Paper piecing | Lori Miller Designs

In the May 2020 issue of American Quilter Magazine, you will find my latest design. It is a stunning table topper made with Princess Palette Batik by Mirah. This palette of batiks acts like blenders and is the perfect combination of colors for the design. This sunny Pineapple represents warm welcomes, celebration and hospitality and is perfect to welcome guests or gift to a friend.

I designed my topper in EQ8 Quilt Design Software. It is a foundation paper pieced design that would be great for an intermediate quilter or a dedicated beginner. I find starting on paper pieced projects that are smaller is a great way to try out this technique.

I was able to import the Princess Palette Batik fabrics right into EQ8 to mock up a realistic picture of my design. I could try different colors before I had to cut into that precious fabric. Batik by Mirah generously provided all of the fabrics. They have some beautiful fabrics that you should definitely consider for your next project. Batik by Mirah

I used foundation patterns created with #EQ8 to make each of the eight sections of the quilt.

It is a lot of stitching, pressing and cutting, but the result really starts to take shape.

Here, I am trimming the sewn foundation.

Then I stitched the four sections of the block together.

The individual blocks come together to create one pineapple. There are 8 blocks needed to make the topper.

I sewed four blocks together to make half the topper and then stitched the two halves together.

I use a water soluble pen to mark the quilting designs on the topper. I wanted to stitch little feathers in the background.

Then I stitched cross hatching in the pineapples.

Here is a closeup of the quilting after it was finished and washed. I love that crinkly texture!

I would love to see your version, just tag me on facebook or instagram @lorimillerdesigns

Happy Stitching!

My early christmas present arrived, my copies of a new magazine. I am so excited to have another original pattern published, this time in the new Make it! Patchwork magazine from the editors of Modern Patchwork. My This and That Carryall Tote can be found on page 82.

This magazine is jam packed with great patchwork projects from small quilted items to full size quilts. It is available online at Interweave now or it should be available in stores next week.

Last winter when I was on vacation, I picked up fabrics in the Around Town by Whimsicals collection from Red Rooster Fabrics. The gray, cream and red fabrics were my color inspiration and I designed this roomy tote to show them off.

I used a paper-pieced block sometimes called This and That or Square in a Square or Economy Block! I dug out my red and grey modern fabrics and stitched away.

Here is a close up of the paper-pieced blocks.

There are also projects by two other Michiganders in the magazine and I need to share those with you as well.

I had the pleasure of hearing Rossie Hutchinson speak and share a trunk show at our Detroit Area Modern Guild a few months ago. She shares her Stalactites and Stalagmites Table Runner and Place Mats. Check her out at Fresh Modern Quilts.

Debbie Grifka hails from the Ann Arbor Modern Quilt Guild and she spoke and gave a lecture on modern quilts at one of my guilds last year. She also has been a great resource to me and very supportive in my journey. She has two projects in the magazine, her Twinkle Star Quilt and a super cute Car Trash Bag. You can find her at Esch House Quilts.

Congratulations to them both!