Word on the Street

 Once upon a time, not so very long ago, a charming young quilter requested a pattern. Well, flattered by such lovely words as “amazing designer”, “incredible block designs”, “just plain fabulous”, how was a girl to say no? Okay. So I totally embellished there and may have exaggerated slightly on the compliments. But regardless. The result was the same. Molli Sparkles requested a pattern, Molli Sparkles got a pattern.

If you haven’t yet succumbed to Molli’s charm and way with words, then do pop over to visit the very sparkly blog. You’ll quickly discover our friend Molli has quite the love for Converse shoes. Not being a cool kid like Molli, it had never once crossed my mind to design a Converse shoe pattern, but I’m always up for a challenge. And so. Here it is my friends. Pink Converse High Top shoes – designed and made just for Molli.



I went with my favourite textured print ever – Sketch – in a delightful shade of pink. I had in mind that I wanted a texty background and was starting to panic when I couldn’t find enough of my texty prints (generally need around a fat quarter or 1/4 yd cut for background fabric for a paper pieced block like this). There may have been a squeal of delight when I found this one hidden away at the bottom of my black/white stash!



I was tempted to go with the traditional black and white colours like my original sketch for this pattern….



… but I mean this is Molli we’re talking about. Nothing traditional or standard there! So pink and texty it was! And I’m thrilled with the result! (Ok a little part of me wishes I had done black detail like most Converse shoes... but by the time I thought of it, it was too late - besides I used this pic from Molli's blog for inspiration!)

Okay so I will admit that little star logo nearly brought me to tears. Oh the unpicking, and the swearing, and the repeated unpicking, and the repeated less creative swearing, and then there was the unpicking… not to mention the swearing… But it got done. It did however, dear readers, make me decide that it would be wise to include a second version of the pattern that does not require unpicking and swearing and gnashing of teeth to complete. So this pattern has two versions. The completely paper pieced version for the very brave, and the less paper pieced version (no logo) for the still brave but perhaps more wise.



Please note that I have not included applique templates for the star logo in the pattern. I design foundation pieced patterns, not applique. I am fortunate that I know how to spell applique and that is about the extent of my experience. I trust you clever people can work out how to add an appliqued logo if you so desire.

So dear friends – you may now find this pattern for purchase in my Craftsy shop. And expect me to be posting pictures of it like… everywhere. Because I’m stupidly pleased with how it turned out. Oh and do pop over to Molli’s fabulous blog and offer thanks for the inspiration for this block!

One more picture for the road Posed with the only Converse shoes we own – my daughter’s baby shoes which sadly… no longer fit her. She did try Cinderella style and she was most disappointed that baby shoes do not fit her 4 year old feet. So was I.



So... Molli... challenge accepted and completed! And I fully expect this pattern to start you on your own downward spiral into paper piecing. Have fun and I'll cheer you on from the sidelines! ;)