Blogger's Pillow Party

In January, I was the lucky winner in a giveaway held by John aka Quilt Dad. When I entered, it was my first visit to his blog and I felt like a bit of a heel, entering and winning without having visited before. I was just getting back into blogging and sewing after a break of about two years. Now, I visit John's blog regularly, as well as many many others, including that of Pat Bravo who generously provided the prizes for John's giveaway.

I've used Pat's Art Gallery fabrics before so I knew what a delicious treat I was in for when I received my lovely prize. The fabric is the softest cotton you've ever used. It has an amazingly soft hand, and drapes beautifully, almost like a shimmery satin.

I knew I had to do something special with this fabric, which had been called "scraps" in the giveaway, but with some pieces nearly fat quarters, you could hardly call this prize scraps! I then did what any good quilter would do with new fabric, I ironed it, sorted it by colour and imagined the possibilities.

Having recently decided that I love English Paper Piecing I decided to try the dresden plate block. This isn't a block that ever appealed to me before. I thought it was old looking and very dated. I hoped that with my newfound love of hexagons, and some beautiful fabric, I could find a place in my heart for the dresden plate. Well, it has definitely earned a place in my heart. I stitched while at my son's hockey practice. I stitched while on the road to Seattle. I stitched while on my lunchbreak.

Here is the video I used before I first tried English paper piecing. I had the basics down but found it helpful to see the technique in action.

The finished pillow is undeniably a little wonky non-circular, but I'm happy with it. It was made entirely by hand. There are lots of memories sewn inside.