ALWAYS place fabric piece #1 right sides up on the back side of paper pattern. Every piece thereafter is placed right sides down. Always check the new piece you put down that when you open it after stitching it is covering the section you want covered. (I have taught pp'ing, and I would say that is the #1 mistake for beginners) It is also helpful to place a pin vertically at the start of the stitch line, and one at the end. Insert the pins from the printed side of the paper, flip over and put your fabric over the pin points...that way you make sure you are covering the whole area plus the added amount for the seam allowance. When adding a piece that will be an "edge piece", make sure your fabric extends over the outside edges to allow for the 1/4" seam allowance needed to sew blocks together.
Last edited by quiltingnonie; 10-03-2012 at 06:58 PM.