Foundation Paper Piecing for Beginners
If you are brand new to FPP, here is some useful information.
Tools for foundation paper piecing
Essential
- A pattern - purchased or free
- Fabric - scraps are great!
- If you do a lot of foundation paper piecing, a home printer is worth the investment. It doesn't have to be fancy and will save you money from having to print at a copy shop. Make sure you download the print driver that matches your printer brand. Eg. If your printer is a Brother machine, then you will need to install a Brother Print driver on your computer. If you don't do so, your templates may not print to the correct size.
- Paper - The thinner the better - makes tearing easier. I just use regular copy paper as it is the most economical and most easily accessible. I often repurpose used office paper, printing on the unused side. There are specialist foundation paper available but they are a lot pricier. Newsprint paper is also good if it is easily available to you.
- Some pins or a glue stick
- Scissors, rotary cutter
- Iron
Nice to have but not essential
- Quarter Inch ruler
- Seam Roller
- Lightbox
- Tweezers (for removing tiny paper pieces after sewing)
Foundation Paper Piecing Tutorials
If you are new to foundation paper piecing, here are some You Tube Videos to start you off.
This video is a good one if you are completely new to foundation paper piecing.
Paper Piecing Made Simple -Quilt Tutorial with Angela Walters for Craftsy
This next one demonstrates more advanced foundation paper piecing. Like the tutor in the video, I don't back stitch when I start and stop each seam line - I just sew slightly past the line. Jen, in the video uses a lightbox, this is nice to have but not essential. I personally don't use one. See the next video for an alternate way to FPP.
Foundation Paper Piecing Tutorial by Shabby Fabrics
I include this last video here as the tutor demonstrates how to check if you have enough fabric to cover the piece that you are sewing. It is a different technique to the previous video.
*At the beginning of the video, the tutor mistakenly says foundation paper piecing is the same as English paper piecing which it is not.
How to foundation paper piece by Professor Pincushion
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