The Partridge in a Pear Tree Challenge

Have you ever worked on a project that was a bit challenging and you felt the need to baste the pieces together before sewing them together to ensure that they match up nicely? That is what I have been doing to make these triangles with multi points to line up in my Partridge in a Pear Tree wall-hanging. Below you will see the two triangular pieces marked and ready to be sewn together.

These are the 2 pieces that make up the sides of the tree trunks and the sky blues. I hand sewed them together, matching end points and seam lines, and then pressed the seams open for a flat finish piece. 

Once these triangular blocks were sewn together, it was time to sew the rows together. I place a pin in EXACTLY the point where the seams should meet. Keeping the pin vertical.

 

You can see on the opposite side that the pin meets exactly on the seamline I want it to match up with. 

I carefully keep that pin in an upright position as I pin along each side. I often use the edge of my sewing table to do so.

 I then place 2 pins on both sides of the vertical pin all while keeping it upright the best I can. 

When pinning, be sure to take large enough "bites" so that your seam does not bunch up in thickness and make it hard to run under your machine needle. It can sometimes shift or bunch up into a knotted mess if you don't. 

This might be a good time to give suggestions for the pins I use. They are extra long and very thin. They are my FAVORITE pins to use. Actually, they are the only pins I use. These silk pins are made in Japan and are perfect pins for piecing.

I have no affiliate link. They are sometimes hard to find but they last a long time. When they become bend or damaged, I save them in a special box.

The Japanese have a special day they call, Hari-Kuyō. It is celebrated by women in Japan as a memorial to all the sewing needles that have become broken in their service during the past year, along with the added opportunity to pray for improved skills. My collection of broken pins and needles are several years' worth, but I think of their tradition and it reminds me to pray for improved skills along with being thankful for useful tools in my sewing box. 

My little box sits on the shelf above my sewing table. Do you like my little antique "studda bubba" pincushion? She makes me smile too and reminds me that I am becoming a studda bubba myself (old lady). Although I do not have a babushka. :-)

So back to the Partridge challenge. You can see my machine needle is lined up ready to sew this seam together below. My pinned seam joints are laying flat as I gently WALK my machine needle over the pins. Yes, I have hit a few now and again (see hari-kuyo above), but because it is s-l-o-w I have not knocked my machine out of time....yet. The only other solution is to baste these points together. That is probably what my Home Economics teacher, Mrs Starr would suggest. No wait, Mrs Starr did not suggest anything. Her motto always was, "There is a wrong way, and a Mrs. Starr way" Haaaa! I owe my attention to precision sewing to her. Thank you Mrs Starr! ♥

Pressing those seams to "set" once they are sewn. You can see my stitching has been guided along with my markings.

This results are points matching nicely once done.

And the real test is the basted seams with multiple points matching up together. Yippee! Success! These were the half diamond pieces (tree trunk and sky blue) sewn together by hand and them basted before sewing together in rows. (did not risk the 3 pin technique here).

So how do you conquer your sewing challenges? Do you baste and/or hand sew? Is there another technique you use? 

Do you have a favorite quote from your Home Economics teacher you can share? Do you have a favorite pin cushion? 

Please leave your comments below as I would love to read your insights and tips.

Happy stitching!