Paper-Piecing Tutorials: Do It Your Way

Over time, I've received many requests from people who want to learn paper-piecing, but aren't sure where to start. I've created a Paper-Piecing page on this blog that shows the basic steps I take, but I want to give credit to the amazing work others have done, and avoid reinventing the wheel!  

In addition, I urge you to find the method that looks the most normal and logical to you, since there are endless ways to achieve wonderful results.  

My preferred method involves stitching fabric directly on to paper templates, illustrated so very well by:

• Faith at Fresh Lemons including meticulous and vibrant photography

• Threads to Fabric

• This resource at Block Central 

There are also many quilters who swear by an elusive and mysterious (to me) method using freezer paper, with the idea that there is much less fabric waste, and that the template pieces are reusable, and there is no need to remove paper at the end.

• My quilting bee friend, Monica, writes about her method here.  

• At verykerryberry  and Pink Penguin, you can see a (scary to me) method of using individual template pieces, which greatly reduces fabric use. Both sites have impressive, detail-oriented techniques, and these two are super-talented original block designers, too. 

My first original paper-pieced block was based on a sketch I made on some graph paper and then photocopied. Basically, I just created a books and teacup design using straight lines and figured out the order in which the fabrics needed to be added.

• Paper Panache gives tips on designing your own blocks digitally using Illustrator based on drawings or photos. 

• Carol Doak, master of paper-piecing design, weighs in.

• Sewhooked has a wonderful collection of resources, including a video on how to design your own blocks with photoshop.

• Tons of tips to be found here!

• Verykerryberry's page on paper-piecing is quite comprehensive, too!

• Finally, here are Cool paper-piecing tips from quilters around the world!

Enjoy!