How to Make Foundation Piecing Quilting Crafts
Foundation piecing is used for quilting crafts of different types, including crazy quilting and working with stretchy fabrics or tiny quilt pieces.
There are several ways to do foundation or paper piecing, and the way we do foundation piecing is not the "standard" way. We do not use paper, and we do not work from the backside.
- Difficulty:
- Moderate
Instructions
Things You'll Need
- muslin or background fabric
- fabric for quilt pieces
- sewing machine
- needle and thread
- scissors
- pencil or quilt marker
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1
Start with the backing or foundation fabric.
Cut squares the size of the blocks you are making. Most quilt blocks are between eight and sixteen inches square. Cut the total number of squares needed for the quilt, using a muslin or similar fabric that has been washed and dried for shrinkage, and pressed if necessary.
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2
Mark the design on squares with a pencil or quilt marking pen.
Mark each piecing square with the quilting design, unless you are making a crazy quilt with the pentagon in the center that is random piecing.
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3
Cut the quilting pieces for the patchwork.
Use a rotary cutter or maybe scissors, and cut the pieces for the quilt. Be sure to leave about 1/4 inch for seam allowance all around.
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4
Work with the first quilt block.
Lay out a muslin square, and place the patchwork pieces on the marked side to see how they will look.
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5
Add the second piece
Start at the center.
Remove all pieces but the center one, and stitch that piece onto the foundation, leaving the seam allowance extended beyond the drawn lines.
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6
Add the next quilting patch.
With right sides together, place the next piece along the seam line of the piece that is already stitched into place. Stitch the seam, and flip the fabric over and finger press into place. Pin if it flops around.
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7
Complete the quilt blocks
Continue with this foundation piecing procedure.
Add additional patches along the lines drawn on the foundation, reserving any curved lines for last if possible.
If you work yourself into a corner and have a piece with no room to sew it, sew it by hand or turn the seam under and top stitch it on the sewing machine. This works particularly well with crazy quilts, since there can be embellishments added to any top-stitched areas.
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8
Make all the blocks.
Complete all the individual blocks, and trim them to size. Be sure they are square, to make the assembly easier.
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9
Design the quilt top.
Lay the blocks onto a bed or large table to get the best color placement. Remove the blocks in horizontal or vertical rows and mark the top block with a card.
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10
Complete the quilt top.
Assemble the quilt top by sewing the blocks together in rows. Foundation piecing for quilting and crafts gives body to the work and makes it easier to sew. Paper piecing is not as successful, and the paper must be removed. Remember that this is not the standard way for foundation piecing quilting crafts, but is a shortcut that we have used with success.
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1
Tips & Warnings
We often write about quilting and crafts. See more articles in Resources below.
copyright 2009 Linda Richard
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