Let's meet the dynamic duo, Anastasia and Kalista! 🌟 These two fabulous dancers hail all the way from Austria, and here's the twist – they couldn't be more different from each other, yet their friendship has stood the test of time for a whopping twenty years! 🕺💃
When I gaze upon Edgar Degas's masterpiece, "Two Dancers," it's as if I can picture their unique bond in vivid detail. This painting holds a special place in my heart, and when I had the incredible chance to visit Buenos Aires, I laid eyes on the original artwork and just had to snap a photo!
Now, here's where the magic happens – I decided to put my creativity to the test and designed a foundation paper piecing pattern inspired by this very painting. 🎨 Foundation Paper Piecing might sound a tad daunting at first, but trust me, it's a lot friendlier than it seems! It may require a bit of organizing, but once you give it a shot, you'll find it surprisingly addictive.
My secret weapon in this creative journey was a nifty free software called Quilt Assistant. With a bit of thought and practice, you can take any photo and transform it into a fantastic FPP pattern. Sure, the learning curve for this software can be a bit steep, but if you start with simpler projects, it all begins to click into place.
Now, since I'm relatively new to the world of FPP quilting, I've learned a thing or two through trial and error. So, let me share some of my tried-and-true Foundation Paper Piecing Tips with you:
🪡 Using Aurifil cotton thread is an absolute game-changer. The cotton thread gives you a much flatter seam, resulting in those crisp, perfect edges we all adore.
📏 After each seam, I gently roll a seam roller over the fabric to ensure it's going in the right direction. This little trick helps prevent any accidental sewing mishaps!
✂️ Trim your seam right after sewing to avoid any fabric peeking through on the lighter sections.
🧵 Your trusty seam ripper can be a great ally in paper removal when you're all done.
🪡 I also like to sew around the edge of each section, just outside the 1/4-inch area, to anchor the fabric securely. Some folks opt for gluing the paper to the fabric, but I found that this can leave a bit of a mess when it's time to remove the paper.
So, there you have it! This FPP adventure is based on the breathtaking painting by Edgar Degas, titled "Two Dancers Yellow and Pink," circa 1898, from beautiful Buenos Aires, Argentina. Best of luck with all your FPP projects – may they be as fabulous as Anastasia and Kalista's dance moves! 🩰💫
Cheers for now,
Jody
Gingerberry Quilts
