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Quote:

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:

Try this: No Tears Paper Piecing. This is the ONLY way I do my pp and I paper piece everything I can ( and a bit more!)

http://classicquilter.typepad.com/cl...r-piecing.html

Thanks - bookmarked that one too!

I pp 56 New York Beauty blocks for my quilt. It was the only way to do all those points.

Glad to see you have gotten some good advice and videos to watch. I was intimidated too, but after I got the hang of it, I love, love, love the accuracy of itty-bitty pieces and points. Do I use it all the time? Of course not! I would advise any quilter to learn how to paper piece. It is just one more great option for making wonderful things.

I learned most of the technique from youtube and i also got Carol Doaks book for paper piecing it is really fun and the seams come out beautiful.

Quote:

Originally Posted by twistedstitcher

Quote:

Originally Posted by Naturalmama

Thank you Twisted! I just watched it - it makes a TON more sense now! Amazing technique.

So are there certain patterns that typically "require" it? Would you use it say, for a pinwheel, or just for more complicated patterns?

I wouldn't use it for something as simple as a pinwheel. Carol Doak has some great paper pieced patterns, here's a link to some free patterns on her website. http://www.caroldoak.com/free-quilt-patterns.php

It would be difficult, if not impossible, to create those blocks using traditional piecing.

I learned to paper piece using Carol Doak's technique. It has worked great for me. I enjoy paper piecing!

had trouble the 1st couple of times I tried it but once the light bulb clicked on, paper piecing became so enjoyable. try again now that you've watched a video or 2 - you'll come to enjoy it too.

Quote:

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?

Yes it is, it is amazing what blocks you can come up with - try taking out a book of paper piecing from your local library

It’s been 5 years since I did PP but I enjoyed it. It was a PP pineapple. It is not as complicated as it appears. I cut the pieces more than ¼” larger. I used an index card (the lines are ¼”) to trim the excess fabric because I didn’t know about the add ¼” ruler (great tool for PP!) I trimmed after sewing because that’s what the instructions I used said to do. I pieced the blocks together 1st and then removed the paper. I finished the entire top before removing the paper to keep the fabric from stretching. I learned here that many quilters remove the paper first. It makes blocks more accurate when piecing them together. The quilt was a queen size and that is a lot of paper to remove at one time.

I used a pre-drawn pattern but would use thin copier paper. There is super thin paper at Staples. I’ve never seen it with the reams of paper they sell but had color copies made and was shocked at how thin the paper was. This would be good paper for PP.

You can get some beautiful PP patterns for free on-line here is a link to one: http://www.yvonnes.dk/patterns.htm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pieceful Quilter

I agree with Pieceful Quilter. Not something at least for me, to use all the time, but certainly has it's time and place. I looked at various tutorials online as well but the only way it made sense for me was to take a class. I'm currently planning another pp project. I don't bother with the add a quarter ruler. I have an 8 in. x 4 in. ruler that I just place 1/4 in past the line and trim with. No need for one more tool that has a very specific purpose. The biggest thing in my mind is pressing after every seam. I set up a small table to the side of my sm and have a small cutting mat as well as ironing surface so I'm not hopping up every 2 minutes. Works for me. Good luck.