall, thanks for the chance to win
and oh those fabrics would work great in my newest project the flower garden quilt….
again thanks for the chance to win
Kathie
Love your Buntings! Halloween is so fun! These would be perfect for a Spooky Party!
How fun to do a bunting! I love the green color in the fabric – not expected in Halloween fabric but it fits wonderfully.
The bunting is adorable! And love your piecing of the ghost!
Wow, you have just convinced me that buntings are cool. What a great book.