Thank you to those people who posted tutorials on how to do paper piecing. I have been sitting patiently and teaching myself how to do it for the past couple of days, and now I think I finally have the idea.

I have a question though. I am still not very confident on the sewing machine, so can paper piecing be hand sewn? If so, what sort of stitch is best to use for stronger results? Even if I was slick on the machine, I must admit I find the hand sewing very relaxing and far more interesting.

I found it easier to use non stick interfacing for the "paper" - and that way it can stay attached to the piece. It seems to work ok.

Hi!

I have no experience personally of foundation or paper piecing (other that over templates) BUT at my quilt group we are doing a Dear Jane and the French ladies are all hand sewing the tiny pieces onto interfacing. I think they're just doing really tiny running stitches.

K x

what a nifty idea for hand-stitchers.

technically, you'd be doing foundation piecing, rather than paper piecing but sew what? the results will look the same. :wink:

In answer to your question yes you can hand sew it, why not, I just read that Judy Neimeyer or was it Jinny Beyer, sews all her creation this way, she takes her sewing with her where ever she goes.

Elle :D No quilt police here :D

I don't know about Miss Judy, but Jinny Beyer hand sews ALL of her work!
At least, she did ten years ago when I watched her teach mirror images on Simply Quilts ... can't remember the name of the episode ... I just remembered thinking ... NO!
I am NOT going to hand sew! LOL ... I probably remember who she was and what she was doing - - you know how it goes? Remember the people who will not help you get where you want to go.
But, I had to admire what that woman could do with a needle and thread. She is IMPRESSIVE!

I agree, her quilts are very impressive. Yes I said that to the Group I go sewing with the first time I saw one of the hand quilting a whole quilt, Oh I could never do that said I. What do they say famous last words. As I can´t master machine quilting I am now thinking of hand quilting my first quilt. However it has a ways to go before I can do that. :D

[quote=Butterflyspain]When all else fails, I think of my great grandmother - - my great grandfather was a boy during the Oklahoma land rush. She put quilts on the bed using her HANDS ... if our forebears could do it, we can do it ... one stitch at a time <g>

On paper piecing, the experts recommend to decrease the stitch length so it is easier to remove the paper. As long as the hand stitches are small enough to allow removal of the paper without distorting the piece, why not hand piece?! I think it is like everything else, once you develop a process, it'll get easier and easier.

I think I saw someone talking about using lightweight interfacing rather than paper for handsewing foundation piecing. A simple straight stitch should be very good at accomplishing what you are wanting to do. With the lightweight interfacing, you don't have to remove the foundation.

Of course you can hand sew, especially if you are using lightweight interfacing instead of paper. Just use a small running stitch or a backstitch if you think it is not secure enough. :thumbup:

Lightweight interfacing is what the French ladies at my quilt group use; and the pieces for the Dear Jane are teensy weensy. Their work is meticulous, next time we have a DJ day I'll take some pics.

K x

Teensy weensy is exactly why paper/foundation piecing is so fantastic!

I've actually traced a pp pattern onto muslin and used that. no tearing out afterward that way. hand quilting wouldn't be a tight enough stitch to tear the paper away when done though.

I am also wanting to foundation paper piece, but hand piece it. And would love to know what interfacing to buy to use? And would fusible work well?
There is a trivet in book Patchwork Please that I want to try

And would muslin work?

[QUOTE=omak;382481]My mother was born in 1917 and grew up in rural Iowa. Evenings were spent hand sewing most of the family's clothes as well as making bed quilts. My mother always could do a beautiful little running stitch and hemming stitch.


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Years ago I did paper piecing with hand stitching (with coaching), but grandmother had me cut the pieces without seam allowance (we ironed freezer paper onto cotton).