Foundation paper piecing can appear daunting, messy and wasteful. I receive a lot of questions about this technique, and I thought I'd address them in a two-part Quilting 101 series.
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Last month I answered some of the most frequently asked questions I receive regarding foundation paper piecing. Some quilters find this technique daunting and avoid it altogether, but it does open a whole new world of design, and it makes some beautiful, intricate quilts.
My hope is that by answering some of your FAQ's I'll entice you to love FPP as much as I do.
I've already discussed general questions regarding which paper I think is best to use, tools I prefer, preparing the templates etc. in Quilting 101 - FFP FAQ's Part 1. Today I'll answer your questions regarding sewing the templates together, which way to press seams and what designs I consider are good for beginners to start with.
Let's go:
1. What are the notches for?
When you are trimming your templates, you will notice notches at points of the templates. Regardless of how small or insignificant they may look, it's important you cut them after your template has been paper pieced and trimmed.
The notches will help you position the templates together perfectly, ready for sewing for the block or the section of the block together.
To check that the templates are aligned accurately, I push a pin through the front template at either end of the sewing line and ideally it should line up with the sewing line of the bottom template. You may need to reposition slightly to achieve accurate results.
2. How do I join the paper templates?
In some quilt patterns, templates may be too big for the PDF size, and they need to be spread out over two pages.
To join the paper templates together (from my patterns), simply cut or fold over the seam allowance from one half of the template and lay it on the other half of the template, butting the seam allowance and secure them together with a few pieces of heat proof tape or quilters glue.
This will hold the templates together so you can paper piece with your fabric, without comprising on the size of the design.
3. How do I sew the templates together?
To sew foundation paper piecing templates together, line up each template, right sides together, using the notches to help you position them correctly - you can check their alignment with my tip above.
Once everything is lined up and in position, hold them together with binding clips and then sew. Binding clips are perfect for FPP and if you sit them on the sewing line, you can gently fold back one template to check everything is perfectly aligned prior to sewing.
There's no "fudging" in foundation paper piecing, so once you have sewn the templates together you must check that everything is aligned.
Open your templates and on the paper back, lay your quilting ruler along the sewing lines to check that everything is aligned.
You will need to unpick and reposition if your sewing lines are misaligned. Once everything is aligned, you can remove the paper from the seams and press.
4. Which way do I press the seams?
As you are paper piecing the templates, you are pressing your seams towards the new fabric you've just added, but when joining templates together, I find you get a smoother finish if you press your joining seams open.
This is personal preference and sometimes the seam naturally leans to one direction, and it still works ok. The goal is to reduce the bulk of the seams as much as you can, so quilting your project is effortless.
I do include pressing instructions in my patterns but do you! There are no quilt police, and the best result is always achieved when you trust your own instincts and monitor the project in front of you.
5. Is the paper hard to remove?
This is my least favorite task when paper piecing, but it must be done.
It isn't hard to remove the paper, but it is time consuming. Take your time and try not to pull too hard on your stitches as you risk pulling them out or loosening them.
If you find your stitching weakens when removing the paper, I'd advise checking the size of your stitching and reduce the stitch length. I set my stitch length at 2.0mm but for smaller pieces I will reduce the length to 1.4mm - you'll sew more stitches, and it keeps smaller sections secure.
If the paper you're using doesn't tear away from the stitches easily, either use a cheaper/thinner paper or remove the thread from your machine and stitch over the lines of the templates prior to paper piecing - this creates a perforation that makes removal easier.
6. Can I hand sew FPP?
Yes, you can and its actually fun, relaxing and portable!
To sew foundation paper piecing by hand you will need to use a lightweight non fusible interfacing instead of paper, but the principles remain the same.
To hand sew FPP:
- Print your paper template and cut a piece of lightweight non fusible interfacing the same size as the template.
- Lay the interfacing over the top (you will be able to see the design through it) and using either a mechanical pencil or heat erasing pen, carefully trace the design onto the interfacing - include outer seam allowances and notches and label the sewing order as shown on the paper template.
- This will now become your template, and it can be paper pieced exactly as you would with a paper template. Because the interfacing is more flexible than paper, a dab of glue will help hold everything secure as you paper piece.
- Use a running stitch to sew your fabrics together and keep your stitches small and straight. Ensure you secure both the start and finish points of your hand sewing with a double backstitch.
- As your adding new sections press seams with your fingers or a seam roller - not an iron because the heat will remove the heat erasing pen.
- Once your template has been completely paper pieced and you no longer require the sewing lines, then press with your iron.
7. Can I use FPP templates for EPP?
I have worked with EPP quilters who have converted my FPP patterns with great success. It can be a fun and rewarding process and it is very easy to do.
Begin by familiarizing yourself with the FPP templates and understand how the design goes together. Create your EPP templates by tracing the individual sections of the FPP templates on to cardstock or template plastic - it's beneficial to label each section exactly as the FPP templates are labelled and be mindful of the wrong and right sides.
Baste your fabric to the templates and arrange them as shown in the FPP templates or the pattern diagrams/colouring sheet and whip stitch them together in the same order as the pattern.
8. Can I traditionally piece FPP designs?
Simple FPP designs, like a log cabin or the economy block, can be traditionally pieced, but I believe foundation paper piecing yields an accurate result - the math just doesn't translate nicely, and nobody enjoys to cutting to the 1/8" or 1/16".
Complex designs require paper templates to achieve the angles and shapes in the block design. Cutting them accurately is not impossible but FPP streamlines the process and eliminates working with weird sizes and angles.
9. Which patterns are best for FPP beginners?
I get this question a lot and I believe the best patterns for beginners are the ones where the templates are paper pieced as one unit or where minimal joining of templates is required.
Here's a list of just some of my patterns which I recommend for beginners of foundation paper piecing:
These are great starting mini quilts and as your skills develop and you will feel more confident, you'll discover you can paper piecing any design you choose.
I hope todays post answers some more of your questions and encourages you to try this quilting technique. I'm sure it's obvious, but it's my preferred method of piecing and I want you to love it as well.
If you missed last month's Quilting 101 post, then don't forget to check it out HERE.
Please don't hesitate to email me if you have any questions that I didn't address in both posts. I'm no expert but I'm passionate and here to help if you need it - I could talk FPP all day!
PIN FOR LATER:
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Happy quilting :)
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