Paper piecing
 

Hello everyone, & Happy New Year!

A friend of mine and I would like to start on an EASY paper piecing project ( as we are new to this technique) I was wondering of anyone had any ideas, patterns you could link us to or tell me where to look? We'd sure appreciate it!

Have a blessed day everyone!

My introduction to paper piecing was a class taught with the pattern Indian Summer by Judy Niemeyer. This pattern was designed for beginners. It makes a beautiful quilt, pieces are fairly large, goes together easily. http://www.quiltworx.com/patterns/indian-summer/

I love the Judy Niemeyer patterns. I don't think her instructions are the best, however. I'd recommend either taking a class, getting someone to show you, or getting a good book to explain paper piecing. Judy Doak's books are highly recommended. I highly recommend using the add-a-quarter ruler too. Have fun!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xv2gKMx9CCM This tut may help:)

visit the Carol Doak website- she is the 'queen' of paper piecing, offers free patterns, tutorials, tons of beginner projects. hints, tips & shortcuts.

The only advise I give anyone how to paper piece is to buy Carol Doaks CD. No ifs ands or buts. Just watch it. Once you learn how using her method you can paper piece anything or do other paper piecing methods with ease because you will understand it.

I've been longing to learn paper piecing for a GFG quilt for almost 4 yrs but could not understand the instructions. Just before Christmas this year I saw a book in LQS called English Paper Piecing=Fresh New Quilts from Bloom Creek.
I took a peek at it and finally understood how to do GFG. Also used a tutorial by Laurie Holt. ANyway, I'm so proud of myself. I am now paper piecing GFG blocks and so enjoying it. I can't believe it.
margaret

your library may have quilt books to look in, so try them too. i was thinking maybe crazy quilt blocks would be good to start with. you can even buy preprinted foundation patterns.

Carol Doak is the only way to go in MHO. Then Marcia Hohn has the Quilters Catche has loads of nice patterns. I paper pieced a church last year. Wasn't difficult at all! http://www.quilterscache.com/QuiltBlocksGalore.html

I did Alex Anderson's sampler from her new updated book on paper piecing. This was the sampler shown on the back cover. It is now one off my favorite quilts. It is my avatar too.

Sometimes I paper piece very simple blocks like a nine patch, flying geese, square in a square and pinwheel.
Tartan is right there are several methods many call paper piecing.
Foundation piecing is sewing strips to a background sometimes called strip piecing and is really fast and fun to do.
English paper piecing is wrapping fabric around a paper template and sewing the raw edges under.

@ Dunster: That is a great pattern and definetly a good one for a beginer and will make a gorgeous quilt.

How ablout a good old log cabin too.
peace

I started with the QuiltersCache PP instructions.
And discovered, it wasn't all that hard to do.

From there, I just learned via QB threads, youtube videos and other things I read on the web.

Before all this, I had taken a couple of PP classes ... and they were disastrous!
I was sure it was a technique I would never come to like.
Now ... I love it!

It takes a bit of time to get your own rhythm and comfort with it ... and then you're away to the races!

Good Luck!

I used the Carol Doaks CD also and it is fabulous!! You learn all the tricks to make paper piecing easier, from construction of the block, to putting the top together. You won't be sorry!!! I also use her papers to PP, I think they are the best!!!

Question - can you use anything other than the paper made specifically for foundation piecing, like freezer paper or something?

Absolutely!! I am cheap and can not see spending the $$ for special paper.

My avitar was Paper Pieced. I used cheap computer paper to print the image, pieced the blocks with a tiny stitch length (more perforations so it is easier to remove the paper). Large paper pieces were very easy to remove - sometimes I used a Purple Thing just run down the seam line on the paper side.

When I have a more intricate design with tiny pieces, it can be a bit harder. So, I moisten a Qtip, rubbing the seam line and perforations made by the stitches (done on the paper side). This softens the paper and the small pieces come right off. A nice tweezer can be useful as well.

Yes ... most of my PP patterns are printed from the computer, so I just use computer paper.

Like Eparys, I shorten my stitch length way down and the paper comes off super-easy. If anything, the pieces come off too early!!! .... painters tape makes great bandaids!

I did most of my FWS 6" blocks with PP, and lots of the pieces were teeny-tiny ... and no bits of paper stayed in.

I took the "Quick Strip Paper Piecing" class on Craftsy- it was extremely affordable, even more so when you realize it comes with like 5 (or more?) patterns!!!

I learned to paper piece and came away with some great projects (I didn't do them all though).

Oh good. Thanks for replying...I'm very interested in learning paper piecing next, but wasn't very interested in the price of that paper I saw the other day. LOL

When I do paper piecing the paper I use is the paper that the Doctors use on their exam tables ... the thin white stuff ... I asked my doctor if I could buy a roll and he actually gave me one ... it is so perfect for this.

Also Craftsy BOM 2012 The October Block is paper piecing. This was how I got my start. You can watch the video and Learn, real easy

I also am learning paper piecing with Peggy Martin's class on Craftsy- she is awesome! And for less (wait for a sale or email Craftsy and ask for a discount :-) never hurts to ask) than a one day class you have many classes and patterns forever. She uses cheap computer paper. Once I tried this I watched Carol Doak on the Quilt Show and got her DVD, a book & the 1/4 inch ruler which I love.