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Originally Posted by Arleners
Learn to paper piece, and your points will never be pointier!
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It seems like when people try it, it's either a love it hate it. For me, it looks like too much bother so won't be doing it.
But on the other hand I absolutely love how pp blocks turn out. You can get some amazing patterns in pp. I admire anyone who has the patience to do it. |
i have never tried paper piecing just for this reason...very intimidating....but after reading this, i may just try a simple star or another easy pattern....you have to start somewhere on the learning curve!!! gina
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I can do any thing else but not paper pieceing. I have tried and all it does is boggles my mind for some reason!Will try it again sometime soon.
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i have a lot of waste too...but I find it is easier using more fabric ....more scraps for scrappys lol
Originally Posted by Up North
Originally Posted by Naturalmama
Ok, tell me seriously - is it really worth all the effort? Or is it really necessary to get some complicated patterns?
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I paper piece about 90% of what I make and absolutely swear by it. Go to quilterscache.com and there is a paper piecing tutoral that is very good. Keep trying, you will love it. The only problem with this technique is the fact there is more wasted fabric. But the points and junctions are worth it. If I could figure out how to do it, I would post some photos of my paper piecing projects.
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I paper piece about 90% of what I make and absolutely swear by it. Go to quilterscache.com and there is a paper piecing tutoral that is very good. Keep trying, you will love it. The only problem with this technique is the fact there is more wasted fabric. But the points and junctions are worth it. If I could figure out how to do it, I would post some photos of my paper piecing projects.
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Originally Posted by Naturalmama
Ok, tell me seriously - is it really worth all the effort? Or is it really necessary to get some complicated patterns?
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Paper piecing is basically coloring on the wrong side of the paper. Instead of crayons your using fabric to fill in the spaces. Then outlining those spaces on the right side of the paper with stitches. Good luck with it. You will be very pleased with the results once you get a hang of it. You can do the most precise piecing imaginable with paper piecing.
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I love paper piecing, but I have to relearn how to do it every time I start a new quilt. I don't use the technique often, but really love the results when I do.
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I didn't think of using special paper - can you use this paper in a printer/copier?[/quote]
I have only ever used copy paper and have never had a problem with it. Just remember to reduce your stitch length so the paper is easier to pull off. |
Yes it takes more time, and is messy.. with all the papers and trimmings, and takes more fabric.... But it is soooo worth it for some of the more complicated blocks. I can achieve things I never would have attempted without paper piecing.
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Check Fons and Porter, they did paper peicing on a show not long ago.
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I honestly think that paper piecing is one of those techniques that is far more confusing when it's explained than when it's demonstrated. The best way to learn it is to sit down with some instructions and just work your way through it, one step at a time. It will become clear as you go. It's a great technique to know for doing complicated blocks where nice sharp precise little points are a must and I have found it really useful for doing pieced borders. That way, you can draw the border on a strip of paper (I use recycled unprinted newspaper rolls from our local paper) and then piece right over the paper drawing. The border comes out spot on every time that way.
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Originally Posted by Naturalmama
Originally Posted by TonnieLoree
I just go to a stationary store and pick up a ream of erasable typing paper for about $5.00. Sometimes you can find it at Walmart too.
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I bought Carol Doaks video. It is very basic but a good place to start.
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I love paper piecing. It gives such sharp corners. If you want to give it a try, I strongly suggest the "Add-a-quarter rulers". They are invaluable.
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Paper piecing to me is a lot of fun and it is so accurate. The only thing I don't like about it is pulling the papers off. But the end result is so worth it.
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What she said!
This is actually one of the better tutes out there.
Originally Posted by twistedstitcher
Here's a youtube tutorial.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uaW26igygE Some people love paper piecing, others detest it. It looks difficult but once you get the hang of it, it's not. It's definitely worth the effort on intricate blocks with a lot of tiny pieces. |
I think PP is something you either love or hate. I love PP. Not everyone PP the same. I have watched some tutes that were too complicated and had too many steps. My DF taught me and it is so easy.
Carol Doakes books are great. Keep checking out the tutes until you find one that makes sense to you. |
I love paper piecing as well. There really are some blocks that would hard to make without this technique. Yes I think they are worth it.
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If you get Carol Doak's book with the CD.....check your library.... you will know exactly what paper piecing is and how she does it. I like her way of paper piecing. The thing you have to remember is it is not a quick process, but a very exact one.
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Originally Posted by Naturalmama
I finally did a search to try and find out what paper piecing is.... and now I'm even more confused. It looks incredibly complicate - whatever the technique really is - I couldn't figure it out!
If anyone would like to, please feel free to try to explain it to me in a nutshell. :shock: |
I have been Paper piecing for quite awhile Carol Doak has a website that will tell you everything about it.She has a book and dvd out that gets you started. Check your Library .It is one of those things you need picture to go with the words.
