June 12, 2011

Crane Star

Paper-piecing seemed tedious and confusing before I began this project. I had an idea in my mind and the only way to create it seemed to be paper-piecing which I had never done before! After watching a few tutorials and piecing a few cranes, I came up with a method that worked for me.



My first idea was to quilt the pillow cover entirely by hand to resemble Japanese sashiko. I ordered some custom hand-dyed floss from Cymberfloss in France. It turned out gorgeous and the colours matched perfectly! My embroidery went much slower than expected as I was forced take it one stitch at a time. Pulling a few running stitches through several layers of linen and batting proved impossible.





I will be freemotion quilting the rest of the pillow cover in the same colour as the linen so that the focus of the quilt remains on the cranes.

I am also in the process of making a lap quilt with seven crane stars. That's a total of 42 paper-pieced cranes! Percy Persimmon is helping me pick fabrics that look like origami paper. I think he's doing a great job!





I'm hoping to use some of this beautiful hand-dyed floss by Nell's Embroidery in North Vancouver.

My husband Sota is from Japan. His family lives inland and were luckily safe but the news was still devastating for all of us. He started Crane for a Dollar to teach school children to support, sympathize and come together as a community by folding origami cranes to raise funds for Japan. If your child's school is interested in folding 1000 cranes or want to find out more, please click on the postcard :o)



After seeing all the folded cranes, I was inspired to design this paper-piecing pattern. Fourteen cranes finished and twenty-eight more to sew... and then the PDF pattern booklet will be on its way!



Enjoy your afternoon tea & quilted crafts :o)

34 comments :

  1. What a wonderful idea. I decided yesterday to post a completed cot quilt I have to Japan to help keep someone warm (after watching a SBS documentary on the search effort in Japan) and show our support. Australian designer Margaret Rolf designed a paper pieced crane pattern some years ago, but not as complicated as your! Well done a fantastic effort given this method is new to you. Your husband's fund raising method is a wonderful idea and I hope we can get something similar going to Australia. Happy quilting Sue

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  2. What a wonderful idea! I hope both of your cranes are a huge success!

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  3. Your cranes are absolutely beautiful. I can't wait to get my hands on the pattern!

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  4. These are just beautiful. I think it is very good what you are doing.

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  5. The colours in your crane block are beautiful, especially with the linen.

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  6. Очень красивая работа, напоминает картинки из калейдоскопа.

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  7. Fantastic initiative with the crane for a dollar!

    The postcard is stunning. Your daughter is so lovely, she has your smile, but you know that probably ;)

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  8. These cranes are so beautiful, I can't wait for the pattern!

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  9. This is going to be amazing, what a huge amount of work !!
    I wanted to wish you a very very happy birthday today !!
    I hope you'll get spoiled by your loved ones !
    oxoxo thinking about you !

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  10. NO DUDES QUE TE SEGUIRE PASO A PASO, PARA VER LO LINDA QUE TE QUEDARA, TE ESPERO POR MI BLOG AUN EMPIEZO PERO CON TENER A TI DE MAESTRA ME ANIMO!!, UN ABRAZO DESDE COLOMBIA

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  11. Fantastic design and colours. I saw this on your Flickr page and just had to come over and check it out. Can't wait to see it finished!

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  12. It's incredible!!! I love it!

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  13. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!!!
    What a beautiful work!!!

    My mom told me that she met many Canadiens who had done volunteer work in Tohoku area. I can't find words to thank you guys. Say hi to your husband, who is doing great jobb!
    I just wonder if there is chance that you guys changes the organization to send money to. I have sent money to Swedish Red Cross, but now I am supporting Civic Force. I am making a comfort quilt for someone in Tohoku. We can make differnce! Keep upp with the great work!

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  14. Oh Laurraine, your cranes are gorgeous! I can't wait to see the whole thing! Happy Belated!

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  15. Your crane stars are absolutely amazing, I love the way the light is shining through the block.
    Hope you attain a lot of money for Japan with your projects!
    Anja
    P.S: I would love to pet your lovely cat!

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  16. I love your star block :-)

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  17. Espectacular...tienes unos trabajos preciosos!!!

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  18. Very beautiful. I just love your work.

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  19. L. Your cranes are gorgeous. I am so looking forward to the pattern. Thank you for doing such great work.

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  20. Oh, I'm so impressed!! I absolutely love your idea! I really do hope you publish it as a pattern, I would stop everything to make it tonight, I love it so much!!

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  21. Inspiring work, wish you all the best I would love to recieve an update from your work, could you drop me an update in the comments in my blog? The link is:

    http://byrachidas.blogspot.com/

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  22. Wow, I'm looking forward for the pattern.Love the colors too!!!
    Wies

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  23. very beautiful,bellissimo cinzia bologna italia

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  24. OMG..how gorgeous those cranes are! I have never paper pieced either and you made it look so easy. You truly are one talented lady!

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  25. Your cranes are lovely, and knowing that they will help epople out must be even more rewarding! i also really like that you've used some sakura prints on one of your fabrics: nice touch.

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  26. hi Laurraine!! How are you??? I miss you, we want your enter

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  27. I will definetly buy this pattern from you! I love pp and had so much japanese fabric-thiswould be perfect for me!

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  28. Hi Laurraine, wow, this crane pattern looks awesome, you've done a beautiful job on it.
    Are you coming to the retreat!!

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  29. Absolutely awesome!


    Would you be so kind to (& tell your friends) comment on my BLOG ONLY (emails don’t count), for the Miracle Makeover fund drive. Charlie, 8 yr. old, & his story are fabulous. Every comment brings us a $1 for the next person that will be sponsored.

    Have a beautiful weekend.
    Hugs,
    TTFN ~
    Marydon
    blushingrosetoo.blogspot.com

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  30. Hi Laurraine, I'm Esperanzzita in your Flickr group.
    Your blog and your jobs are beauty,beauty!!!
    My blog is Http://esperanzaentretelasypinturas.blogspot.com.

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  31. Absolutely Beautiful, please let me know when your pattern is available.

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