Paper Piecing by Hand

[Judy B.]

My husband just met a lady who was paper-piecing by hand. That sounds like something I'd be interested in doing. Does anyone know how it would be done?

[Mandella E.]

I'm assuming that you're referring to foundation piecing, and not English piecing over papers? If it's foundation piecing, I've seen some lovely and intricate quilts where instead of using papers the foundation is made from fabric, either something like plain calico or a non-fusible interfacing. The foundation isn't removed and becomes part of the quilt.

I will probably be proved wrong by someone, but I imagine if you use paper it would be very difficult to remove without distorting the hand stitching.

[Mandella E.]

I paper pieced many dear jane blocks.... it was the only way I could get accurate block sizes. I used velum ( went through the printer as I had the computer program.) It worked great and was easy to rip out without wrecking the blocks.

Take / SCORE a pin or seam ripper down the seam line to weaken the paper before tearing out the velum. I also made very small stitches.

Hope this helps.



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[Mandella E.]

Hi Judy, here is a link to Linda Franz's site. this is what I am using to make a grandmothers flower garden quilt. Instead of using paper or printing on fabric, I printed the hexagons to Ricky's stable stuffy and am hand piecing like English paper piecing. Adapt the technique to your own design.
http://lindafranz.com/section/inklingo/62

Cheryl

[Judy B.]

I was talking about foundation paper piecing. Would Ricky's Stable Stuff be too stiff to needle by hand if both fabrics being joined are backed with it?

[Frances L.]

Judy,
I've been foundation piecing by hand for years. I usually iron muslin to freezer paper and run it through my laser printer to print the foundations. The lines rub off but only after a lot of handling. Then I use a running stitch to sew on the fabrics. There are two quilts in my profile made this way and I have made two others that aren't quilted yet. The ones on my profile are the stained glass one and the blue and black one. I tried Ricky's Stable Stuff but when I tried to knot my thread through it, the thread popped through. If you have any other questions, let me know.
Frances

[Frances L.]

If you wanted to use paper for hand paper piecing there is now a washable paper that is on the market. If you used this you would not have to worry about ripping stitching when you removed it.
Linda in KY

[Frances L.]

Hi there

Having just watched the latest show (I can't remember her first name but the last is England) I would think that would be an ideal way to do it by hand.

Ruth

[Frances L.]

Hi Judy I paper piece by hand using Bounce tumble dryer sheets, after they have been through the dryer carefully iron them flat, and they are easy to draw on. Use as you would paper and just leave in the quilt, they are very fine and also have a nice smell. Dorothy Suffolk UK