CarolBk |
Originally Posted by Naturalmama
I finally did a search to try and find out what paper piecing is.... and now I'm even more confused. It looks incredibly complicate - whatever the technique really is - I couldn't figure it out!
If anyone would like to, please feel free to try to explain it to me in a nutshell. :shock: The first piece you put down has got to be face up! all the rest are sewed face down! Try some strip blocks first. Pin a strip diagonally from corner to corner. Right side up! Put a strip face down along that piece, like you are matching a seam. Sew a strip that fits that edge, and fold open. Now it will be face up. Sew another strip , open, another, open. until you have covered the corner. Now Turn the block around, and do the same thing to the other half. Press, and turn the block over and trim the edges sticking out, exactly to the block edges ! To get paper off easily, run a big dull needle over the stitching lines, shake loose. and/or dampen them. rub and scrape. |
Just remember one thing about paper piecing or piecing on muslin.
The first piece you lay down goes face UP. All the rest of the pieces are sewed face DOWN! and cover all the edges first. Trim them off the same size as the backing all at once. |
I agree with Martha Jo and quiltmom04, Carol Doak's video is excellent. Well worth the money.
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I have been collecting the Block a Day (free, emailed daily) from Quilt-Pro and today I tried my first one, a simple little basket - - - - - - and after sewing piece no. 2 on backwards as to sewing line, I laughed at myself, took it off and sewed it on right and the rest went together pretty well. Will try another one tomorrow - I just had a problem getting used to estimating the size "piece" I need for the next stitch out.
Think it is going to be fun! Marysewfun |
go to you tube, excellent videos, its seems complicated, but i am doing a BOM with it right now, first piece took me forever, but after that I am flying through it now, Youtube helped me a lot, as well as that add a quarter ruler. Its just a way to get accurate piecing
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Originally Posted by christinetindell
OK, English paper piecing was described earlier, you baste pieces of fabric to a shape, like the Grandmother's flower garden quilt. Then with the paper (stiff like cardstock) still inside that perfect shape, you whip stitch them together. When all are stitched together and all of the shapes are perfect, you take out the basting stitches and the paper. Foundation piecing can take a few different forms. The ones that I have done most recently are slightly different. I am making the "Roll cotton Boll Roll" Christmas mystery from Bonnie hunter and one of the blocks used an 8 1/2 inch piece of paper as the base and then we sewed "strings" of fabric to the paper right sides together, flipped them out and kept doing that until the square was filled, on the diagonal. Then I flipped it over and squared it to 8 1/2 inches and then removed the paper from the back. The reason you use the paper is for a basic shape and for stability.
I also took a class from Edyta Sitar and her foundation papers are printed with 1/4 inch seam allowance, so you sew with the pattern and the fabric on the same side. You line up your piece of fabric, that is cut exactly to size with the seam allowance line and finger press it out as you go. This works especially well for pineapple blocks. It was so fun and oh so precise. This will also work for other paper piecing, but you have a lot of figuring to do before you start sewing. Without a visual, I guess it's hard to conceptualize. Anyway, thank you for explaining this to me. |
Originally Posted by JenelTX
Originally Posted by twistedstitcher
Here's a youtube tutorial.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uaW26igygE Some people love paper piecing, others detest it. It looks difficult but once you get the hang of it, it's not. It's definitely worth the effort on intricate blocks with a lot of tiny pieces. |
I have a tutorial on my blog too. Every quilt I make is paper pieced so I REALLY love the technique!
Originally Posted by Naturalmama
I finally did a search to try and find out what paper piecing is.... and now I'm even more confused. It looks incredibly complicate - whatever the technique really is - I couldn't figure it out!
If anyone would like to, please feel free to try to explain it to me in a nutshell. :shock: |
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This is a miniature quilt that I paper pieced. It measures 18" x 23" and some of the pieces are about a 1/4". I don't think you would want to do this any other way.
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I love paper piecing The finished product comes out so beautiful. It is time consuming though but worth it
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I would go to your LQS, and ask them to demonstrate?
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I just tried it - first time. Is going to take a little practice (like anything else worth while) but each piece (made 3 squares) gets easier.
How do you estimate your fabric for your pieces? Cut squares, or the approximate shape only larger? Ideas? Thank you. Marysewfun |
Hi Marysewfun,
If I am using a lot of pieces that are the same size and shape, I use my foundation almost like a template. I stack as many pieces as I need or can rotary cut at one time, making sure they are all right side down, and place my foundation on top. I make sure they are larger than the space they need to fill, fold back the foundation on the appropriate sewing line, and use my Add-A-Quarter Ruler to add the seam allowance. If you start with a larger piece of fabric the pieces you have left over are larger and may be able to be used somewhere else in the project.
Originally Posted by Marysewfun
I just tried it - first time. Is going to take a little practice (like anything else worth while) but each piece (made 3 squares) gets easier.
How do you estimate your fabric for your pieces? Cut squares, or the approximate shape only larger? Ideas? Thank you. Marysewfun |
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