03/12/09
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Many of the early paper-piecing "divas" |
What is Foundation Paper-Piecing? In a nutshell, paper-piecing is a technique used to stabilize the block being pieced by using some type of foundation (fabric - usually muslin, various types of paper, interfacing, etc.). In the very, very early days (1930's), women sewed strips of fabric onto newspaper for stability and sometimes it was left in the quilt for added warmth. Later, fabric was used as the foundation, but in the early 80's paper once again became the new foundation: It was simple to use, inexpensive, easy to remove, and left the block the right weight (with no added bulk). |
Blocks that have many pieces, or a lot of points, or even gentle curves, can be constructed with a degree of accuracy that is impressive to even the most highly skilled quilter. This is also an excellent way to use up smaller scraps of fabric that you never dreamed possible to use. My first experience with foundation paper-piecing was in 2006 when I developed a quilt pattern for a Jars of Bugs quilt for my grandson, Nathan. The four (4) corners of the quilt needed something "buggy-themed", and I opted to give foundation paper-piecing a try. I used computer printer paper as the foundation to make butterflies and frogs. Trust me; if I can do it, anyone can!
Jane Hall states, "I define a foundation as anything you use to piece ON or WITH, to stabilize or make the piecing more precise. You can sew from the fabric side (string piecing, crazy piecing, just flip-and-sew) or you can sew from the foundation side (sewing on the line)." Jane originally used removable foundations because she hand-quilted her projects and did not want the added bulk to have to stitch through.
There are advantages and disadvantages to each form of foundation used. The primary advantage of using paper is that it is removable and less bulky than sewing onto a muslin-type foundation. On the other hand, this advantage is also a major disadvantage in that the paper removal is time-consuming, tedious, and just plain messy (tiny bits of paper all over the place!). The primary advantage of a fabric foundation pieced block is that it is faster because you do not have to remove anything when the block is finished. The major disadvantage is that the extra layer of fabric adds bulk to the quilt. Regardless of which you prefer, the stitching technique used is basically the same as you sew your block together.
There are many free
patterns to be found on the Internet and also an abundance of books
available for purchase. Some of the earliest quilters to jump on board the
foundation paper-piecing train were Jane Hall (who has helped provide information used in this article), Leslie-Claire Greenberg, Dixie Haywood, and
Carol Doak. Leslie-Claire Greenberg was the first one in the USA to use the method of sewing on the line from the underneath side of the foundation. Her foundations were stamped log cabins and pineapples on muslin. Not long after she began this new technique, quilt shops began selling her stamps and stamped muslin! Other important women paving the way in foundation paper-piecing include Mary Golden and Pat Cox.
Current popular books include: Piecing Workshop by Ruth B. McDowell, Mastering Precision Piecing by Sally Collins, The Experts Guide to Foundation Piecing by
Jane Hall, Painless Paper-Piecing by Marjorie Rhine, and Piece by Piece by Nancy Wong Spindler. A popular DVD is by
Carol Doak, Carol Doak Teaches You to Paper Piece. Here are a few Web
sites with valuable information and/or free patterns and projects to get
you started:
Mini Salt Lake Temple: Free
Beginner's Paper-Piecing Project, One of the most
awesome aspects of paper-piecing/foundation-piecing is that it allows
quilters to be extremely precise in their measurements, yielding
practically perfect blocks every time! This is ideal for small blocks, but
can be used for any size block you choose.
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