Hello friends, I’m Jennie from Clover & Violet and I’m so excited to be sharing this tutorial on getting started with Foundation Paper Piecing (FPP for short) on Elizabeth’s blog today. I’m a sewing pattern designer with a love for all the small, fun projects you can make in an afternoon and get that creative satisfaction of “I made this today!”. You can learn more about me at my website and my Instagram @cloverandviolet.
Getting Started with Foundation Paper Piecing
Why Foundation Piecing?
I love Foundation Paper Piecing for its accurate points and the ability to create unique and tiny designs that would be more challenging to traditionally piece. I often use a small element of FPP in projects I make, but was surprised that many of my friends had never tried it and didn’t know where to start. I’ve created a fun, free Mini Needle Book pattern featuring a new FPP cover option, that I designed just for you!
Getting Started With Foundation Paper Piecing
Foundation Paper Piecing is where you sew the fabric to the paper that has a preprinted design on it. It’s a little bit mind bending at first, or at least it was for me. So, here are a few things to remember when you’re getting started:
- Use lightweight/thin printer paper, this makes tearing the paper away easier.
- Set your sewing machine stitch length to a short stitch, like 1.5, to make the perforation close together.
- Make sure you’re printing at 100% or Actual Size and check scale before beginning.
- Use scraps that are larger than the piece you are covering by at least ¼”. I like to choose larger pieces so that I’m sure it will cover regardless of angle.
- Use a dry iron, steam will cause the paper to wrinkle.
Keeping these things in mind, first you’ll print your pattern and then cut apart any segments. We’ll be using the heart from the Mini Needle Book, you’ll notice that there are A, B, C and D segments. We’re going to start with segment A.
Sewing The Fabric To The Papers
With FPP, the fabrics are placed on the back of the printed papers, and then you sew on the printed side. You’ll begin by placing your main heart piece on the back of the A piece, with the right side facing out. Then, for piece A2, position your piece right sides together with the main heart, overlapping the print by ¼”, the print is hard to see through the paper and the main fabric, but I’ve drawn a little box around it to help you see the fabric placement.
Then, sew along the line between the A1 piece and A2. I like my stitches to extend beyond the line by ¼” so they are nice and secure. I used a bold thread so you can see my stitching line.
After sewing, fold along the sewn line, and trim away any excess fabric.
Unfold the paper corner, turn the block over, and press the A2 piece away from the A1 piece, this is what your newly sewn point will look like.
You’ll repeat this process with the A3 piece. Placing the right sides together with the already sewn pieces, remember to overlap the seam line by ¼” at least.
Then, turn the pieces over and sew from the back.
Fold back the paper and trim the excess, just like with the A2 piece.
Fold back the paper corner, turn over and press the A3 piece in place.
Continue adding pieces in the same manner to make the whole A segment.
Trim The Segment to the Size of the Paper
Once you’ve sewn all the pieces to a segment, use your rotary cutter to trim the block down to the dashed outline of the segment.
Continue by sewing the second segment in the same manner.
Sewing the Segments Together
Place the two segments, still attached to the papers, right sides together. Then sew along one of the segment edge lines, sewing the segments together, papers and all.
Press the seams of the papers open. Before going on to sew the next segment, tear away any papers that would be under the seam allowance of the first segment seam. In this photo you can see I tore away a triangle near that would be sewn under the seam when adding the top and bottom segment.
I’ve left the rest of the papers intact to help guide my sewing for perfect points. Sew the top and bottom segments together in the same manner, I did not attach my segments to the papers, but used the segments as templates.
Trim and Finish the Foundation Pieced Block
After sewing the final segments, trim the block to 4 ½” square and your block is finished!
FREE MINI NEEDLE BOOK PATTERN, PERFECT FOR TRYING FOUNDATION PAPER PIECING!
If you’re ready to give Foundation Paper Piecing a try, head over to my website and sign up for the Free Mini Needle Book Pattern which includes two Foundation Paper Pieced cover options, plus a video tutorial for FPP, in case you want a little more detail to get started.
If you enjoy making small projects, learning new things, and making sewing and quilty friends, I’d love for you to join me at the Clover & Violet Sewing Club. The club only opens a couple times a year. Reserve a spot on the waitlist so you don’t miss the chance to join when it opens.
Be sure to tag me, @cloverandviolet on social media so I can see your Mini Needle Book or FPP heart! I’d love to get to know you better!
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