English Paper Piecing Dos and Don'ts
Things to Watch Out For When Making Paper Pieced Patchwork
Jun 1, 2009
Care taken when making patchwork using the English Paper Piecing Method can make or break the finished work. Here are some things to watch for.
Things you should do when English Paper Piecing
Do:
- Wash and press all fabric carefully before cutting out. It's much easier to work with smooth, unwrinkled material. It'll also save heartache if at this stage one of the fabrics is not colourfast. Most cottons shrink to some degree, and since cotton is what you are most likely to be using it's better to be safe than sorry. Shrinking can distort the work.
- Take care with needles! When sewing by hand it's very easy to lose those needles, stick them in a spare bit of fabric or in the reel of thread when not in use. Likewise be careful with pins and other sharps. Family and friends will not appreciate them if sat or stood on!
- Use good quality paper for making the paper templates. Photocopy paper is usually too soft - try 90 gsm writing paper or the graph paper available in the quilt shop.
- Sew carefully. Match the points of each and every corner and use tiny stitches for the best work. Remember, sewing will improve with practice.
- Use thread that matches the darker colour fabrics. It's less likely to show than a light coloured thread.
- Use good quality fabric and thread for your work. It's always been traditional to use scraps in patchwork – but it's better to use new fabric if you can, perhaps dressmaking scraps from cotton items and small pieces available from the quilt shop. Worn fabric won't wear well over time.
- Work in a good light. Choosing colours in daylight is better because lamplight can cause colours to appear different. And working in a good light will make it easier to sew neatly and will save eyestrain.
Things not to do when English Paper Piecing
Don't:
- Use wrinkled fabrics. Those creases may result in inaccuracy when placing on the paper template, which then causes inaccurate pieces which will distort when the templates are taken out.
- Take out the paper templates until the work is finished. They do get heavy in large pieces, but taking them out early can result in distortion.
- Use a dirty needle. If your sewing needle starts getting sticky and grimy, change it.
- Lose your needle(s)! Family and friends will not be happy if they encounter needles on the floor or in furniture cushions.
- Use your paper cutting scissors for cutting fabric and thread. Maintain three pairs of scissors, one for cutting thread, one for cutting fabric and one for cutting paper.
- Use old magazines or newspaper for making paper templates. The ink can come off on the fabric and may never wash out.
- Work in a poor light as this causes eyestrain and can make it difficult to choose suitable colours. Lamplight displays colour in a different way from natural daylight.
The copyright of the article English Paper Piecing Dos and Don'ts in Quilting is owned by Gillian Buchanan. Permission to republish English Paper Piecing Dos and Don'ts in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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