Foundation Piecing

Foundation piecing -- generally speaking -- is sewing your fabric to something else (foundation) to create your block. The foundation may ... or may not... be left a part of your quilt.

In the case, for example, of crazy quilting, many people use a piece of muslin or something similar to sew their crazy patches to. This is for several reasons. In crazy quilt patches, people often do not limit themselves strictly to quilting cottons. They may be using velvets, satins, sateens, knits, laces... and to keep your fabrics stable... you need something "under them". This actually makes the process of crazy quilting easier!

For other projects, like a mariner's compass (or any of Carol Doak's wonderful stars/blocks)... you deal with some really strange triangular shapes... with very long pointy points. While you can create templates to do this... you will likely be bald by the time you finish (having pulled all your hair out in frustration!) For these kinds of blocks, many people paper piece (a variation of foundation piecing). By sewing to the paper you accomplish several things: 1) you stabilize the very long exposed biases created with these irregular shapes and 2) you can create VERY precise points without going crazy (or bald!) Paper piecing is the basis of other products like Thangles or Triangle papers and a wide variety of patterns where you deal with either very small pieces of fabric, very irregular shaped pieces or a combination of both. (Google for MH Designs to see some of the fun things that you can tackle with relative ease using the paper piecing technique that you might never try with traditional piecing.

Some people swear by paper piecing... some swear at it! I'm in the first group -- I love the way you can get such precision... without going crazy. However, I have picked up a few hints along the way that help. If you wish to try it -- be patient... with paper piecing you have to kind of "think backwards" - so for some quilters it is a little confusing. But once you get your head wrapped around it.... YOU'LL LOVE IT!

I have a few paper piecing projects in my webshots gallery -- probably my favorite is the kimono blocks in my Kimono Quilt...

If you have more questions about Foundation Piecing.... post back... people here will be happy to offer suggestions and helps!

Thank you Kate - I have a better understanding now! We are using thangles in one of my class sessions so I'll get to try that soon.

Your Kimono quilt is Gorgeous and I love the way you did the quilting! I get so excited seeing what beautiful things everyone is doing...it makes me want to jump in but then I'm not sure what to jump in to...so many choices and options and colors, good grief... (I also snuck a peek at your baby quilts since I'm thinking of what to do for a friend and I really like "Chrissy's quilt"!)

Steph

Thanks.. but quilting kudos go to Molly in Minnesota... my longarm guru! She does GORGEOUS work!

Sorry to break in here. I have a question of my own: can foundation (paper) piecing be used for any block? FOr example, could I make an Ohio star using foundation (paper) piecing? A snail's trail? JAcob's ladder? I ask because I will be trying my hand at a few miniature quilts for a dollhouse my 3 dd's and I will be making soon, and I really can't see myself using anything but FPP for these tiny little things.

Thanks

Claudia

Some are easier than others. Blocks that are normally done in a nine patch format are usually more easily foundation pieced in sub-units. I would do an Ohio Star in three subunits, I would do Jacobs Ladder in 5, the center strip whole and the strips above and below in two sections each Blocks that start in the middle and assemble out are among the easiest of all to foundation piece. Snail Trail would be very easy to do that way.

NightMist

I would not say a definite 'yes' or 'no' >g< Some blocks are lovely and easy to do as a single piece of FPP eg Square in a Square, and Log Cabin. Most others would have to be made in sections. The sections can then be joined together to make the whole. However, if you are making miniatures - especially dollhouse size 1:12 - I would try to avoid making sectional ones. If you really do want to, though, you will probably find it easiest to leave the seam allowance off the paper drawing. Just draw the pattern centre, leave plenty of fabric at the outside edge, and then trim a quarter of an inch from the edge of the paper when you have finished. This way you can leave the paper on while you are joining the sections (which keeps everything nice and stable) and you don't have to try to pin through the paper + fabric which, on a tiny block, does distort. If you really do want to do something like a four- or nine - patch, please e-mail me. . In message , claudia writes

In theory, you can paper piece anything. In practice, there's often not a lot of point. To make this clear, draw a simple 9-patch on a scrap of paper next to your computer. Now decide where you'd put the numbers. You'd end up with 1-2-3 for the top row of squares, 1-2-3 for the middle row of squares, and 1-2-3 for the bottom row. It would be a lot of bother for a result you can get easily with ordinary piecing.

Next thought experiment. Look at the hexagon block design here:

You could make it with templates and ordinary piecing, but do you want to? I take one look at it and start screaming "PAPERPIECING!" like a banshee. I'd go freaking lunatic trying to get those sharp points any other way. But paper piecing it sounds relaxing.

I've never done miniatures, but if I did, I'd consider paper piecing. Here's what an initial google search yielded on the blocks you mentioned:

--Lia