Quilting

Patterns, patchworks and projects

Paper Piecing Offers Accuracy

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Quilters, have you tried your hand at paper piecing?

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‘Tulips’ pattern from MH Designs.

Paper piecing, or foundation piecing, is another tool to consider adding to your quilter’s toolbox. Paper piecing offers accuracy and seemingly intricate piecing without any fuss. And, large or small, your blocks turn out perfect every time.

The paper piecing method of quilting is ideal for creating intricate or small designs such as the ‘Tulips’ shown here by MH Designs. Elements of the overall design are stitched, piece by piece, to a foundation such as paper. Then the elements are sewn together for the final design.

Paper piecing also offers ease of mind. Due to the method of building a design based upon the foundation, you don’t have to worry about your fabric being on the straight of grain or working with complicated templates. It’s also a great way to give new life to small left overs that otherwise might be wasted.

mh996.jpgThere are plenty of designs available to get you started. I do recommend patterns from MH Designs due to their strong reputation for accuracy and wide range of designs.

Take a look at the Ornaments and consider getting a jump on your holiday quilting.

I found a tutorial to get you started at About.com: foundation piecing tutorial here.

[tags]paper piecing, foundation piecing, ornaments[/tags]

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Have you read?

In the Garden Layer Cake – A Bloom-Filled Fabric Collection for Spring Sewing

Some fabric collections feel pretty, some feel useful, and then there are those rare ones that instantly spark a dozen ideas the moment you see them. The In the Garden Layer Cake from Fat Quarter Shop falls firmly into that last category. From the moment I opened the pack, it felt like stepping into a watercolor garden—soft, romantic, full of movement, and brimming with detail that invites you to slow down and really look.

This collection brings together an elegant mix of florals, garden motifs, and soothing color palettes that feel like they were created for spring quilting. Instead of loud novelty prints, the designer chose a gentle balance of botanical sketches, scattered blossoms, tiny seed patterns, and larger feature florals that work beautifully in both traditional and modern layouts.

What struck me most is how thoughtfully the color stories are arranged. Each print blends seamlessly into the next, giving you a spectrum that includes soft rose pinks, leafy greens, lavender tones, fresh sky blues, rich corals, and delicate neutrals. It’s the kind of palette that instantly feels “quilty” in the best way—inviting, calm, and incredibly easy to mix and match. You can tell the designer planned this for maximum versatility.

Layer cakes are one of the most beginner-friendly precuts, but this collection elevates them with a sense of sophistication. The prints are strong enough to shine in simple patterns, but subtle enough to support more complex designs. Whether you prefer classic half-square triangles, framed squares, modern grid quilts, or something scrappier, this fabric adapts beautifully. It’s also a wonderful choice for table runners, spring wall hangings, and even quilted bags or home décor projects.

One of the nicest surprises with this layer cake is how it manages to feel seasonal without becoming locked into one particular holiday or theme. While the palette is undeniably perfect for spring, the prints themselves are timeless enough to work year-round. A floral quilt made from this collection would look just as lovely on a summer sunroom sofa as it would draped over a guest bed in winter.

The fabric quality is exactly what you’d expect from Fat Quarter Shop—crisp, clean cuts, vibrant printing, and a smooth hand that makes piecing feel effortless. Nothing is too thin or too stiff, and the colors are even more beautiful in person than they appear online.

If you enjoy sewing projects that feel light, fresh, and inspired by nature, In the Garden is a collection worth adding to your stash. It has all the qualities quilters look for: balance, versatility, gentle movement, and that spark of creativity that makes you want to start a project immediately. Whether you’re planning a gift quilt, treating yourself to a new spring project, or simply building your fabric library with a set of prints that will play nicely with others, this layer cake is a thoughtful and inspiring choice.