Paper pieced?

[Mary A.]

The reason folks are using templates to cut the pieces when paper piecing is because many are using the kits purchased from TQS and there is not enough fabric otherwise. I have tried Martin's technique and frankly find it a bit confusing at times, at least for me - especially when a piece slips and gets sewn wrong and I have to redo it. Things get all bolloxed up. Faster is not always better.

[Lorraine R.]

Thanks Annis. I just watched a video of her and her method looks really easy and her quilts look fantastic. I think I might try this and see how it works for me.

[Margo C.]

Great Lori! Please let us know how you like it!

[Annis C.]

The reason folks are using templates to cut the pieces when paper piecing is because many are using the kits purchased from TQS and there is not enough fabric otherwise. I have tried Martin's technique and frankly find it a bit confusing at times, at least for me - especially when a piece slips and gets sewn wrong and I have to redo it. Things get all bolloxed up. Faster is not always better.

I agree with faster is not always better. This suggestion was for those that have sufficient fabric. I've only used her technique a couple times and would not use it on most blocks, but feel it would work for this style of block.

[Annis C.]

I gave the quick-strip piecing a try but didn't finish the blocks because my time is limited. If you have extra fabric and don't want to use the waste triangles, cut your strips 1-1/2" at the same angle as given in the instructions (these are shown wrong side up). If you are limited on your fabric, cut the strips either 2" or 2-1/4" and the waste triangles will be large enough to use in the blocks.

I opened the template page in Photoshop, increased the canvas size to 8-1/2" x 11" and copied and pasted to get 4 to a page, then flattened the image and saved it as a PDF file. Cut them out leaving at least an extra 1/8" around the outer edge.



The hardest part is getting the first 2 strips going in the right direction. Then after that it's fairly easy. Sew as many templates as will fit on the fabric strip. Trim the seam if needed and press the strip to one side before cutting apart. That way it will be cut at the right angle.



When you trim for the next seam you will end up with waste triangles that can be used after the next color change if they are large enough. The photo on the left shows the waste triangles from 1-1/2" strips. I was able to get large enough triangles by cutting 2" strips as shown in the photo on the right.

[Margo C.]

Yet another way to accomplish it! Thanks Annis!!

[Mary A.]

Okay, this looks interesting and faster. Now if I can wrap my mind around exactly how to do this, I will give it a try. Thanks for the photos.

[JANE T.]

I am finished with month 1 and ready to start month 2. After reviewing the directions Sue gave us, won't it be tedious cutting out all of those small pieces traced on the back of the strip sets? Is there an easy method to do this that I don't see? I like the idea of pressing the seams open, since I believe they will lay flatter when sewn to the rectangle pieces. I may try paper piecing the triangles like I did month 1, but what size do I cut the strips? In the first month, they were 3". Do these need to be 2 1/2"? I could use the freezer paper method, but I don't have the 8 1/2 x 11" sheets and would have to order them on line. I also need an add an eighth ruler since this will lessen the bulk. No matter what method, we are dealing with tiny triangles! When I cut the 1" orange frond fabric for month 1, I cut too many. Is this going to cause a problem with month 2?

[Margo C.]

I am finished with month 1 and ready to start month 2. After reviewing the directions Sue gave us, won't it be tedious cutting out all of those small pieces traced on the back of the strip sets? Is there an easy method to do this that I don't see? I like the idea of pressing the seams open, since I believe they will lay flatter when sewn to the rectangle pieces. I may try paper piecing the triangles like I did month 1, but what size do I cut the strips? In the first month, they were 3". Do these need to be 2 1/2"? I could use the freezer paper method, but I don't have the 8 1/2 x 11" sheets and would have to order them on line. I also need an add an eighth ruler since this will lessen the bulk. No matter what method, we are dealing with tiny triangles! When I cut the 1" orange frond fabric for month 1, I cut too many. Is this going to cause a problem with month 2?

Janie, yes, cutting out individual shapes would be tedious, but they need to be cut out no matter which technique you use!
If you want to use paper piecing, and press your seams open, try the Freezer Paper method: learn/classrooms/
You don't have to order special freezer paper. Just use your rotary tools to cut your own sheets 8-1/2" x 11".
The Add-An-Eighth ruler would lessen the bulk.

The instructions tell us to cut the strips 2" wide for month 2. (Page 2) Cutting strips 1-3/4" wide should also work for paper piecing, but you would cut the strips on the grain, not the bias. You will also need to make your own templates for cutting the individual triangles.

I don't know what else the orange frond fabric will be used for, but we were told to save all our scraps. If you run out, the TQS Shoppe will have more fabric available to purchase.

[Susan B.]

I made my strips 1 3/4 " for month 2 because that is the height of my templates after adding 3/8" to the sewing line. With templates, I was actually pleasantly surprised on how fast the cutting of the pieces was, stacking 4 strips high, remembering that they don't have to be perfect, just close. I'm one who likes seams to the side because of ditch quilting. A scant quarter seems reasonable based on my sample in an alternate fabric. Judy Mathieson just trims her pieces with scissors. Me, too, with my 8" shears.

[Margo C.]

Thanks for sharing your strip width Susan! It looked like that would be wide enough and it will minimize waste which is a very good thing on this project!
I have edited my earlier post.

I'm not doing this month's sashings for my wall size quilt, so I hadn't actually made the strips.

[JANE T.]

Susan, I must be doing something wrong. When I added 1/4" to the sewing line for my template, it would fit on the 1 3/4" strip of fabric but was a little tight (or short) when I sewed the test piece. When I added 3/8" to the sewing line, my template was taller than the strip. Am I not triming the template correctly? Confused, or perhaps I've been working on this too long tonight!

[Margo C.]

Janie, when you are using exact sized pieces of fabric, you need to be especially careful about how you orient the fabric before you stitch.
Please re-watch the video about using the Add-A-Quarter ruler to make your templates and especially at minute 7:22 to see how to line up the fabric so that it covers the entire patch on the foundation.
learn/classrooms/

[Susan B.]

When I added 3/8" to the sewing line, my template was taller than the strip. Am I not triming the template correctly?

Janie, did you cut the point off the top of the template? Margo cut the dog-ears off all the way around, I just did it at the top. Look at Annis' pictures on January 1st of this thread (page 2 ). The shape of her blue fabric is the shape of my template, with 3/8 adding all the way around the stitching lines.

[Constance G.]

Susan, I must be doing something wrong. When I added 1/4" to the sewing line for my template, it would fit on the 1 3/4" strip of fabric but was a little tight (or short) when I sewed the test piece. When I added 3/8" to the sewing line, my template was taller than the strip. Am I not triming the template correctly? Confused, or perhaps I've been working on this too long tonight!

Janie, I found that cutting my strips 2 inches allowed for greater ease in covering the paper foundation. I guess I'm just sloppy enough in my technique that I need a little bit bigger margin for error. I cut my very first strip at 1 3/4 inches, but found it would barely get the job done for me.