Thursday, August 2, 2012

Not Saying I'm An Expert, But....

I use this little trick when paper piecing. Really, this is not a tutorial by an expert paper piecer, just an amateur with a few pictures of how I make those angles lay out right when I open up my fabric after sewing it. I got tired of using my seam ripper TEN TIMES or more on the same seam, so I made up a way to stop that from happening. The experts out there will probably laugh at my little trick, but that's okay--it works for me.

Crease the paper pattern on the line you're going to sew and place the pattern face up on the wrong side of fabric #1. (I wasn't really sewing on this--just used it for an example.)
Fold the paper back with the crease at least 1/4" from the edge of fabric #1. 
 Place fabric #2 wrong side up, butting it up against the edge of fabric #1.
Open the pattern and ensure that it totally fits on fabric #2 with plenty of room (at least 1/4" seams all around.)
Fold the pattern back again. With an erasable or washable ink, make a small mark in the exact same spot on fabric #1 and fabric #2 (see the little blue line?)
Carefully place both pieces right sides together matching the mark. Open the pattern and sew on the paper piecing line. It opens up at the right angle every time for me--love it!

Disclaimer: As noted above I'm an amateur, not a pro, at paper piecing.
If this works for you, GREAT! Whoohoo!
If it doesn't work for you, pretend you never saw my method
of working the angles and go back to using your seam ripper over
and over and over and over again.

13 comments:

  1. Good morning, cheerleader! Great idea for PP...I understood your directions very well. Have a great day!

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  2. Actually Carol...oh good morning..what is Lesley doing up at 3:00 AM lol...as I was saying...this is a good point..I bet Jane, would benefit from this one immensely ...I don't even do this...way to go Lesley lol I meant Carol lol

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  3. I'm going to try this one on my next project!!

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  4. What a great tip! Maybe if i try this, Jack and i won't be seeing eavh other so much!

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  5. Great idea and it keeps one from coming up short once sewn.

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  6. Today, yes today, I am going to try this! Did you do this for the botton of the bowls too?
    Thank you for taking the time to photo this for us.

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  7. Great idea, you do not need to be an expert to understand that ;-) Thanks for sharing!

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  8. Okay either Lesley and Madame Samm are up too early, or they're up too late, I don't know. But I do know I don't function well between 3 am and 5 am, but have been known to post at odd hours too. lol!!
    Thanks Carol, is a GREAT tip!!!! I had seen something similar before but marking the fabric makes it BETTER, especially for those weird odd angles. woohoo for you!!

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  9. Brilliant tip! I'll use it the next time I paper piece. =) Those odd angles get me every time and my seam ripper gets a work out.

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  10. Thanks, Carol! I did lots of seam ripping on my bowls project. Now, when I do the next one, I will try this technique!

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  12. I wish I saw this tip sooner! I've finished my bowls and started the quilting after much frogging (Ripit,ripit) Thanks, I'll be sure to use it in my next project.

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