Paper Piecing Tip

I would like to share with you a little trick that my friend Nancy taught me. She learned this trick from Connie Chun. Connie is a quilt instructor and author of the Ladies Art Company Block Tool published by C&T Publishing.

The block I am working on here is from the third set of blocks from the book Love Letters of the Civil War by Rosemary Youngs. The block is named Single Thrashing and is easily paper pieced.

Here are the fabrics that I chose for this block.

I printed the block onto 8.5 by 11 inch notebook paper from the CD that goes along with the book. The CD is a separate purchase from the book. My feeling is that it is worth the purchase price as it makes the preparation for doing the paper piecing easier and faster.

Here is the block printed on the 8.5 by 11 inch notebook paper. I used that size paper because that is what is required to go through the ink jet printer. This block has a total of for sections that are each individually paper pieced and then joined together.

Here is section A partially completed. I am getting ready to add a triangle to one end of this section.

I put the edge of my Add-Enough Ruler right on the stitching line for the next piece for the paper piecing, in this case a triangle.

I then fold the paper for the for that next piece/triangle over the the ruler and make a crease in the paper. You can also use a postcard, template plastic, or something similar if you do not have the Add-Enough ruler

The next step is to lay the Add-a-Quarter Ruler on top of the paper with the plastic lip that is on the under side of the ruler against the fold in the paper. This ruler allows you to cut an even quarter inch seam allowance as is shown in the next picture. Here you have a choice of leaving the ruler or postcard in place so the Add-a-Quarter ruler has something to rest against when cutting or removing it and allowing the ruler to rest against the paper when cutting. I have cut the seam allowance both ways without any problems.

My quarter inch seam allowance.
Next I lay my fabric for the next piece for the next section of the block right sides together with the previously sewn pieces with cut edges even and together. I then carefully turn the whole thing over and I do pin on the stitching line and I stitch the piece in place. My picture of this turned out fuzzy so it is in the fuzzy picture basket. I can then fold this piece over the paper and press.

This picture shows what section A of this block looks like when complete.

This little trick of cutting the quarter inch seam allowance works well and it makes the technique of paper piecing go along quite smoothly and efficiently.

Hope my going on about this help your paper piecing as it did mine. My thanks to Nancy for sharing this tip.

Have a great day.