Tutorial - Foundation Piecing

Well next month there are three of my favourite foundation pieced blocks and so I thought a tutorial wouldn't hurt..... well that was until I tried to make one and discovered that it wasn't as easy to explain as it was to do. So I have done some surfing and hope this helps you. 
I have drawn the foundation papers for the first two videos below if you wish to try them first. 

Gourmet Quilter's Tree

Download them here. I have drawn them in two sizes. The larger size is easier.

When beginning to foundation piece cut your fabric with 1/2in seam allowance on all sides. Even when you are experienced 1/2in is useful if you are covering triangular or strange shaped areas.

Try this video by the Gourmet Quilter first as the shapes are easier as are the sizes.

This is a great video but watch it after the first video.

Connecting Threads

This tutorial is very well presented by Karen Johnson, of Connecting Threads. She teaches you the most common version of Foundation Piecing - usually known as Paper Piecing. Achieve perfect points on tiny blocks with just a few easy tips. Karen recommends the 'add a Quarter Tool' however for the miniature blocks the 'add an eighth ruler is better. Add a quarter is too big for our blocks.

One thing that I would advise you to do those is to NOT trim all of your seam allowances ahead of time. If the fabric slips before you sew it on then you may not have enough seam allowance to fully cover the section where it is needed.

Karen recommends you 
1. you drop your stitch length. She doesn't say how much to drop it but I usually recomend you only drop it by two notches. If you make the stitch length too small it makes it difficult if you make a mistake and need to unpick.
2. change your needle to a heavier or larger size, say size 10. This is to make the perforations larger and so it will make removing the paper later.
3. if you make a mistake and need to unpick a seam use Scotch Magic Tape to cover the mistaken perforated line
4. pressing or at least finger pressing each seam before adding the next seam.

Another video you may like to check out is from  Fons & Porter

New wash away EPP papers

Well while cruising through yesterday's Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks featured designers I came across what looks like an amazing product...   Hugs ‘n Kisses Appliqué paper which is a 50% soluble natural paper with glue on one side. You can print on it using a bubble jet printer, iron the paper onto your fabric, baste as per normal and whip stitch and then wash away. Helen has the papers precut in certain sizes but also explains about using the paper for printing your own templates.

Check out the post here for a good tutorial, with plenty of photos on how to use it and check out here if you want to buy any.  

Looks like a great product which I will have to try..... will let you know how I go with it... wonder if it is good enough to convert me from regular piecing to an EPP fanatic:)

Links for Applique

Well next month we have the first of very few applique blocks. If you are like myself, then applique is not a method that you enjoy. Most of the applique blocks are made using machine buttonhole, unless they are really simple blocks, like Blue Moon in Collection 34, which is made using needle-turn applique. 
I know there are many more ways of doing applique other just than machine buttonhole and so have been doing a little trawling looking for links


This looks like a good post about hand applique with detailed pictures to accompany the steps.

Misty Trees, towards the end of this video they discuss preparation for raw edge applique

The above video leads onto machine applique by same person

Freezer Paper Technique by Connecting Threads
This video teaches you how to do freezer paper applique for quilts and other projects. For this method, you will need household freezer paper, a mini iron, and matching or monofilament thread. 
It is by Vicki Bellino of Bloom Creek, exclusively for www.connectingthreads.com and discusses both hand and machine applique and thread and needle choice

For those of you who don't like to watch youtube videos here is a link to sew4home which discusses a few different types of machine applique, stitch variations plus suitable threads and the best feet etc to use.  

Sew like My Mom also takes you through the machine button hole method with step by step photos. A long and detailed post worth reading for anyone who is new to this.

As a final comment if you want fantastic applique block you could try what I did in one block.... I asked Merelyn Pearce to make it for me. Merelyn lives just down the road from me and happily made the block. It was my good luck charm, or good luck block. For those who don't know about Merelyn she has won Best of Australia five times at least and does some of the tiniest applique you could ever hope to see.... actually it is so tiny you can't see her stitches at all.