Holice

because we have to think "up-side down"

Farm Quilter

Personally, I think that to be successful PPing, you need to be able to "see" and "think" backwards from the way we usually see and think when we piece a quilt. Rather like cutting and sewing by only looking in a mirror!!

Shelbie

Kitsie, the link you provided is the best one that I have ever seen and I think that I've seen them all! Thanks for sharing this and thank-you to everyone else who has tried to make the mastery of paper piecing a little less intimidating. Maybe one of these days I will "get it".

JudyTheSewer

This is basically the way I do paper piecing too. I learned the technique from Judy Mathieson on Simply Quilts with Alex Anderson years ago. I never had freezer paper in my house until I started PPing.

The thing Judy M. did different though is she used the sewing machine to perforate the paper which eliminates that "crease the paper on the lines" step. To do that I just print my pattern using my printer. Then I use that printer paper as my pattern and machine "sew" along the pattern lines with a non threaded needle to pierce the paper. (I staple together 8 correctly sized freezer paper sheets under the paper pattern so that don't get any shifting.) If the waxy side of the paper is against the machine bed and is causing problems you can just add a blank piece of printer paper on the bottom to help it glide easier. Set a fairly short stitch but not so close that your paper falls apart at the perforated lines! Once it is all "sewn" release the printer paper sheet on the top from the staples by pulling it off carefully to be used again. I can use it 3 to 4 times before it needs re-printed. Next, on the stack of freezer paper, I cut out on the outside line of the block shape still leaving the staples in to prevent shifting. Finally, remove the staples and you have 8 blocks done with no need to pre-crease the paper. The perforated lines make it easy to fold as you go along. Hint: if your foot is sticking to the waxy side of the FP while doing the construction of the block, just slip a narrow strip of paper between the FP and your foot so that the foot will glide smoothly.

A few days ago I posted a quilt that I paper pieced using the Night and Day block. That has 4 PP sheets per block. So, each time I stapled and sewed I was completing two full blocks for that quilt. If you would like to see it, it is in the Pictures section.

just janet

I've tried paper piecing several times and don't like it at all. Hate the fabric and the time that I'm wasting trying to do it.
I like the idea of cutting each section individually and adding 1/4" I never thought of doing that, might try it the next time our Quilt Guild offers a paper piecing project.

Vat

No, I love paper piecing. Pre-folding the papers really helps me. There are lots of tricks of the trade.

Latrinka

Never tried it! Maybe someday!

MimiBug123

My problem when I was beginning, was that I wanted to cut the scraps like they were pattern pieces----NOT! After I figured out that, even if it wasted fabric, I'd just have to bite the bullet and waste it. Now I justify the waste with the beautiful points I make! You can do it. Just keep trying.

Therese

PP doesn't come naturally for me either. I have to work at it because my brain just doesn't think that way.

Roberta

It must be the way our minds are wired because I aways get mixed up as well so you're not alone.