My Paper Pieced Ghost Block

I must admit this was a big challenge for me.  I only ever made 1 paper pieced block before.  So this was going to be my second time.  No Problem....Right??

The first block I ever did went good. I had no problems, actually had fun making it.   So why would this one give me any problems??

Now, I have a problem with following a specific pattern - I always have to add something of my own to it or just simply draw my own.  So why couldn't I draw my own this time?

   (Boy was that a Mistake!!)

Well, I did - I drew this simple (so I thought it was) block.

It will end up a 10 1/2" block. So next I colored it in so I knew where to put what colors when I sewed it.

So far so good....but now I had to draw the lines as to where to sew it all together.  I bet I worked on this for hours, trying to figure out where and how.  (It sure would have been easier if I knew more about paper piecing.)   After a day of staring and erased lines everywhere.  I came up with this idea:  

I found that dividing it into sections was the easiest.    The first section is the center.  The bottom of the house, tombstones and  the upper section of the ghost.  (hardest is over...YEAH)  (To get my pattern, copy and paste to your PC and use dimensions mentioned on pattern.)

Then I sewed my moon and roof top. When they were completed, I sewed them fast to my first section.

Next I sewed my tree together.    PHEW... I am getting there.  

I added this to the side of the house and am now ready to put the last section on.  So I sewed the bottom of the ghost together.

I added this to the bottom, aligning my seams carefully.  After all this I don't want to goof it up now.   

Well, here is my block:

Total finished size is 10 1/2"

Now when I did mine - I goofed and didn't have enough green for the last piece.  Unfortunately, I didn't even have enough to rip and re-do it.  So I just added a little piece to the bottom corner.  Whew!  I can't believe this was so much trouble.

I must confess that by the time I finished by block, I had lines everywhere in my pattern.  So I re-drew it for this blog.  If you  copy and paste the pattern, make sure you enlarge it to the size given on each piece,  hopefully you will not have any problems.  If you do, let me know and I will e-mail it to you.

After all the problems I had with this, I had to try to make another, but with a pattern.  I had to prove to myself that it really isn't hard.   So I made 2 witches and 2 pumpkin blocks.  Each measured 4 1/2" square.

These went really easy after that other block.  So, I added them to a plain center to make a table topper for our Dining Room table.  I quilted it in a grid pattern and in the ditch in the rest.  

The reason I made the middle so plain....My husband made me this beautiful Granite Lazy Susan for on top of it.  Let me show you.  

I do not know yet how I am going to finish my Ghost block.  I am certainly am not giving up on paper piecing, just making my own blocks for now.  Gee, I think I will make some of the other Halloween paper piece blocks that I have seen.  I do want to thank Soma from "Whims and Fancies" for all her help and support.  She pushed me beyond what I thought I could do.  Thank you for that.  

Everyone, Please go to her site at:   Whims and Fancies   Check out the schedule, for each day this month you will see a new Halloween pieced blocks.  I know you will not want to miss a one.  

ALSO,  Coming up "Something Wicked is Coming this Way"   Blog Hop.  It will start on October 22, and run through October 31.  You will not want to miss this one either.  

                                         

Till then:

HAPPY QUILTING EVERYONE!!!

To get special designed quilts or to see my gallery, check out my site at: http://janesquilting.com