Prepare!
Note: See pattern pullout section for foundation
masters. They are printed reversed and are meant to be traced or photocopied.
Make 5 copies of each foundation master on a foundation paper. Cut out
each foundation along outside line. Do not leave any extra paper beyond
the printed lines. All paper gets pulled away eventually, and having
paper hidden in the seam allowance just gets in your way. Stitch on
4 sets, and use the 5th one as your color guide (refer to Color Guide
and see Piece by
Piece, Part 2 for ideas for making a color guide).
Color Guide
Shown from printed side of foundations
Don't be intimidated by the amount of information
on the foundations. It's there to make your life simple! The bold numbers
indicate the piecing order. Letters indicate which fabric is used for
that piece, and the dimensions tell you the starting strip width. A
quick way to prepare your fabrics is to cut them in strips across the
width of your fabric. Cut one strip the suggested width, and cut to
length as you go, cutting at least 3/4" longer than the finished
piece. Cut more strips as needed. If you’re trying assembly line
piecing (Piece
by Piece, Part 2), you can cut four pieces at once.
Cut!
Assorted mottles
cut from A—G & K:
... *4 strips 1 1/4" x 5" (set aside for pieced border)
cut from A—K:
... Block strips (see Prepare!)
|
Gold batik (L)
... *4 strips 1 3/4" x width of fabric (WOF)
... Block strips (see Prepare!)
Green batik
... 4 strips 4 3/4" x WOF
*Cut first |
1. Before starting, read through Piece
by Piece, Part 2, for instructions on foundation piecing. Some important
things to remember: 1. The foundations
are printed in reverse, so the printed side goes in the opposite direction
of how the fabric is stitched on the other side; 2. You must follow
the number order when sewing; 3. Use a small, sharp needle (Brenda uses
Schmetz Microtex size 11) with a short stitch (15-18 stitches per inch);
4. There is no seam allowance on the paper foundation. Allow more than
1/4" of fabric beyond the perimeter of the block and do not
trim along the paper's edge.
2. Foundation piece 4 each Blocks
I, II & III. Trim fabric blocks 1/4" from edge of paper foundation.
Do not remove the paper until the entire quilt top is pieced. Change
sewing machine stitch length back to normal piecing length (10-12 stitches
per inch). Arrange and sew 2 rows of 2 Block IIIs (see Diagram I).
Sew rows together to make pieced square. Note: Watch orientation
of blocks.
