Paper Piecing - Newbie Question
 

I am teaching myself how to paper piece and in general I get the concept and I'm doing fine. However, the center of my Monkey Wrench block has a four patch in it and I ran into a little hiccup. I managed to figure it out for my first patch but I feel there must be an easier way to do it then I was doing.

I'm starting to think I need to make the four patch via strip piecing and then center it for the paper piecing, or I need to paper piece the center as two separate units to join together for the last part...

Please let me know what way would make the most sense and be the most accurate.

Here is the block I'm working on.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]434845[/ATTACH]

Thanks,
Yael

I think your idea of making the center four-patch via strip piecing and then placing that in the center is a good one.

I'm not understanding what your hiccup is? Im doing a paper piecing project honestly I think it would cause more issues trying to center a four patch and it all come out equal because you'd have all those seams not attached to the paper. Is it your own pp pattern? Usually they are numbered and easy to follow? I love the way your block is coming along

Your pattern choice is not the best for paperpiecing. However, the idea of centering an already completed four patch is doable.

I've made a couple of quilts with blocks like that and yes, the 4-square was pieced separately prior to doing the rest paper pieced. It looks great!

Yes, whenever seams meet like that they can't be PP without joining 2 pieces of paper, and that seems to me to be more trouble than just making the 4-patch using other methods.

I have been wanting to make this pattern for one of my charity quilts. Thanks for the info. Can you tell us how large are your blocks going to be??? I have a motor skill disability so I find pp a way to ensure accuracy. Love the colors and hope to see a completed quilt posted when your finished. THANKS AGAIN !!

That is how I made my block like this. I made the 4 patch a bit oversized so I could easily center it on the block to fin.ish piecing

When completed the block will measure 8 1/2 with the seam allowance. I hadn't yet completed the last round of triangles in the picture above. So there is a four patch and then 3 rounds of triangles.

Goldenmama, thank you for the info, that's exactly what I'm going to do.

I am working on a similar pattern with the center four patch measuring 3/4". I did the strip piecing thing, lined it up and dotted it with Elmer's school glue secured with pins and let it dry. Viola! Ready to start the piecing around it and it has worked fine. The block I am working on is 3" finished so I had to devise a way to do it and I didn't figure anything else would work for me.