Desert Sky
 

I am having trouble understanding the instructions in this pattern and was wondering if anyone could suggest an instructional book that could help me? I have watched a heap of you tubes on foundation paper piecing but for some reason even though I understand them I just can't for the life of me apply it to the instructions in this pattern. I don't have the opportunity to attend any workshops so am on my own here and struggling to get my head around it. Any suggestions would be great. There is a plethora of books on FPP I could buy but I would prefer something more specific to Judy Neimeyers' technique.

Judy's technique is unique in that she provides templates for the units in the PP pattern that are oversized. This way you can easily line up the odd angles to the paper foundations. So you should have some pattern pieces in the pattern that are having you cut out all your units out of the fabric prior to paper piecing it all together. Then you have all your paper foundation pieces which will form all your blocks. Desert sky is made up of NY Beauty blocks so it is fairly straight forward. Can you be more specific as to what parts of the instructions are confusing you? Also have you ever done any kind of PP before? That in itself can be confusing to someone who has never done it. Once you have the basics of PP down you should be able to understand Judy's pattern.

Have you looked to see if there is possibly a Facebook group on this pattern or a Yahoo group on it ? They both have some pretty unique groups . Also does her website offer any links for help ?

Thanks for your responses feline fanatic and rvsfan.
I hadn't thought about Facebook so will have a look. Yes, I have all the templates and understand the "cutting out", I just can't seem to follow how to place them.

I have found in PP it is easier to work with batiks because the difference between right side of fabric and the back is, for the most part, indiscernable. This makes the whole "working in reverse" less problematic for beginning PP. The placement of your first piece on the paper is right side up on the wrong side (back side) of your paper pattern, this is before you have done any sewing. I have found this first placement to be easier if you have a sunny window or a light source to hold the pattern with one piece of fabric so you can see your stitching line through the fabric and you can ensure the fabric covers the entire unit on your paper pattern with seam allowances. You take your second piece and place it right side down on top of your first piece. Sometimes it is easier to pin for this first seam. Then flip the whole thing over so your fabric is on the bottom and your paper is on top and stitch on the line. Take the unit out of your sewing machine, flip it over, trim your seam allowance if necessary then press piece two out and ensure it covers your next stitching line by 1/4". If it is larger this is the step where you fold back the paper at stitching line #2 and trim to 1/4". flatten out your pattern piece again and place fabric piece 3 to line up with your freshly trimmed edge, right sides together and flip the pattern again so the fabric is next to your feed dogs and the paper is facing up. Stitch seam two and continue repeating the steps. Essentially with PP you are assembling a mirror image. Once all done, the paper is on the back of your block.

Here is a good link to make a practice block in PP with step by step directions with pictures. Maybe this will help you?

http://quilterscache.com/StartQuilti...tingthree.html

Thanks very much feline fanatic...I'll have another try this afternoon with my practice fabric perhaps focusing more on how you explained it rather than the instructions in the pattern as that is where for some reason I am having a problem.....I appreciate your help. Have a lovely day.

Oh dear, my sew line (line 4) extends past my fold line (line 5) so I can't fold it back neatly to trim my 1/4" seam allowance....what do I do....what have I missed? I do feel like a goose.:(

Just tear the paper along the stitch line so that you can fold it back. This will come up often; you can even tear an extra inch past the fold line to make removing the papers easier in the end.

Thankyou so much feline fanatic, rvsfan and Jennifer23.

Ruby2shoes, beautiful job done! How fortunate that this board is kept alive by people who are so talented and willing to help. For a few years, I made my living as an illustrator and struggled with visualizing what the front of an object looked like when all I could see was the back. I mistakenly thought that I would be a whiz at the paper piecing. Wrong! A member of the quilting group I belong to mistakenly thought that she had taught me how. Wrong, again. I do admire all of you who have waded into what I see as a quagmire, then you turn mud into beauty.

Atta girl .

Hooray! Looks like you are well on your way to creating this beautiful quilt. Can't wait to see it.

I think PP is one of the most difficult techniques to learn in a self taught format. I took a class for it. But once you learn PP, it is an invaluable tool to have in your quilt making arsenal.

You are too funny! I could see myself in every word.

There is a yahoo group run by Carol Doak. I joined and learned how to FPP fairly easily. My biggest problem with each one I have done, was making sure my piece of fabric would cover the area I wanted it to. Now I turn the pattern to the fabric side, turn orver at least 1/4” where I wanted to sew it, and see if it covers the whole area, then turn it back over, and sew it into its proper place. I have to work slow and deliberate, but this works for me. I have a terrible time working in reverse due to a brain injury, but working this way allows me to do foundation paper piecing. (As long as I do not try to make anything too small and fiddly, lol.)

Thanks everyone....appreciated.

Looks like you’ve got it Ruby2shoes...

I agree with feline fanatic, PP is a challenging technique in a self taught manner. I was fortunate to have a one on one instruction and assistance at a LQS. Once you get it down, it’s quite fun.

Can someone who has done this pattern tell me if I have to cut the spikes out to their actual outline within each rectangle box or if I can just leave them as a rectangle?

If I leave them just as rectangles then I don't have to worry about a "sew side" do I as both sides are the same and it is the piecing that makes the spike shape?

If I understand your question correctly, leave all the papers on until after you sew the blocks together. You will sew them together on the sew lines on the papers. You will not be sewing them together just two fabric blocks right sides together without paper. They will be right sides together with paper still on both. The only thing you will do before sewing blocks together is trim them on the outermost paper lines. Does that answer your question?

Sorry JustAbitCrazy, I didn't make myself very clear.
For any fabric piece you use, providing it is big enough for where it is intended to be sewn on the foundation paper, can the fabric piece be any shape? Couldn't you use odd shaped scraps of fabric that are big enough? Why do you need templates if it is the sewing on the lines on the foundation paper that makes your shape?