Paper Piecing Offers Accuracy

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.

There 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]

First Impressions While Flipping Through the Book

Some quilting books feel calm and minimal. Others feel like opening a box of bright fabric scraps that instantly makes you want to start sewing.

That was my first reaction when I started flipping through Scrappiness Is Happiness by Lori Holt.

This book is packed with colour, cheerful quilt blocks, and the kind of playful patchwork designs that make scrap quilting so addictive. I found myself stopping on page after page thinking, “That block would be perfect for leftover charm squares…”

It’s the sort of book that encourages you to dig straight into your scrap bins.

What This Quilting Book Is All About

As the title suggests, this book celebrates scrap quilting.

Instead of focusing on a single large quilt pattern, the book includes a large collection of quilt blocks and scrappy quilt layouts designed to use small pieces of fabric.

If you’re someone who hates throwing away fabric leftovers (which is most quilters), this book is full of inspiration for turning those scraps into beautiful quilts.

Inside the book you’ll find:

dozens of colourful quilt block patterns
• scrappy quilt layouts
• projects designed for leftover fabrics
• Lori Holt’s signature cheerful quilting style

The Quilt Blocks That Caught My Eye

While browsing the pages, several blocks immediately stood out.

There are plenty of classic quilt block shapes, but the way they’re presented with bright fabrics makes them feel fresh and modern.

The blocks are ideal for:

scrap quilts
• sampler quilts
• block-of-the-month style projects
• mixing prints and colours

I particularly loved the blocks that combine traditional shapes with playful colour placement. They’re simple enough to sew but still look visually interesting when repeated across a quilt.

The Style of the Book

If you’re familiar with Lori Holt’s work, you’ll recognise her style straight away.

The book leans heavily into:

bright cheerful fabrics
• vintage-inspired colour palettes
• classic patchwork shapes
• fun and approachable quilt designs

It’s the kind of quilting book that feels uplifting to browse. Even if you’re not ready to start a new quilt immediately, it’s inspiring just to flip through the block designs.

Who This Book Is Best For

After spending time looking through the book, I’d say it’s ideal for:

quilters who love scrap quilting
• anyone wanting to use up leftover fabric pieces
• makers who enjoy block-based quilt designs
• quilters looking for colourful, cheerful quilt inspiration

Many of the blocks are approachable enough for confident beginners, but the variety also keeps experienced quilters interested.

Would I Recommend It?

If your scrap bin is starting to overflow (which tends to happen to all of us eventually), Scrappiness Is Happiness is the kind of book that turns those leftover fabrics into opportunity.

It’s full of lively quilt block ideas and creative layouts that make scrap quilting feel exciting rather than overwhelming.

For quilters who enjoy bright fabrics, classic patchwork shapes, and the freedom of scrappy quilt design, this book is a fun and inspiring addition to the quilting bookshelf.

Have you read?