Monthly Archives: August 2015

foundation paper piecing, foundation piecing, free block, paper piecing, sewing, tutorial, video tutorial

Video tutorial: foundation paper piecing for beginners

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Since I started doing my Dear Jane quilt using foundation paper piecing, I have been saying how easy paper piecing is and how perfect blocks turn out.

It may be a bit tricky to understand at first, that is why this tutorial uses solid fabrics. This makes it even easier. Judge by yourself and let me know what you think.

The video lasts for 3.45 minutes. It is short and sweet.

If you want to try foundation paper piecing, download the Chevron block pattern (pdf) and print it on plain printer paper. The pattern has two pieces which are mirror of each other.

To help you with measurements, for the two sides of the block, I cut:

  • Area 1: One 5 1/2 inch to 6 inch square cut in the diagonal into 2 triangles (yellow)
  • Area  4: One 5 1/2 inch to 6 inch square cut in the diagonal into 2 triangles (white)
  • Area  2: Two 2 inch x 7 1/2 inch strip in charcoal
  • Area 3: Two 2 inch x 7 1/2 inch strip in beige

I made two full blocks with the intention of doing something with them though I still haven’t decided what I will make.

I haven’t decided on the placement either. Which one do you prefer?

Download Chevron block pattern (pdf)

Placement 1

Placement 2

Placement 3

Placement 4

acolchado, dear jane, dear jane quilt, fabric scraps project, free-motion, patchwork, quilting

Jane A. Stickle Quilt top right corner triangle

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This is the first corner triangle I make and it felt like a mini quilt in its own right!

It is not difficult to make but it is time consuming. There are lots of small triangles and other pieces (44) and to top it all 2 appliqued stars with 5 points each!

 

So far so good, straight forward paper piecing to start.

Putting the square together is another story.

 

 

This is the back and the seam are in funny places. That’s why the centre square is not attached yet.

 

 

I had no idea how to tackle this so I decided to reverse applique the square.

 

 

It was tricky to applique because there are lots of bulky seams around the edge.

 

Now the fun continues.  The star has very pointy ends, 5 of them!

 

Not great but I can live with it.

 

I removed the freezer paper.

 

 

 

Adding the triangle end of this block posed another challenge. I had no idea how to do this.

What I did was to cut 2 strips of fabric larger than the pattern.

 

Then I stitched one side.

 

 

 

Then the other which overlaps.

 

Then I used the pattern to trim off the excess fabric.

 

For the corner I cut a rough piece of fabric and stitched.

 

I used the pattern to draw the corner.

 

I did this because when adding an appliqued piece the background fabric may shrink a bit.

 

I placed the start as I could. It is not exactly as in the picture. I’m hoping it is the right size.

 

 

 

 

After I stitched the start, I trimmed the triangle.

Where to get the Jane A. Stickle Quilt patterns

Susan Gatewood’s paper foundation . All patterns are free though Susan says “I only ask that you consider making a donation to the Bennington Museum, in Bennington, Vermont. And if you do, it would make me tremendously happy if you would tell them that you have received help from me.” I totally recommend Susan’s patterns as they are very easy to use.

Dear Jane progress

See all blocks I’ve done together in a larger size.

acolchado, dear jane, dear jane quilt, fabric scraps project, free-motion, patchwork, quilting

Jane A. Stickle Quilt row B: JAS-B13 – Four Corner Press

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This block is extremely easy. I traditionally pieced this one.

I cut 4 x 1 1/4 in squares in the pattern fabric and one 3 1/2 in square piece for the centre. In white I cut 4 x 1 1/4 in x 3 1/2 in strips.

Row B is done! Two rows done 11 to go!

Where to get the Jane A. Stickle Quilt patterns

Susan Gatewood’s paper foundation . All patterns are free though Susan says “I only ask that you consider making a donation to the Bennington Museum, in Bennington, Vermont. And if you do, it would make me tremendously happy if you would tell them that you have received help from me.” I totally recommend Susan’s patterns as they are very easy to use.

