When Juliet sent an email asking for testers for her triceratops pattern, I replied straight away with an enthusiastic YES. I loved the pattern and could picture a dinosaur quilt.
I don't do paper piecing often, so I really have to concentrate, but my concentration obviously lapsed, hence the three legged dinosaur. As Mr TMW said... Oops!!! I made plenty of mistakes, especially at the beginning of making the block, and my seam ripper had a good workout. However, I didn't discover the missing leg until the very end when it was all finished.
I seem to space my paper piecing projects at least 6 months apart. The last one was the linked squares block, sewn in June last year. This meant I'd forgotten much of the process and had to refresh my memory with a little reading...
Reading obviously wasn't enough. Experience, practice and concentration... that's what's needed! I am getting better at lining up points, but as you can see, I have a LONG way to go.
The missing leg and wonky points are in no way a reflection of the pattern. Head on over to Tartankiwi to see what the triceratops block is supposed to look like.
The pattern does contain quite a few very small pieces and I would suggest it is more suited to those with some Foundation Paper Piecing experience, or those who are up for a challenge. The triceratops pattern is available as a free download on Craftsy.
So, did I fail as a pattern tester? Absolutely not!!! I was able to pass on useful information about the pattern and that's the point of testing a pattern.
Funnily enough, I did enjoy the process, even though I haven't mastered it. There's just something I like about turning odd shaped pieces of fabric into something recognisable. I am going to have another go at the triceratops block, but I think I'll leave it a little while. I think the trick is not to leave it so long that I've forgotten where I went wrong. To improve, I have to remember the mistakes and how I made them.
In the meantime, Mr Triceratops is just going to have to limp along alone.
Maybe his leg was eaten by a t-rex. ☺
ReplyDeleteWow, you almost had it! :) You can definitely see the time and effort that went into it. I am constantly telling my girls, even when my projects don't turn out exactly as expected, it is all about experience and never time wasted.
ReplyDeleteHe is pretty cute regardless :) Well done!
ReplyDeleteClearly, he is a tripodopops, not a triceratops! Cute though..
ReplyDeleteYou really did do a great job Pam! I was really impressed with what you achieved and your feedback was really helpful. The pattern has changed a bit now. Its bigger and some of the tiniest pieces are gone so its easier than it was.
ReplyDeleteThank you again for your hard work and for giving me a smile too with your 3 legged dinosaur :-)
This is great!
ReplyDeleteI never would have guessed about the leg if you hadn't pointed it out.
It looks like it's part of the pattern.
Yes, oops! But what a lot of work! I have only attempted pp once. It does take a lot of concentration. Glad to hear you were not too hard on yourself for your efforts and that you have not given up. It is always a pleasure to see the positives pointed out, where so many others would have been focusing on their failures. Great job, Pam!
ReplyDeleteI am sure any young recipient of your block will be delighted with it Pam and that's what counts!
ReplyDeleteAwesome, nothing needs to be perfect!!!
ReplyDeleteLOL @ tripodopops - that actually made me LOL! I think your dino did battle and won, but incurred a minor injury during his scuffle - he's a brave triceratops! ;) I made every paper piecing error imaginable - and I'm pretty sure I invented several - during my paper piecing days. No matter how much practice you get PP'ing, I think there will always be oopsies! And even though we'll learn from our errors, there are some that we'll likely make over and over and over (for me, it's cutting fabric for acute angle pieces, too small ...) - it's still a fun way of making great blocks! Her triceratops and other patterns are cute - the meerkat mob is a hoot!
ReplyDeleteI have never paper pieced before and just think the missing leg adds to the character of the dinosaur.
ReplyDeleteI love it ,,,, and the receiver cam always make up stories about that `missing` leg ,, makes it more charming
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I think it's good that he only has 3 legs. Some dinosaurs had disabilities and it's only right that they be represented in paper pieced pictures. So well done Pam!
ReplyDeleteI love him just the way he is ;)
ReplyDeleteHe may not be perfect, but if I did not read your post, I would have thought that is what he is supposed to look. Paper Piecing looks hard...if I were to make it, he will probably have only 2 legs! :D
ReplyDeleteThat is so neat! I wouldn't have thought anything was amiss if you hadn't said so.;) How many pieces of fabric do you end up joining?
ReplyDeleteThis looks amazing Pam!
ReplyDeleteHe still looks just great! Perfect fabric choices!
ReplyDeleteCute 3 legged dinosaur Pam!! I've never tried paper piecing myself - it's on my list for this year to try!!!
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