Piecing
Piecing is the term used to descibe the act of assembling and stitching pieces of fabric together, by hand or machine, to make a quilt block. The piecing can be as simple as sewing squres together for a 4-Patch block or as sophistocated as a Millefiori Quilt. Quilters use a variety of piecing techniques to achieve the desired results for the quilt they are making. Paper Piecing, Strip Piecing and English Paper Piecing (EPP) are all examples of piecing techniques. Today's quilters have many Piecing Tools and techniques to ensure accuracy as well as the leeway to be Improvisational and make it up as you go.
Benefits of Piecing
- Without Piecing there are no patchwork quilts!
- Piecing effectively and effiently can be done using tools to improve accuracy starting with cutting the fabric and the seam allowance.
- Piecing a quilt top enables the quilter to use a variety of colors and patterns to make quilt blocks, settings and borders.
Tools and Supplies for Piecing
You'll need the following to any Piecing:
- Basic sewing supplies
- Sewing machine for machine piecing
- Fabric
- Additional tools based on the Piecing technique: Rotary Cutter and self-healing mat, variety of rulers and templates or Foundation Paper, to name a few.
What I Wish I knew When I Started Piecing
PIECING is just one of the foundational elements of making a quilt. Take the time to learn the tips and tricks for Patchwork to avoid frustrations later when assembling the quilt blocks.
When starting a new project, take a quick look at all the lessons TQS has for the technique you plan to use. There is generally more than one way to complete each technique - find the right one that works best for you.
