Growing Tulips

After finishing my Tumbling Blocks cushion I decided I wanted another English Paper Piecing project to take with me when we go on holiday to Ireland next month. I know what I’m going to make but I have to order some fabric before I can start cutting. It’s going to be very colourful and involve some octagons. Once my delivery arrives I’ll show you a sneak peak.

When thinking about which shape to choose next I started wondering about curves. Was it possible to do curves? Then I remembered that I had seen an apple core pillow in the last issue of Fat Quarterly. However, being me I didn’t go for apple cores but a tulip. Tulips are one of my favourite flowers and I had them in my wedding bouquet. I knew it would be a challenge but I had a great time looking for some inspiration and fell in love with a stained glass window (silly me didn’t write down the link but if I find it again I will – it’s gorgeous). Out came the sketch pad, pencil and eraser and off I went. I had to make sure the curves weren’t too round and the corners too narrow. A couple of sketches ended up in the bin but I got there in the end.

Now that I look at it all finished I’m not sure it really looks like a tulip. What do you think? I had a few problems on the way and the biggest one was the Essex linen I chose for the background. It’s a bit thicker than the quilting cotton which meant that the corners didn’t always meet and I had to jiggle things about a bit. Next time I will use the same fabric for the piecing and maybe use some linen to sash the piece.

It’s still pretty and I’m going to turn it into a zippered pouch for my future EPP projects. First, however I have to finish an apron for a little girl. I can’t show it to you yet, as I’m not sure whether her mother reads this blog or not.