Do you need to accurately cut Foundation Piecing
#1
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Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Posts: 26
Do you need to accurately cut Foundation Piecing
Hi there,
I'm just beginning Foundation Piecing. Is it necessary to accurately cut the fabric to start with if you are going to end up sewing different shapes. Foe example, if I need a 3 1/4 x 1 1/4 piece, is it ok, let's say if I make a mistake and I cut
3 1/2 by 1 1/2, is this a big deal? Sorry for dumb questions.
I'm just beginning Foundation Piecing. Is it necessary to accurately cut the fabric to start with if you are going to end up sewing different shapes. Foe example, if I need a 3 1/4 x 1 1/4 piece, is it ok, let's say if I make a mistake and I cut
3 1/2 by 1 1/2, is this a big deal? Sorry for dumb questions.
#3
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Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Posts: 26
Dolly
#4
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Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 990
Hi there,
I'm just beginning Foundation Piecing. Is it necessary to accurately cut the fabric to start with if you are going to end up sewing different shapes. Foe example, if I need a 3 1/4 x 1 1/4 piece, is it ok, let's say if I make a mistake and I cut
3 1/2 by 1 1/2, is this a big deal?
I'm just beginning Foundation Piecing. Is it necessary to accurately cut the fabric to start with if you are going to end up sewing different shapes. Foe example, if I need a 3 1/4 x 1 1/4 piece, is it ok, let's say if I make a mistake and I cut
3 1/2 by 1 1/2, is this a big deal?
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2020
Posts: 303
I don't usually cut the piece I'm adding on, I put it in place, use a "pinch and peek" process to see if it will be big enough in all necessary directions to fit and then I sew. Trim as needed. If I'm not certain it will fit, I baste it first (it's easier to take out if it isn't ok, and it saves the foundation paper a bit too).
#6
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Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Posts: 26
Not an issue for foundation paper piecing, just a little more wasteful. You start oversized with the piece of fabric, stitch it, then cut away to a 1/4" seam allowance after stitching. As long as your pieces are at least the suggested cut size, you'll be fine, but you'll be cutting away more excess.
Dolly
#7
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Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Posts: 26
I don't usually cut the piece I'm adding on, I put it in place, use a "pinch and peek" process to see if it will be big enough in all necessary directions to fit and then I sew. Trim as needed. If I'm not certain it will fit, I baste it first (it's easier to take out if it isn't ok, and it saves the foundation paper a bit too).
Dolly
#8
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Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Southern USA
Posts: 16,426
I don't try to save fabric when paper piecing. I always cut over size. I took a Judy Niemeyer class. That was the most tedious class I ever took for paper piecing. I did it the instructor's way in the class, half the class time was cutting fabric to fit exact size paper pieces. At home I finished the project by doing the regular paper piecing method.
#9
because Carol has built her business on the technique her patterns call for regular cutting instructions. I don't know anyone else right off who does that, maybe the woman from Montana with the intricate quilts. So it doesn't matter how exact you are, only that your cuts are bigger Her class will be a great way to learn though as you'll get a good eye for what size to use in the future. It is really aggravating to stitch a piece on you thought was perfect and find it doesn't even reach the seam allowance.
have fun and show us what you are doing!
have fun and show us what you are doing!
#10
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Va.
Posts: 5,753
Also, if you do make a mistake and have to take something out which then rips the paper foundation, no worries, you can use a bit of scotch tape to put the paper back together so it can still be used. Ask me how I know LOL.
Rob
Rob