QuiltsByKeila

Foundation Paper Piecing: Getting Set Up

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Keila Simos

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Foundation Paper Piecing: Getting Set Up

Why my method?

Foundation Paper Piecing can be a mind bender for people new to the technique. After teaching the technique to multiple classes of middle schoolers, I decided to share the techniques and visual supports I use for them that help simplify and ease each of the layered skills that make up this type of sewing.

Tools I recommend:

(scroll down for a video explanation)

A small gray cutting mat rests on a black and white patterned ironing board. Pictured on top of it are a set of colored pencils, a number two pencil, a library card, a school glue stick, tweezers, sewing pins, sewing clips, a seam ripper, a small quilting ruler, and a rotary cutter. Behind it is a pink Oliso iron.,
FPP Tools – Must Haves
A small gray cutting mat rests on a black and white patterned ironing board. On top of it is a wooden seam roller, a Sewline glue pen, a light pink eyebrow razor, and a dark pink Add a Quarter Plus ruler.
FPP Tools – Nice to Have

Must Have Tools for My Process:

iron/pressing surface

rotary cutter, small ruler, & cutting mat (in close proximity to sewing machine)

tool for creasing paper pattern template along seam lines (library card works)

washable school glue stick (you can thread baste instead if you like)

seam ripper (mistakes are learning opportunities ;))

pencil or pen (for marking paper)

colored pencils (basic set is all you need)

sewing pins/sewing clips (for connecting pattern segments – the initial tutorial pattern, a block featuring a tablet, doesn’t have pattern segments; but future tutorials may)

Helpful Tools if You Know You’ll Love FPP:

seam roller (for use in lieu of an iron)

Sewline glue pen (or comparable brand – more precise gluing capability)

eyebrow razor (makes seam ripping connected template segments easy – the initial tutorial pattern, a block featuring a tablet, doesn’t have these; but future tutorials may)

Add a Quarter Plus ruler (I use the 6″ for everything, although I do have the larger one as well: makes creasing the paper pattern template and trimming seam allowances to 1/4″ easier)

FPP Tools Video Explanation:

Coming Soon:

  • A beginner FPP pattern download for you to practice on (sample finished block pictured)
  • Suggestion links for other beginner FPP patterns that have worked well for my students (in case you’d prefer a different block to work on)
  • An explanation of how I prep my patterns and fabrics to make FPP easier
  • Video tutorials teaching you how to foundation paper piece with confidence and ease, walking you through the process of making my pattern (easily applicable to the other patterns I will recommend)
  • A downloadable FPP Steps reference guide (pictured below)
A non branded tablet is depicted in fabric, with fabric that has multiple lines of text used for the center screen portion. Peach and gold flecked fabric frames the block.
The main steps of foundation paper piecing are referenced with headings and images portraying the steps. Included are tacking down the first piece, 1. folding the pattern paper, 2. trimming the existing fabric, 3. aligning the next fabric, 4. checking for next fabric coverage, 5. flipping up the paper and sewing a seam, 6. pressing or seam rolling, repeating the cycle, and trimming the outside edges when finished.

3 responses to “Foundation Paper Piecing: Getting Set Up”

  1. lucirandall Avatar
    lucirandall

    Nice! I’m looking forward to seeing more in this series. 😉

    (I tried to comment earlier, I don’t think it worked, so re-trying. If I duplicated… my bad.)

    Luci

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    1. Keila Simos Avatar
      Keila Simos

      I just got the one comment – you’re all good! I’m working on the next installment right now. Got delayed by my lungs ;).

      Like

      Reply
  2. Foundation Paper Piecing: Prepping your Pattern Page – QuiltsByKeila Avatar
    Foundation Paper Piecing: Prepping your Pattern Page – QuiltsByKeila

    […] it to your computer before printing (see this earlier blog post for why and paper […]

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