Sunday, January 26, 2025

8 Tips for Successful Foundation Paper Piecing FPP


I just released my newest pattern Wishing Star on Friday and I have had a lot of quilters love the design but not feel like they are up to tackling a more advanced foundation paper pieced design.  I would love to share some tips and tutorials that would help them up their FPP game.


8 TIPS FOR SUCCESSFUL PAPER PIECING

1.  Start Small and Simple -
Choose patterns with larger sections, fewer pieces, and most importantly easier angles. This helps you focus on mastering the basics without becoming overwhelmed.


2.  Cut Fabric Generously - 
Always cut your fabric pieces larger than the section they will cover. This gives you room for error and reduces frustration.  Many times a pattern will give you the suggested piece cut sizes.  Be sure to only cut enough pieces to make one block or section to make sure they are not too small or large before cutting all of the fabric.


3.  Use a Short Stitch Length - 
Set your sewing machine to a stitch length of 1.5–2.0. Smaller stitches perforate the paper more, making the paper easier to remove while ensuring strong seams.


4.  Test Your Fabric Placement - 
Before sewing, hold the fabric up to the light or fold it along the seam line to ensure it covers the area with seam allowances included.  This is especially important in those trickly angled pieces.


5.  Work in Good Light - 
Adequate lighting helps you see fabric placement and alignment clearly, especially when working with light or translucent fabrics.  Holding your block to a window (or using a light box) allows you to see fabric placement through the paper.


6.  Trim as You Go - 
After sewing each section, trim the seam allowances to 1/4". This reduces bulk and keeps the block flat for easier assembly.


7.  Secure with Glue or Pins - 
Use a washable glue stick or a few pins to hold your fabric in place before sewing. This prevents slipping and ensures accurate placement.  I sometimes use a tiny dab of glue to hold my first piece of fabric and will occasionally use pins on additional pieces.  Be sure not to sew over the pins.  

8.  Keep Extra Templates Handy - 
Print or copy extra templates before you start. We all make mistakes and it’s nice to have spares without interrupting your progress.

9. (Bonus) Enjoy the Process - 
Take your time, embrace mistakes, and appreciate the precise, intricate results that FPP offers. Quilting is as much about the journey as the finished product.


FAVORITE FPP VIDEO TUTORIALS

Paper piecing can be kind of tricky to figure out in the beginning and I think that video tutorials are a great way of learning and seeing the technique in action.  There are many full in-person and online classes around FPP.  Here are two of my favorite free YouTube beginner level tutorials:


Foundation Paper Piecing Tutorial by A Quilting Life


BEGINNER LEVEL PAPER PIECING PATTERN

The pineapple block I feel is one of the best beginner blocks to start with.  There are easy angles and just one template per block (so no having to match seams while sewing the template sections together).  I offer my Kona Pineapple Block free to all of my newsletter subscribers.  

If you would like to join my newsletter, you can join right here.





MEADOW MIST DESIGNS FPP PATTERNS

I have a number of FPP patterns in my shop ranging from easier to more challenging.  I am even working on another FPP pattern right now :)

Wishing Star - brand new :)

Diamonds in the Sky

Half Circle Mirror

Paper Pieced Numbers and Pi Quilt

Spinning Stars

Taste the Rainbow

Use Your Illusion

Faceted Rings (in Modern Plus Sign Quilts book)

Kaleidoscope Plus (in Modern Plus Sign Quilts book)


QUESTIONS OR OTHER TOPICS?

Do you have any questions or topics I could cover to help you along your foundation paper piecing (or quilting in general) journey?  Please leave them as a comment or email me at cheryl@meadowmistdesigns.com.





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Friday, January 24, 2025

Wishing Star Pattern Release

Today, I'd love to introduce you to the first Meadow Mist Designs quilt pattern of the new year, Wishing Star!


✨ Introducing Wishing Star! ✨

🌟 Modern Paper-Pieced Design: A bold, star shaped throw-size quilt.

🧵 Advanced-Level: With over 1,000 fabric pieces, pieced angles, and precise matching seams, it’s designed to push your skills to new heights.

✂️ Why Paper Piecing?: I don’t paper piece often, but I love how it enables quilt designs with unique angles that you just can’t get with other techniques.

🎯 A Rewarding Project: This is not a quick make, but would be perfect for quilters that have paper piecing experience looking to elevate their skills and create something stunning.

Wishing Star is available now in both digital and print formats in my pattern shop, and as a digital download on Etsy. You can also grab a set of printed paper templates!

