foundation piecing presentation

Foundation piecing• A great way to sew complex block designs with small pieces or odd angles that would otherwise be exceedingly difficult to piece precisely!

• Paper serves as “foundation;” you just sew along the lines, piece by piece!• Paper will be removed at end of piecing process• For some methods, can use muslin and leave it in

• The order pieces are sewn in follows the same rules as regular piecing: you want to sew each seam from beginning to end.

Examples of suitable blocks

Methods

1. Classic paper piecing

2. Freezer paper method

3. Single template

Useful supplies• Add-a-quarter ruler• Mini cutting mat to keep right next to your sewing machine

• Depending on the method:• Lightweight foundation paper• Freezer paper

Step 1 for all these methods:

• Reverse your design!

Classic paper piecing

• You will sew along the lines on the paper, through both the paper and the fabric.• The paper will become perforated and will tear away later.

• The lighter weight your paper, the better.• Reduce stitch length to aid in pulling away paper.

• Copy paper: no more than 1 mm (24/inch)• Foundation paper/newsprint: 1.5mm (18-20/inch)

Classic paper piecing

• Place first piece of fabric on the back of the foundation, right side facing away from paper, and pin

Classic paper piecing

• Fold paper along line between piece 1 and piece 2

Classic paper piecing

• Place ruler along folded edge and trim seam allowance to ¼”

Classic paper piecing

• Align edges of second piece of fabric with first piece, right sides together

Classic paper piecing

• Unfold paper and sew along line, starting and stopping ~¼” past marked line

Classic paper piecing

• Unfold fabric and finger press (or use an iron, if you’re an overachiever)

Classic paper piecing

• Pull seam allowances away from paper along line between piece 2 and piece 3

Classic paper piecing

• Fold paper along line between piece 2 and piece 3, and trim.

Classic paper piecing

• Align 3rd piece of fabric

Classic paper piecing

• Sew along line between pieces 2 and 3

Classic paper piecing

• Continue sewing pieces in this manner, trimming your seam allowances with each piece.

Classic paper piecing

• Press and trim your outside seam allowances to ¼”

Classic paper piecing

• Pull away the paper.

Classic paper piecing

May need to split design into sections

Classic paper piecing

• You can use muslin for this method and leave it in. This eliminates the need to reduce stitch length.

Pros & ConsPros Cons

• Very precise• Easy to see exactly where

you are sewing• Easy to make multiple

templates (just print in bulk!)

• Can foundation piece using muslin, eliminating paper-tearing phase

• Must tear paper away; can be difficult and/or annoying especially if pieces are small

• Must reduce stitch length, so don’t make a mistake!

• Can be hard to line fabrics up right

Freezer paper method

• Same general concept as classic paper piecing, but you will use freezer paper

• Instead of sewing on the lines, you will fold the paper along the printed lines and then sew directly next to the fold.

Freezer paper method

Freezer paper method

• Trace reversed pattern onto dull side of freezer paper

Freezer paper method

• If necessary, cut pattern apart along major sections

Freezer paper method

• Use iron to adhere wrong side of first piece of fabric to first section

Freezer paper method

• Pull freezer paper away enough to fold paper along line between first and second piece. Trim to ¼”.

Freezer paper method

• Align second piece of fabric (right sides together), but leave freezer paper folded and sew as close to the fold as you can without sewing on the paper

Freezer paper method

• Unfold fabric and freezer paper, and press using your iron.

1 23 4

5

Freezer paper method

• Pull back freezer paper just enough to fold back on line between pieces 2 & 3, and trim

Freezer paper method

• Align piece 3…

Freezer paper method

• Sew…

Freezer paper method

• Press…

Freezer paper method

• etc.

Freezer paper method

• When done (pretend I’m done…), trim outside seam allowances to ¼”.

Freezer paper method

• You can avoid reversing the pattern if you trace it onto the shiny side of the freezer paper using a Sharpie

• To create multiples, trace once, then clip or staple several sheets of freezer paper together and stitch along all the lines with an unthreaded needle. This perforates the stack of paper and also allows for easier folding.

Pros & ConsPros Cons

• No sewing through paper means no reducing stitch length and no tedious tearing away of paper later

• Freezer paper patterns are reuseable

• Hard to make multiple copies

• Must constantly move between iron and sewing machine

• Must be careful not to allow fabric to come away from freezer paper, particularly at beginning if pieces are small

• Must be careful that folds you sew along are precise

Single template method• Kind of painstaking, but allows for very complex piecing, and gives you freedom in which way your seam allowances are pressed

• You can join a block broken up into sections this way

Single template method

• Number your (reversed) freezer paper template

Single template method

• Press freezer paper to wrong side of fabric

Single template method

• Cut out pieces, leaving a ¼” seam allowance on all sides

Single template method

• Place pieces 1 & 2 right side together and use a pin to make sure that the corners of the freezer paper line up.

Single template method

• If the shapes are different, you may wish to actually pin using extra-fine pins.

Single template method

• Sew along very edge of freezer paper. If you have lined everything up well, you will be sewing along the very edge of the freezer paper on the bottom piece.

Single template method

• Continue adding pieces…

Single template method

• And press seam allowances to whatever side you wish!

Single template method

• Example of this method used to join sections of a larger block

Single template

• Can be used to paper piece curved pieces and pieces with inside corners!

• See Ruth B. McDowell’s books (particularly Piecing Workshop) for detailed instructions on these techniques

Pros & ConsPros Cons

• Allows more complex shapes, including inside corners, Y-seams, and with some modification curves

• No trimming of seam allowances, all pieces are cut to correct size from start• Makes this method the

least wasteful of fabric• Useful if design is large• Can press seam allowances

in any direction

• Difficult to line pieces up really precisely

• Lots of prep work before ever sewing

• Feels tedious for projects in which fabric selection is not overly fussy

Paper piecing by hand

• English paper piecing• Similar to single template method, but done by hand

• Great for patterns that involve a lot of Y-seams or inside corners (e.g. hexagons, tumbling blocks, etc.)

Pros & Cons SummaryMethod Pros Cons

Classic paper piecing

• Very precise• Easy to see exactly where you

are sewing• Easy to make multiple

templates (just print in bulk!)• Can foundation piece using

muslin, eliminating paper-tearing phase

• Must tear paper away; can be difficult and/or annoying especially if pieces are small

• Must reduce stitch length, so don’t make a mistake!

• Can be hard to line fabrics up right

Freezer paper• No sewing through paper

means no reducing stitch length and no tedious tearing away of paper later

• Freezer paper patterns are reuseable

• Hard to make multiple copies• Must constantly move between

iron and sewing machine• Must be careful not to allow

fabric to come away from freezer paper, particularly at beginning

• Must be careful that folds you sew along are precise

Single Template

• Allows more complex shapes, including inside corners, Y-seams, and curves

• No trimming of seam allowances, all pieces are cut to correct size from start• Makes this method the least

wasteful of fabric• Useful if design is large• Can press seam allowances in

any direction

• Difficult to line pieces up really precisely

• Lots of prep work before ever sewing

• Feels tedious for projects in which fabric selection is not overly fussy

How big to cut strips?