My Foundation Paper Piecing Primer

Updated May 2, 2000

On the DJ List I sent some tips on learning to paper piece DJ triangles & blocks. Below is that post with some pics added.

You may want to print these instructions for reference. They are long and I've added some comments about other blocks.

Paper piecing isn't quite like Grandmother's Flower Garden. GFG is like English paper piecing - where you cover each hexagon with the fabric and then hand-stitch the two together. Paper piecing is really kind of easy, after you get a "gist" of the method. I'll try to explain.

I use tracing paper - it costs about $2.50 for 40 pages. Kind of pricey...but I like that it allows me to trace the pattern and then see the fabric when I sew. Others use blank newsprint, inexpensive copy paper, etc. I have EQ3 and plan to do a few blocks with pp and see how I like it. Oh, btw, the 40 pages do go a long way. Sometimes I can get 2 blocks on a page.

Let's start by paper piecing an easy triangle.....

 

	Okay, first I take a piece of tracing paper and lay it on my DJ pattern. I'll use the triangle on page 143 Bottom Row - 1st from left since the whole thing can be paper pieced in one section. Some patterns will need to be pp in sections and then sewn together. There are 10 strips and then the sides. I use a sharpie pen and a ruler to mark my lines - exactly like the pattern. I take my background fabric and a print fabric. I spray mine with heavy starch and iron until it's flat as can be.
	I go to my cutting table and figure out that the first piece is my print. I cut a size bigger than the bottom lopsided triangle. Leave enough for 1/4" seam allowances. The bottom is the larger part of the triangle. I flip my pattern over so that I sew from the wrong side of the paper. You'll understand why I do this after you try it. I didn't flip on this one and the finished blocks has the strips going toward the left and not right. I'm not going to redo it. I cut a piece of background fabric for the next strip - allow enough for 1/4" seam allowance on all sides. I lay the print RIGHT side up on 1st making sure I allow enough for seam allowances. Then I lay my background fabric WRONG side up making sure that I allow enough for seam allowances. Hold it up to the light to check. I carefully hold both pieces together and go to the sewing machine and stitch on the first semi-diagonal line ON THE BACK OF MY PATTERN. The paper will be on top. Make sure you use small stitches. I set my machine (Kenmore) to small stitches - 18 per inch or so. I sew from edge to edge exactly on the line. I clip my threads and go back to the cutting table. Here's the tricky part. You have to remove some of the bulk. So I place my pp on the cutting table with the fabric down and paper on top. I fold over on the line I just sewed. I take my ruler and line it up with the folded edge and cut a 1/4" seam allowance. I unfold my pattern and go to the iron and with medium heat I flip over the background fabric. Now both pieces are RIGHT side up. I take a piece of print fabric and cut it larger then the next section. I place it WRONG side up making sure that I allow enough for seam allowances. Hold it up to the light to check. I go to the machine and stitch on line #2 from edge to edge. Go to my cutting table, fold on the seam I just finished and cut my 1/4" seam allowance. I go to the iron and flip it so that it is RIGHT side up. Now I have 3 sections sewn. I continue until I finish all 10 pieces. I cut 2 strips for the border of the triangle. I do pin here since it's hard to manage that big of a piece. I carefully sew along the seam line and then trim my seam allowance and flip and iron. On the triangles I am leaving about 1/2" around so that I can trim them down later. I am leaving the paper on until I put the triangles together since the piece could be interpreted as bias and I don't want it to stretch out of shape. I would start with this triangle first. It's easy. I never did paper piecing until DJ and this built my confidence. As you learn you can try some patterns that can be paper pieced in sections and then put the sections together.
	Look for patterns that have straight line seams. I did the triangle Top Row - 2nd from left on page 127 paper pieced. Had to do the right strip section separately. I did the left strip section first and then added the center section. I then took my separate pp strip section and added it. Sewed the top small triangle and then the 2 sides. Went together nicely. Look at the triangle on the same page (127). That one can be pp too. But you'll have to do the strips with 2 piece then add the long piece. I think it can be done in 6 sections and then add the bottom piece.
	The triangle on page 128 in blue. I traced that pattern and plan to do it next.That one has 6 sections of pp and then add the bottom row. The other one on page 128 can be paper pieced. I haven't worked on that but it can be divided by straight seam sections.

Let's paper piece some DJ blocks too.....

 

	Some blocks that can be paper pieced ...to get you started. B4 - page 27. Do the center first, then add the strips to each side. Then add the 4 straight borders. Make sure when doing those 4 borders you cut extra fabric. That way you can trim to 5" unfinished.
	C1 - page 33 - can be pp in one section.
	G4 - page 67. That one I did and it turned out perfect. It's a cute block and I couldn't have done it without paper piecing.
	I did K8 - page 101 in 4 sections. It turned out great but it was too small for my 1/4" seam allowance. So I added a strip of the print fabric all around to make it 5" unfinished.
	I did K12 - page 104 all in one pp section. I did the center background strip first then I did the each of the flying geese. Then I added the 4 triangle edges. Very easy.

As you build confidence, you'll start seeing the patterns cut into sections for paper piecing.