It’s time to introduce you to the big
sister of English Paper Piecing –
Foundation Paper Piecing. Also
known as FPP, it’s great for using up
even the smallest of fabric scraps
and helps you create intricate
patchwork blocks and shapes.
The basic idea involves drawing a
template onto paper with
numbered sections as a guide for
the order in which you’ll add small
fabric shapes. You then add one
piece of fabric at a time, stitching
the pieces to the paper and each
other as you go. To finish, rip the
paper away and ta da! See your
finished design spring to life.New quilters often start by quilting in straight
lines, but there’s really no need to tow the
(straight) line. In fact the line can be wavy,
curved, angular or geometric – and offer
endless possibilities. Free-motion quilting is a
technique that involves you, your sewing
machine, a bit of confidence to quilt outside
the box (and sometimes stencils, too!).
The more you practise of course, the easier
it gets and the more creative your quilting will
become. This technique uses quite a bit of
thread, so speed things up and wind a few
bobbins in your chosen thread colour before
you begin. See free-motion quilting in action
here in Joanna Marsh’s Moroccan Tiles quilt
from issue 63 of Love Patchwork & Quilting.FREE-MOTION
QUILTINGNow you’ve completed our basic
block-making course you’re all set to
experiment with more complex designs.
Set your blocks at a 45-degree angle for ‘on
point’ designs, or dive in further and try
medallion patterns. There are hundreds of
blocks out there to play with, many of them
with names that will make you smile.
Dutchman’s Puzzle, anyone? One of our
favourite blocks for experienced quilters is
the Dresden Fan, which looks like (you
guessed it) a fan. Try a new block each
month and you’ll soon have an array of
amusingly named blocks up your sleeve!BUILDING BLOCKS
FOUNDATION
PAPER PIECING