seaside quilter

I'm just dying to learn to paper piece. I've given it a few tries, but I'm getting so frustrated. Can anyone tell me why my pieces are coming out backwards? It doesn't even make sense. I'm following the pattern, but the end result is backwards.
Thanks in advance.

Seaside Quilter

gingerd

Can you put it together to make the crab? Try that and see if it works.

DJ

I think you've got me stumped, too. From what I can see in your picture, it looks like it should turn out right. You're putting the wrong side of the first fabric to the back side of the paper, right? Hope you get it figured out.

Three Dog Night

I feel your frustration, I have tried several times even in a quilting class to do paper piecing and just when I think I have it figured out everything comes out backwards and I have to start over. Love the way points come out but total frustration when I have to start over. Wishing you good luck as it is a cute project.

Kitsie

I "fix" (iron freezer paper) my paper pieces to the back of the fabric and so must reverse the paper pattern- I do this on my computer. Many people use the paper pattern on the front of the fabric.
Have you looked at some tutorials on line?

Macybaby

With PP, you are actually working backwards. Your PP design has to be a mirror image of what you want to end up with. One way around it - use a light box (or window ) and trace all your lines to be the back side and then use that back side as your sewing lines. On the "front" side will be where you place your fabric face up as you stitch.

seaside quilter

Macybaby....really? Do you mean I don't actually use the lines which are printed on the pattern? This is the first I've heard that I sew using lines on the BACK. Now, I'm really at a loss.

nativetexan

watch some tutes online. really, it is backwards.

Macybaby

the lines are printed on the paper are going to be a mirror image of the final results. Normally when you buy already printed papers, that is done for you, so if you look at the printed side of the paper and the finished picture, they are mirror images.

I don't think you are taking that into account with what you are looking at. When you are looking at the sewing lines, you are seeing the Back of the completed project, not the front side. when you remove the paper, you'll see all the seams.

when you flip it over, you'll see the front side, but it will be reversed of what you saw when looking at the sewing lines.

Just like any other block, if you can see the seams (actual thread) you are looking at the back side, not the front side where the thread is hidden by the fabric.

What I meant about tracing the lines to the back, if you want your end result to be facing the way the lines show, then you need to trace then to the back so you can use them from the back side. You don't have to do that unless you need to change the orientation - IE the paper shows the crab facing left, so the front side will have it facing right. If you want it facing left, you need to do the paper so the lines show it facing right.

one more addition - it appears you are taking a pieced pattern and converting it to paper piecing - the pieced pattern is meant to be face up, but paper piecing is meant to be face down. You just have to adjust accordingly.

SuziSew

Seaside,

You sew the lines on the front, but your fabric is under the paper, so when you finish it should look the same as the picture. If you want to reverse the image then you can do as Macybaby suggested. It can be frustrating at first, but don't give up, it is a great skill to have. If you have a LQS, see if they have any classes, it makes a big difference seeing and working in person. If not take some time to look at some tutorials on YouTube. Here are a couple to get you started.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uaW26igygE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5DMxDfYlw0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S01SEN1304A