- Muslin foundation piecing begins with a quilt block pattern. Muslin must be used for hand-pieced foundation piecing. You can hand draw patterns, trace them onto muslin from a book or a printed pattern, or iron freezer paper onto muslin and print your foundation-pieced quilt-block pattern directly onto the muslin. Each section of the block is labeled with a number, and the pieces are sewn onto the backing in the numbered order. The block is created on the back, or unprinted, side of the muslin foundation piecing pattern.
- Once you have prepared your muslin foundation-pieced pattern, you will need to cut quilt fabrics. Make templates for each section of your blocks to speed the cutting process then cut with a rotary cutter and mat. Allow a 1/4-inch seam allowance all around each pattern piece. Pin pattern piece one into place or secure with a small daub of washable fabric glue. Hold the fabric up to the light to make sure the piece is properly positioned. Lay piece number two into place, and sew along the seam between piece one and two. Press after sewing each piece. Repeat for the other pieces in numbered order.
- Foundation piecing can allow even a novice quilter to create beautiful and complex quilt patterns, incorporating curves and quilt block patterns well beyond her quilting skills. Create more-advanced foundation-pieced blocks by assembling sections of the foundation piecing before adding them to the block. This can increase the possibilities for foundation piecing. You can also work with very small scraps of fabric when creating a foundation-pieced block or design your own patterns to customize blocks to coordinate with your fabrics or quilt theme.
