A Foundation Piecing Primer Part 4

Join Brenda Groelz in this introduction to foundation piecing (or as some call it, paper piecing). It's a great method for piecing accurate points, odd angles and tiny pieces. Part 1 (McCall's Quick Quilts, November, 2003) covered the basics, trimming tips, and Brenda's favorite tools. Part 2 (McCall's Quick Quilts, January, 2004) covered sewing assembly-style. Part 3 (McCall's Quick Quilts, March, 2004) introduced the concept of using pre-cut half-square triangles. Each article in this series will review the basics (for those just joining us) and will introduce a new topic.

In this issue, we continue to work with half-square triangles, but we've got a block that requires four foundations. Read through the following steps and tips, then try your hand at piecing Windmills, a traditional design pieced with reproduction fabrics.

A & B Make copies of paper foundation as indicated on pattern. Cut through the centers of bold solid lines to create four separate foundations. For half-blocks, cut through the centers of bold dashed diagonal lines only.

C Place #1 fabric wrong side to unprinted side of foundation, directly behind the #1 position. Place #2 fabric right side to foundation, with seam allowances jutting at least 1/4" into the #2 position. Tip: The bulk of the fabric will be placed AWAY from the area it is planned to cover. Pin in place.

D Turn foundation printed side up. Stitch on line between #1 and #2 positions, using short stitch length (15-18 stitches per inch). Start and end 2-3 stitches beyond the end of the line. Remove from machine and clip all threads. Note: From now on, all fabrics are placed right sides to the paper. Be sure to allow extra fabric beyond the edges of the paper foundation.