Sunday, March 25, 2012

The Scrapapple Block -- A Funny But True Story!

Ok, I just have to tell you a funny story about this block.  I had a lot of tiny scraps from making my On a Whim quilt and I was browsing through one of my older quilting books and came across a pattern that I once looked at as being "out of my league" being that it is made using the paper piecing method.  Since I've since learned how to paper piece, I decided I would make a copy of the pattern and test it out.  Folks, this block is only 7 inches!!!  There are 37 pieces in one 7 inch block!!!

Ok, so that is not the really funny bit, the funny bit is that the beginning part of the instructions says to make 120 copies of the paper pattern to make 120 blocks.  They recommend doing this by TRACING the pattern and not to use a copying machine as copy machines have a tendency to alter the size!!!  Yes, that is what it said!  Ummm, I can tell you that if I ever decided to make this block 120 times that I would NOT trace it over and over just to torture myself.  Would it really matter if the sizing was off a little if all the blocks were the same anyway???  Obviously, someone masochistic was writing this pattern. 

I might make 12 to make a mini for myself, but not 120!  I will use a copy machine.

11 comments:

Maddy said...

Wow, I love your colours! Funny thing, before I read your post, just looking at the pic, I was just wondering how it was done, by measuring and sewing!
Then I read your post.... 7"... 37 pieces... 120 copies of the paper pattern!!!! I think I will just keep wondering!

Jeannette said...

It is lovely Jeannette but I am with you, copy machine!

Leanne said...

You made me a laugh, the impracticality of some quilt books sometimes suggests a non-quilting author.

Jenny said...

That is funny!! 7"-really! Wow, but I love it and your fabrics are the yummiest of yummys ;o)

Cathy Hetzel said...

I love the colours you have use...your block looks great......good way to use up scraps of fabric....

Newbie Jen said...

Some people are insane! Copy away.

Your block looks lovely, I can't wait to see how it looks with "friends".

natski said...

I love your block it turned out great :)

Peggi said...

Love the block! My husband works for Konica-Minolta, who makes (among other things) photocopiers. There is a miniscule amount of distortion, which is why making a photocopy of a photocopy of a photocopy will get you a crappy looking copy, but as long as you copy the original pattern and use the same copier for every copy you'll have no problem.

I made a scrappy pineapple from 8" blocks, it turned out pretty well!
http://www.seamstobeyouandme.com/wordpress/2011/02/11/paducah-pineapple/

The Calico Cat said...

From my experience, if you use the same copier/printer then the distortion is the same. (If it is even noticeable at all.)

Katy Cameron said...

ROFL, are they insane?! It does look cool, but man...

elnorac said...

Awesome block! Funny story, too. You and I have a lot of the same fabrics, I see...

Total Pageviews