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Sewing a Paper Piecing Pattern
Free Lesson
Learn to sew a simple paper piecing pattern called Square in Square. Many quilt top patterns can be sewn from paper piecing blocks. Below is a free paper piecing pattern and directions to sew while learning this paper piecing technique.
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Paper Piecing Supply List
Sewing Machine - regular sewing foot or
open toed- embroidery foot or clear appliqué foot.
Rotary mat(small), cutter and ruler
Seam ripper, scissors, sewing supplies.
Fabric- cotton scraps, Threads- to match fabric
Glue Stick
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Square in Square
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INSTRUCTIONS - Read through the instructions first before you start.
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1.Cut out one of the sample patterns you printed out, outside the dashed lines.. You will be sewing on the solid lines and when you are finished you will trim the block along the dashed lines to create a 1/4” seam allowance. Be generous when you cut out strips of fabric and larger is better while learning this technique. My fabric size suggestions are generous.
2. Cut a 2” or larger light colored square. This will be the center.
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3. For pieces # 1 – 4 use 4 fabric scraps 1 1/2” wide and at least 2” long and a different color from the center. If you look at the finished block above you can see I used a pink for pieces # 1 thru 4.
4. Pieces # 5 - 8 use a strip of fabric different from center and # 1 - 4. The fabric needs to be 2" wide and 3" long. I used a burgandy color for fabrics #5 - 8. See finished block above.
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5. On the back or plain side of the paper pattern use the glue stick to place some glue on the word "center", which you can see through the paper. Hold the paper up to the light with the printed side towards you. Position the light fabric square over the center, so that the edges are at least a 1/4” over the line of the center square on the four sides. Gently press the square against the glue making sure you press the backside of the fabric against the glue. The right side of the fabric is showing on the backside of the pattern.Take piece #1 and position the right side against the right side of the fabric square and have it at least 1/4” over the sewing line. You can check this by holding the pattern up near a light with the printed side towards you. You can see the two fabrics through the paper to help position the strip. I often hold the pattern up to a window light. Picture A shows the two fabrics ready to be sewn.
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A. First fabric layed over center
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6. If you are using cotton fabrics than you will not need to pin the two pieces. Gently slip the pattern under the pressure foot with the printed side up and the fabric not showing. Make sure the fabrics don’t move or fold back. See picture B.
Adjust the stitch length on your machine to 18-20 stitches per inch. You want a small stitch but not too tight so the fabric or paper splits after stitching. Practice on a scrap of paper with a piece of fabric to get the right stitch length.
Use threads that match the fabrics or in a middle color if you are using a range of fabrics from dark to light.
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B. Preparing to sew first fabric
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Start your stitching a few stitches before the line for piece #1. Stitch along the line holding your top thread when starting to prevent it from being pulled under. Finish stitching a few stitches beyond the line. Take out the piece and clip the threads. See C. Gently fold back piece one (iron later).
7. Line up #2 on the opposite side from the first piece. Remember to hold the pattern up to the light with the printed side towards you to align the fabric. Again make sure at least a 1/4” of fabric #2 is over the line. Also remember the center and piece #2 are right sides together. Gently put the pattern under the pressure foot and sew the second line starting and stopping a few stitches before and after the line. |
C. First fabric sewn on, threads clipped. |
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Take out the pattern and clip threads and also extra fabric under # 1 and 2 leaving 1/4” seam. Gently iron for a few seconds with the tip of the iron along the seam fold on the front of the fabric for #1 and 2. See D.
8. Sew on # 3 and 4 following the procedures for the previous pieces. You can see piece #4 sewn but the fabric not trimmed yet before pressing in picture E.
After trimming and pressing the four pieces create the sewn center square as shown in picture F.
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D. First two fabrics sewn on, trimmed and ironed back. |
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E. Piece #4 sewn but not trimmed.
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F. Center square formed after first
four pieces are sewn on.
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9. Placing fabric #5 can be a bit tricky so please refer to picture G to get an idea of how it will look from the fabric side. Make sure you have the fabric set at least 1/4 inch over line #5.
After you sew fabric #5, trim 1/4 inch. It should look like picture H.
Iron back fabric #5 and the block looks like picture I.
10. Sew on fabric #6, trim and iron back. See picture J.
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G. Piece#5 positioned for sewing.
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H. Piece #5 sewn and trimmed.
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I. Piece #5 ironed back.
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J. Piece #6 sewn, trimmed and ironed back.
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11. Sew on fabrics #7 and #8. See picture K.
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12. Trim the seams of #7 and #8, iron back. See picture L.
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13. Turn the pattern over with paper showing. Using a rotary cutter and ruler trim a 1/4" out from outside solid line. The dotted line is 1/4".
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K. Pieces #7 and #8 sewn on.
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L. Pieces #7 and #8 ironed back after trimming.
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Finished block front which includes 1/4 inch seam.
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Back of sewn pattern trimmed
to 1/4 inch.
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14. Remove all the paper. You now have a block ready to be sewn to another block. The paper stabilizes the fabrics. Instead of paper you can also trace the pattern onto muslin and leave it as a permanent base.
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How the block looks after sewn to other blocks.
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| If you would like to sew more paper piecing patterns see my Paper Piecing Masters. |
I hope you have enjoyed trying this pattern and teaching your mind a new way of sewing. |
Paper piecing offers the quilter the ability to sew accurate blocks for their quilts. |
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