Learn Foundation Paper Piecing (FPP)
I love paper piecing for so many reasons. My very first pattern, The Crooked Christmas Tree, uses the Foundation Paper Piecing (FPP) method. There are some essential tips to help improve your FPP work. We have assembled those here.
In the video below, I explain my Free Sparrow Quilt Pattern. This was one of the first patterns I launched. It was designed specifically to teach FPP. I have updated the pattern and added more illustrations to help you learn. You can download the free pattern here.
10 Tips to Improve Your FPP
TIP 1: When cutting out pattern pieces, paperclip them together by section.
TIP 2: When paper piecing, decrease stitch length to 12 to 14 stitches per inch. On most machines, that is a .9 or 1.0 length. Increase needle size to help the paper tear away more easily. A size 80/12 or 90-14 works well.
TIP 3: An “add a 1/4 ruler” has a little lip at the 1/4” that sits just next to the seam and folded back paper. It makes paper piecing more accurate and faster. The Add a Quarter “Plus” ruler has a tapered edge to fold pattern over top. An old greeting card or a piece of card stock will also work if you don’t have the “plus” ruler.
TIP 4: A 1/4” seam allowance is included on the pattern sections for Jittery Wings patterns. This may not be the case for other designers.
TIP 5: When working with larger pieces of a pattern, pin the fabric to the paper piece so it doesn’t slide around, especially if the fabric is pre-cut to a size close to the actual size of the pattern piece. Cut fabric larger, especially if new to paper piecing. A glue stick is also an option to secure the fabric to the pattern piece.
TIP 6: When sewing two sections together, pin or clip at matching seams so they don’t slide around while sewing the sections together. Match up the corners of each section by matching the paper pattern, not the fabric. Stick a pin through each set of endpoints for sections so they line up perfectly. Then clip.
TIP 7: After sewing two sections together, to relieve some bulk throughout sewing the whole pattern, remove just the ¼” seam allowance of paper. To do this, sew the two sections together. Before pressing the piece back, fold JUST the little ¼” seam allowance of paper ONLY on the side just sewn together. Remove that little strip of ¼” seam allowance paper. A small pair of jewelry pliers or tweezers works excellent to grab that little piece and tear it away. Remove the paper seam allowance from the other side, also. Be careful NOT to remove the rest of the paper until you are done with the full pattern. Use this same method after sewing blocks together. The benefit is the corners of the seam allowance don’t stack up with paper+ fabric+ paper+ fabric. This is only an option. It is perfectly appropriate to leave the paper in place and get some tweezers to remove all the paper hiding in the corner seams once the whole pattern is completed.
TIP 8: Color the paper pieces and sections to match the fabric colors chosen for the pattern. This helps ensure fabrics are placed correctly before stitching. We recommend using a marker and making a line or mark in each piece that corresponds to that color.
TIP 9: CAUTION: Some tutorials suggest wiggling, pulling out with a sort of “bang,” and/or crumpling up a sewn together pattern to help “free” the paper more easily. DON’T DO THIS! It WILL stretch the fabric out of shape and could leave bumps of stretched fabric when trying to quilt it. INSTEAD, use a fingernail, tweezers, or the point of a seam ripper to gently free a corner AND gently pull the paper away with the tweezers or jewelry pliers. Work from the center out.
TIP 10: Take the pattern section piece needed first and lay the wrong side (WS) of the pattern on the WS of the first fabric needed. Fold on the line between the two pieces needed to be sewn. Overlap the first piece of fabric a quarter inch all the way around the first pattern piece. Then lay the second fabric piece under the first piece of fabric, right sides (RS) together, so it makes a sandwich: pattern over fabric 1, then those over fabric 2. IMPORTANT: The direction in which the second piece of pattern folds back is the direction in which fabric 2 should lay. Fabric 2 should show from underneath all the way around the folded back paper pattern piece 2. It should overlap the seam allowance all the way around. (Use a lamp/light source to double check.) Leave the fabric IN PLACE and flip the paper pattern piece back out. Then, sew along the line. Angles should be right when following this method.