For a limited time, enjoy the introductory pattern price of $10.25 (digital, $11.25 print, and $16.50 templates), now through Monday, January 27th (midnight ET). Plus, you can stack savings with these exclusive coupon codes:
TWOPATTERNS: Get $2 off 2 patterns
THREEPATTERNS: Get $4 off 3 patterns

My Shop

Etsy

 





You asked, and I delivered! 😊 One of the biggest headaches of paper piecing is dealing with printing and photocopying templates. To make things easier, I’m excited to offer pre-printed paper templates so you can skip the hassle and jump straight into sewing!"



This set of paper templates contains a total of 66 pages to make the throw size of Wishing Star (a few extra of each template are included).
Note: The paper templates are on copy paper (which is my personal preference to paper piece with).

 

About the Fabrics and Quilting

I made my version using almost exclusively Bella Solids by Moda. The stars are made using eight 1/2 yard cuts on white and pink background fabrics.

Delia Dorn of Willowlark Quilt Studio did a fabulous job of quilting the quilt in an allover swirl design. I even got the Ruby Star Society wideback from her so I did not have to piece a back!






Additional Colorways

I have the exciting honor of having Wishing Star being highlighted Washi Plus fabric collection in the latest Ruby Star Society catalog (page 128).

I have such fun seeing the quilt designs in different colors and prints. I think that this is one of those quilt designs that looks in so many different colorways, I have also included some other ideas like Tula Pink and a Christmas version.







Remember...Wishing Star is available now in both digital and print formats in my pattern shop, and as a digital download on Etsy. You can also grab a set of printed paper templates!

For a limited time, enjoy the introductory pattern price of $10.25 (digital, $11.25 print, and $16.50 templates), now through Monday, January 27th (midnight ET). Plus, you can stack savings with these exclusive coupon codes:
TWOPATTERNS: Get $2 off 2 patterns
THREEPATTERNS: Get $4 off 3 patterns






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Tuesday, January 14, 2025

Marble Mystery ++ Link Up Directions

 Marble Mystery Quilt Along - Reveal Parade Linkup Instructions




I am excited to already been seeing some fabulous Marble Mystery quilt tops!  Below are the instructions on how to be entered into the reveal parade and be eligible for prizes. 

The Marble Mystery quilt linkup deadline is  Wednesday March 5, 2025 at midnight (ET).

Remember, you can always find all of the information and posts about the quilt along on the Main Marble Mystery Quilt Page.

The Reveal parade (and prizes) post will be posted on Monday, March 10th.  

On March 5th, the pdf links from the posts will be removed.  You will not be able to "purchase" (for free) the instructions in the shop after this date, but you will be able to download previously purchased instructions.

The instructions will always be available in the blog posts and a full, easily printable version of the pattern will be available in my pattern shop.



LINKUP YOUR QUILT BY Weds March 5th midnight ET

Two Ways to Link Up



1.  E-mail a picture of your quilt top / quilt to  MMDmysteryquilts@gmail.com.  I am happy to load your picture into the party.  

2.  Link up into the linky party directly using the link here.  
If you have any problems with the linkup (can't get it to work, your image is sideways, etc.), just email me the picture (option 1).

Please let me know if you are outside of the United States.  Almost all of the prizes are available for everyone around the world, only a few are US only.


FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

  • Do I need to finish my quilt (quilted and bound) to take part in the parade and be eligible for prizes? 
    • No, you can enter pictures of completed quilt tops or finished quilts.
  • I posted my quilt picture to Facebook / Instagram / my blog, am I entered into the parade? 
    • No, you must link up your picture to be eligible. I will help you if you have any problems (MMDmysteryquilts@gmail.com).
  • How are the prizes given out? 
    •  All prizes are given out randomly to quilters who participate in the reveal parade.
  • I loved the mystery quilt so much I made two (or more) versions, can I link up both of them? 
    •  Yes! You can link up all of the quilt tops and/or finished quilts you made from the Marble Mystery quilt and each quilt gets an entry into the prize drawing.
  • I changed up the design (added borders, arranged blocks differently, changed size, etc), can I still enter the reveal parade for prizes?
    • Yes!  Any and all Marble Mystery variations are eligible for prizes.





Many thanks to our generous sponsors!

 




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Thursday, January 2, 2025

Marble Mystery ++ Jan ++ Quilt Top Assembly



We made it! Welcome to the January set of instructions, the final instructions for the Marble Mystery Quilt! 

It's Quilt Reveal Time! 

I hope that you love the design! The reveal parade is not until March so there is plenty of time to get caught up or even start. 

Welcome to the January sewing instructions for the Marble Mystery Quilt, the tenth annual Meadow Mist Designs mystery quilt along!  This month we will be sewing our blocks and our quilt top.  

The Marble Mystery Quilt is a free quilt-along that will run from July 2024 through March 2025 to make a throw sized quilt (about 65 ½" x 65 ½") with a set of instructions posted the first Thursday of every month.  The quilt pattern is at an advanced beginner level containing basic piecing techniques (no applique, Y-seams, or paper piecing).