Virtual quilt

See all blocks I’ve done together in a larger size.

acolchado, dear jane, dear jane quilt, fabric scraps project, free-motion, patchwork, quilting

Jane A. Stickle Quilt row B: JAS-B12 – Starflower

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This is an applique block. The melons are very narrow and pointier than the previous ones I have appliqued on this quilt. But the hardest part was the centre piece which I decided to reverse applique. Maybe not the best idea.

Anyway, the first thing I did was to cut a 5 1/2 in square, 1/2 larger than the block size.

I folded the square twice to find the middle.

I pinned the middle.

And then I cut the patter for the centre on to freezer paper.

And ironed it to the back of the fabric.

I made cut through the centre on the diagonal. I’m wondering if I should have removed some of the corners to avoid large seams.

I then put a piece of white fabric on top.

I turned it around pinned the three layers together and tried to fold the fabric around the edges of the freezer paper. This was hard because the curve was barely there.

I then started to stitch around. The corners were very difficult.

It may not be very obvious on the photo but the corners have some thread showing from the edges.

I trimmed the excess fabric off.

Then I prepared the melons. These melons are quite narrow and therefore more pointy than the previous melons I’ve done for this quilt.

I carefully finger pressed the edges after cutting around the shape leaving 1/4 in seam allowance.

I placed the melons touching the edges of the centre corners.

I used a needle to help me find the corner.

And I appliqued the piece carefully.

This is the end result.

Then I trimmed the piece to 5 inch square.

One more block to go and row B is done! I really thought this row was harder than row A but it was not true. It actually turned out to be easier. Or maybe my skills have improved!

See you next week.

Where to get the Jane A. Stickle Quilt patterns

Susan Gatewood’s paper foundation . All patterns are free though Susan says “I only ask that you consider making a donation to the Bennington Museum, in Bennington, Vermont. And if you do, it would make me tremendously happy if you would tell them that you have received help from me.” I totally recommend Susan’s patterns as they are very easy to use.

Virtual quilt

See all blocks I’ve done together in a larger size.

 

acolchado, dear jane, dear jane quilt, fabric scraps project, free-motion, patchwork, quilting

Jane A. Stickle Quilt row B: JAS-B11 – Melissa’s Cross

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This block looks easier than it is. The most problematic aspect I found was positioning the half melons so that they would all join at the edges.

I paper pieced this block and appliqued the curved part of the half melons.

If you look at Susan Gatewood’s pattern, the photo of the real quilt and the photo of Susan’s block are a bit different to the pattern given.

Freezer paper is the best aid I’ve found so far to do needleturn applique. Freezer paper and patience.

I’m going to show you how I made this block which is not what Susan suggests but this is what I thought would be easier.

Cut your half melon, trace it on to freezer paper, press to the wrong side of the fabric and cut around leaving 1/4 seam allowance.

Start with a white square of fabric as big as the whole paper piece.

Trim off leaving 1/4 in seam allowance.

The next layer will be the half melon.

Pin on each side as per picture below. The two pins indicate the pointy ends of the half melon.

 

Place the half melon making sure it is placed right side up and making sure each freezer paper pointy end is placed where each pin is.

Then place a stripe of fabric wrong side up.

 

Stitch all along the line on the other side of the paper.

You will now need to unpick each side so you can do the applique on the sides.

 

Unpick just enough to be able to turn the fabric in at the edges.

 

I appliqued the piece then.

And then I stitched what I had unpicked.

This is the first piece.

Trim off excess fabric.

Put it all together.

And this is it! Not too bad. A bit off on the left side and bottom right pieces but I’m happy with it.

Where to get the Jane A. Stickle Quilt patterns

Susan Gatewood’s paper foundation . All patterns are free though Susan says “I only ask that you consider making a donation to the Bennington Museum, in Bennington, Vermont. And if you do, it would make me tremendously happy if you would tell them that you have received help from me.” I totally recommend Susan’s patterns as they are very easy to use.

Virtual quilt

See all blocks I’ve done together in a larger size.