I absolutely love doing paper piecing because of the accuracy. My points always match and my material is always stable with the paper pattern. But, just because you can draw a pieced design does not necessarily mean it can be easily paper pieced.
Two of the biggest issues I see when teaching paper piecing drafting is that the images people want to paper piece can’t really be sewn with a paper piecing method, or they are so complex the beginner designer may just give up. The other concern is when you design a paper pieced block that has multiple seams coming together at one place and it creates an impossible bulk in the seams that are difficult to make it lie flat with pressing. These issues can be prevented when thinking ahead during the pattern drafting process.
Take a look at the image below. It is very intricate and would be a challenge to create as a paper pieced design.
You need to think ahead as to how you would create this design and how you would sew it. I try to think of the sewing process while I am designing. Using this image, I created a more simplistic layout to be paper pieced in EQ8. Often, when I begin to color my segments, I can see where I still need to edit my design in order to be able to piece it correctly.
The other way I create paper pieced designs is to make them so I can piece the entire design on one pattern piece. This is easier to deal with than having multiple segments of paper piecing and then joining the segments together. But, I also think about how my blocks connect with each other. I really don’t like to have multiple seams join together in one point. This makes for a very bulky intersection of seams.
Take a look at the design for a paper pieced block below. Notice how there are several seams created at the corners of the block. This block is from the EQ8 library. There would be multiple seams at the corners.
This next block is also from the EQ8 library. I prefer this block because it does not have any seams into the corners of the block. This will reduce the bulk when sewing blocks together. It is just a preference for me to not have to deal with these types of seams. Sometimes, depending on the pattern design, you may not be able to avoid the seams in the corners.
Try creating your own unique paper pieced designs with these thoughts in mind. It may just save you some headaches when you go to sew them at the machine!
05-19-2019
11:23 am
This was good information. It is what I try to remember when picking patterns for paper piecing but I have never seen anyone discuss it before.
05-21-2019
8:46 am
Susan–I love hearing little tips and techniques. I am always learning–especially from my students! Yvonne
05-19-2019
12:19 pm
love the no corners
05-21-2019
8:45 am
Tyra–Thanks for your thoughts! Yvonne
05-19-2019
12:29 pm
Very helpful! Just getting into paper piecing and I will use this advice. Would be interested in a blog post about foundation paper piecing using freezer paper. I have done one simple block (a house block) using freezer paper and it was so nice to be able to keep re-using the freezer paper and to not have to tear away the paper. But I’m not sure if it would work with more complex patterns.
05-20-2019
2:05 am
I too love to use this method for foundation piecing.
I saw Judy Mathieson demonstrate it on TV and then I had to buy her book about it.
It works so well as long as the first piece isn’t tiny and there is no picking out the paper when you are finished just reuse the freezer paper for the next block.
It does work with complex patterns as stated before as long as the first piece is not too small. I have gotten around this by sewing the first two pieces togther and then ironing them onto the freezer paper.
05-21-2019
8:37 am
Karryl–there are many different methods to accomplish paper piecing. Thanks for sharing this one. Yvonne
05-21-2019
8:45 am
Jill– There are many helpful tips on YouTube videos on how to use the freezer paper technique for paper piecing. Check those out and see if the advice isn’t helpful for you. Sometimes videos are more helpful than just written lessons. Yvonne
05-19-2019
12:46 pm
I have recently found that using a tailor’s clapper when pressing makes seams really flat. The clapper, a block of unfinished hardwood, is pressed onto a seam that has some hot steam in it. After several seconds, lift the clapper and find a flat seam or conjunction of seams, such as the center of a tumbling block block. This may make joining seams easier for paper piecing as well.
05-21-2019
8:43 am
Jessica–I use a clapper when necessary also. It is a great little tool to help bulky seams lay flat. Thanks for sharing! Yvonne
05-19-2019
12:47 pm
Excellent advice about watching those corners. Love these helpful “tidbits” of advice on getting the most out of EQ
05-21-2019
8:42 am
Katherine–I love sharing little ideas that may make a world of difference to people. Be sure to share any ideas you have also. There are so many ways to approach the subject! Yvonne
05-19-2019
3:11 pm
So happy to see someone discussing the bulk at the intersections of paper pieced designs. I little forethought can save a lot of seam ripping.
05-21-2019
8:41 am
Denise–I am glad this idea resonates with you. Thanks for your post. Yvonne
05-19-2019
8:09 pm
I love the tip of no seams in the corner. I avoid paper piecing. One of my first of someone else was such a mess that I redid it my way. Most paper piecing projects have been the same.
05-21-2019
8:40 am
Linda–Yes those corner seams are something I always try to avoid. It doesn’t work out that way all the time, but I prefer to do paper piecing without those pesky corner seams. Thanks for your thoughts! Yvonne
05-19-2019
9:53 pm
…Although…
I designed a really wild paper pieced pattern in EQ8 that I loved, but thought was way too complex to execute in real life, so I set it aside. But then I visited the National Quilt Museum in Paducah a few weeks ago and was blown away by the intricacy of George Siciliano’s miniature paper pieced quilts. Suddenly my EQ8 design doesn’t seem impossible anymore — it might be out of my reach TODAY, and it might not be a good idea for a looming deadline, but at least now I know that it is physically possible to paper piece designs that are far more intricate, with many more tiny pieces, than mine.
05-21-2019
8:39 am
Rebecca–Yes you can indeed make very intricate paper pieced designs. Most beginners like the larger, easier, piecing and progress to the intensive intricate piecing as they become more confident. Thanks for sharing your thoughts! Yvonne
05-21-2019
12:43 pm
Thanks! I’ve created several paper piecing patterns in EQ8 and have more on my list, but there’s lots to think about (as you point out).
05-21-2019
4:36 pm
These are great tips and I totally agree! I recently put a butterfly pattern together from another designer and found it was really hard to get it to flatten in the Centre because six seams all came to a point in the same place. It’s something I will now keep in mind when I design my patterns! Thanks Yvonne!
05-23-2019
2:55 am
Absolutely agree with the problem with seems in the corners as I designed several blocks.I really like the light bulb. But it is impossible to make it as you give the cutting lines – there are many “Y-seams”.
05-24-2019
10:34 am
Rumi–You are correct about watching out for those ‘Y’ seams. That is why I stated that I can double check my design when I color the elements. Often, those little corrections can be seen more easily when you place the colors. In the picture example I showed with my drawing lines, there is indeed areas that need to be corrected. I was trying to show how to simplify a design and not show the picture as an example of a perfected line drawing to paper piece. I guess I did not make that clear in what I wrote. Thanks for pointing that out. Yvonne
03-05-2020
10:06 am
Yvonne I’ve just started with EQ8. Your work is beautiful. I love this light bulb! Could you please tell me where I can download the pattern?
Thanks much!
Ginger
03-05-2020
10:41 am
Ginger–These blocks are in the EQ8 Library. At the top of the screen click on Libraries>Block Library and scroll through the block library categories to find the foundation pieced(paper pieced) blocks. The light bulb is my own creation and not in the pattern library.