Today I made this block from start to finish! It’s entirely sewn by machine, using foundation paper piecing.

Welcome to my Penny Sampler neighborhood!

Well, actually, our neighborhood doesn’t look quite like this, but let’s use our imagination. Wink.

When I sketched these buildings I was inspired by photos of waterfront architecture in Amsterdam. If you’ve visited The Netherlands, maybe you recognize the step-shaped roofline and diverse facades, always with lots of windows!

Naturally, paper piecing is a great way to sew such a playfully detailed scene. It’s a time-consuming process, but satisfyingly precise, plus there are oodles of opportunity for fun fabric choices.

When choosing fabrics for my Neighborhood block, I started by selecting simple textures for the buildings themselves. I thought a print would set the tone better than a solid, but I didn’t want anything too showy for my sampler quilt. Simple, one-color helpful fabrics do the trick. Next I rummaged through scraps to find ideas for the special features.

At the last minute I swapped a plain window for this Heather Ross princess. Isn’t she the perfect scale?

As I sew my paper pieced block designs, I make notes regarding cutting adjustments and assembly tips for the final pattern. I enjoy the mix of technical thinking and creativity. It’s pretty lucky that I enjoy both sides of the process, come to think of it.

Ta da, another fun picture-block for our Penny Sampler Pattern Club! I hope you like it. This one will release with the June club delivery. I’m working ahead because there are a lot more neighborhoods coming up in the Seafarers quilt. Onwards.