The directions and all of the other information relate dot the mystery quilt can always be found on the Marble Mystery Home Page.   


Easy to Print PDF Instructions

If you would like easy to print instructions for the November instructions, they can found as a free download through my shop:  









Block Assembly

FIRST BLOCKS

1.  Arrange the following units and pieces according to the illustration. 

4 first corner units 6 ½" x 6 ½"
4 first doublet units 4 ½" x 6 ½"
1 bg/A SiaS unit 4 ½" x 4 ½"

2. Sew together the units into rows, then sew the rows together, pressing the seams open or as indicated by the arrows, to make a first block 16 ½" x 16 ½". 

3. Repeat to make a total of 4 first blocks. 




SECOND BLOCKS

1.  Arrange the following units and pieces according to the illustration. 

4 second corner units 6 ½" x 6 ½"
4 second doublet units 4 ½" x 6 ½"
1 bg square 4 ½" x 4 ½"

2. Sew together the pieces and units into rows, then sew the rows together, pressing the seams open or as indicated by the arrows,  to make a first block 16 ½" x 16 ½". 

3. Repeat to make a total of 5 second blocks. 




Row Assembly

ROW A

1.  Arrange the following units and pieces according to the illustration. 

1 first block 16 ½" x 16 ½"
2 second blocks 16 ½" x 16 ½"
2 bg/D/bg triplet units 4 ½" x 16 ½"
4 bg rectangles 2" x 16 ½"

2. Sew together the units and pieces into a row, pressing the seams open or towards the bg rectangles, to make a row A 16 ½" x 62 ½". 

3. Repeat to make a total of 2 row A. 




ROW B

1.  Arrange the following units and pieces according to the illustration. 

2 first blocks 16 ½" x 16 ½"
1 second block 16 ½" x 16 ½"
2 bg/D/bg triplet units 4 ½" x 16 ½"
4 bg rectangles 2" x 16 ½"

2. Sew together the units and pieces into a row, pressing the seams open or towards the bg rectangles, to make 1 row B 16 ½" x 62 ½".



ROW C

1.  Arrange the following units and pieces according to the illustration. 

3 D/bg/D triplet units 4 ½" x 16 ½"
2 fabric D squares 4 ½" x 4 ½"
4 bg rectangles 2" x 4 ½"

2. Sew together the units and pieces, pressing the seams open or towards the bg rectangles, to make a row C 4 ½" x 62 ½". 

3. Repeat to make a total of 2 row C.



SASHING ROW

1.  Arrange the following pieces according to the illustration. 

4 fabric C squares 2" x 2"
3 bg rectangles 2" x 16 ½"
2 bg rectangles 2" x 4 ½"

2. Sew together the pieces, pressing the seams open or towards the bg rectangles, to make a sashing row 2" x 62 ½". 

3. Repeat to make a total of 4 sashing rows.






Quilt Assembly

QUILT TOP ASSEMBLY

1.  Arrange the following rows according to the quilt top assembly diagram:

2 row A 16 ½" x 62 ½"
1 row B 16 ½" x 62 ½"
2 row C 4 ½" x 62 ½"
4 sashing rows 2" x 62 ½"

2. Sew together the rows, pressing the seams open, to make to make the quilt top, which will measure about 62 ½" x 62 ½" (before borders are added).  





BORDERS

1. Sew together 2 bg strips 2" x WOF and trim to the height of the quilt top, about 62 ½", to make a side border 2" x 62 ½".  Repeat to make a second side border.

2. Sew borders onto the sides of the quilt, pressing seams open or towards the borders.  

3. Sew together 2 bg strips 2" x WOF and trim to the width of the quilt top, about 65 ½", to make a top/bottom border 2" x 65 ½".  Repeat to make a second top/bottom border.

4. Sew borders onto the top and bottom of the quilt, pressing seams open or towards the borders.  
The quilt top should measure 65 ½" x 65 ½". 


Finishing




1.  Make backing: Remove selvages from backing fabric, cut into 2 pieces approx. 74" x WOF and sew backing pieces together along the trimmed selvage edges using a   ½" seam, pressing the seam open.  Trim backing to approx. 74" x 74".

2.  Layer the quilt top, batting, and backing.   Baste and quilt as desired.

3.  Cut the binding fabric into 7 strips 2 ½" x WOF.  Trim off selvages and sew together end-to-end to make the binding.  Bind and enjoy your quilt!

Share Your Quilt
You can share your in-progress and finished pictures of your mystery quilt on the Meadow Mist Designs Facebook group: www.facebook.com/groups/MeadowMistDesigns/ and on Instagram and other social media using #MaltedMysteryQuilt and #MeadowMistDesigns.

The instructions to link up your quilt top / finished quilts for the reveal parade will be posted next week.

 




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