Thursday 27 February 2014

A, B, C... 1, 2, 3...

I know the freezer paper piecing pattern I drew looked a bit hard to follow when seen as a whole, but it is rather simple if you break it down into its components of A, B, C, etc and 1, 2, 3, etc. To keep myself from getting totally muddled I cut out just the pieces featuring the letter 'A' today.

Then using the numbers as a guide I pressed each paper piece on the appropriate piece of fabric and cut them out. I reduced the stitch size on my machine down to 1.50, and I pinned - very carefully. To match up the seams you need to push a pin through the fabric directly adjacent to one of the pencil lines you have made and then come up through the piece it matches up to right by the corresponding line. Pull the pin through the two layers of fabric until the pin head is flush. Repeat with any other marked lines, and then with those pins held securely in place pin the two pieces together as per normal. Remove the pins that were held flush with the fabric before sewing.


You only sew from paper corner to paper corner with freezer paper piecing, and you sew just to the right of the paper through the fabric. I backstitch both ends of the line of stitching for added security. Then I press my seams open.


The 'A' section of the pattern broke down into three clear parts. A1 and A2 were sewn together, then A3, A4, A5 and A6 were attached together. Last, A7, A8, A9 and A10 were joined up. The two long bits then become one, and finally the red and orange A1/A2 were attached to the bottom. I trimmed up the edges and this is the first piece of the puzzle.


For someone who pathologically hates foundation paper piecing (mostly because I am totally crap at it and hate the amount of fabric it uses) I find freezer paper piecing remarkably easy and it just makes sense to me. We all have our preferences. Mine aren't always logical.

Susan

26 comments:

  1. I love the fabrics you're using, and I admire your freezer paper piecing skills. Somehow I've never felt brave enough to try it, the pieces are usually so small I'm afraid my machine will just "eat" them.

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  2. I'm the opposite. Freezer PP is gobbledegook to me, even after the lovely very Kerry berry's FQR class. Loving your work

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  3. This looks interesting, the pattern will be revealed when the colours are all placed, I suspect. I never tried this technique before in this way, it sure gives accurate piecing!

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  4. Oh it looks great - cant wait to see the rest of it.

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  5. Way to go - because it looks brilliant ...but it's still hurting my head watching you do it ...

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  6. I've always been a bit scared of freezer paper piecing but you've made it look simple. I waste so much fabric when I foundation piece -I might give this a go!

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  7. I'm not sure what my preferences are- I can't see how the two methods are so different?? Love the block so far though, no matter which way you do it!

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  8. I've never seen freezer paper piecing before -ever. Might have to investigate that a bit more sometime. Your pieces look fabulous. Can't wait yo see the finish.

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  9. Looking fabulous so far! You're still bonkers though ;)

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  10. Looks great Mrs, another inspired project! :o)

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  11. Same as you....that FoundationPP is gobledegook to me...but your amazing tute has me re-thinking those fiddly little suckers. Great result!

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  12. Ah, well FPP doesn't use much fabric if you do it right ;o)

    Looking pretty though

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  13. Go with what works for you! Looks brill! Jxo

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  14. Just like EPP, its the cutting out the bits of fabrics that gets me. This is already looking wonderful, I hope you are already onto the B's.

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  15. It looks excellent and it will be fun to watch it grow.

    Like you I resent the waste of fabrics in FPP and have been using freezer paper when cutting templates for my fiddly vintage blocks.

    Well done you for finding a method that works for you !

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  16. I've never properly tried the freezer paper method, I'm more of a paper piecer, but it's horses for courses isn't it? Looking forward to seeing your piece finished :)

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  17. I bought 2 rolls of freezer paper years ago in the states, was never quite sure how to use it. Looks really good

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  18. Makes sense to me! I'm freezer paper piecing some octagons at the moment :)

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  19. ok, but when I do it why does the paper fall off after three seconds?

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  20. Check out the work of Cynthia England. She uses this method to make amazing "photographic" quilts. I enjoyed the little piece I tried...even with three little boys under foot it was hard to do it wrong.

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  21. Looks great! Good for you for explaining so clearly how to align the pieces before sewing! Honestly, I often use freezer paper to fussy cut my pieces but then foundation paper piece them together. Lol. I just work more accurately that way, though I imagine I'd become accurate without the fpp if I practiced more. And btw, foundation paper piecing doesn't waste fabric if you cut your pieces using freezer paper templates. Thanks for inspiring and teaching us!

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  22. This would drive me MENTAL (well, more mental than the usual mental), but clearly it's working for you. S, this is absolutely beautiful.

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  23. Oh no, now I am singing!!!!! It looks stunning and so easy but I know it would be terrible hard for me! Keep going

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  24. Yep my brain is not computing this, but I love what you're doing!!

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