1. The very nature of paper/foundation piecing includes the reversal of the pattern. But if you have not paper pieced before or a lot, you may not realize that the patterns are reversed. They are reversed simply because you sew the fabric to the backside of the pattern piece. This is necessary because you need to see the lines printed on the paper as you sew.

I include in my patterns a unit piece chart, which is also a mirror image of the finished project. When you lay out the pattern pieces, you should lay them out printed side up, and fabric side down according to the unit piece chart. You can sew it in any order you want. But I do also include a suggested sewing order on the temple instruction sheet. If this order is followed there should be no mistakes.

2.In most paper pieceing patterns, a seam denotes a change in color; not so in these patterns. Some of the seams in these patterns are to add architectural definition, such as a column or inset, window ledges or door frames. Please refer to the color pictures for color placement if you have any questions.

3. E.Y.O.B. - Embroider Your Own Bushes, and trees and words and clouds and anything you want to add. A designer can only add so much detail. I have tried to add flowerbeds where appropriate, but because of changing landscape and seasons, I am leaving the trees and bushes up to you, fall trees are real fun!

4. My terminology - Units are smallest, they are sewn into sections and sections are sewn into blocks. Easy enough! USB - Units, Sections, Blocks.

5. I don't use newsprint for the patterns. It falls apart too easily if you should need to pick out a seam and try again. And, who hasn't needed to do that?

6. One last thing...these are copyrighted designs. You can make a copy or two for your personal use. But please not for all your friends or ward members. Thanks J

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Beginner's Instructions

Beginners, don't worry, You can do this. I taught myself off the internet. It looks like a lot of steps, but in a couple minutes you'll be an old pro. Seriously, it only takes most people about 20 minutes to get the hang of this. Some a little more, some a little less!

Step One: Cut out all the pieces. Seam allowances have been added. Leave them on, it makes it easier. You will need to tape together any that are carried over on to two sheets.>

Step Two: Find a piece, any piece that only has a #1 and #2 on it. Find the color picture and pick out the appropriate material.

Step Three: Here we go. Cut a piece of material, slightly bigger than the #1 shape on the pattern piece. Place the wrongside of the material to the side of the paper that has no markings on it. Hold it up to the light to make sure the material covers then entire shape on the pattern piece.

Step Four: Next take a piece of material bigger than shape #2 and place it on top of piece #1. Rightsides should be together and they should extend at least 1/4" past the sewing line. Check that by holding it up to the light again.

Step Five: Now, flip it over. You should see the pattern markings, a #1, #2 and a line between the two. Sew on that line, starting alittle in front of the intersecting line and extend a little past.(Sew all the way across the seam allowance) Remember, when you sew that side of the paper with the markings will be on top and the material will be on the bottom right sides together.

Step Six: When you have finished sewing, turn that piece back over. Open up your seam and fingerpress it down. It should cover the whole pattern piece plus the seam allowance. Close it back up and make sure you trim your underneath seam allowance to 1/4" or the square will become very bulky.

Step Seven: You should be done, if your section had only a #1 and #2. But if you had a #3 you would repeat the process of adding another piece, rightsides together, extending past the seam line and flip and sew on the line boarding the #3 piece. Just keep going, a Piece at a time. J

After you have completed all the units in a section, iron them, with a real iron, no finger pressing here. Trim the edges with a ruler and rotary cutter. Now you sew them into the section. You can refer to the Unit Chart if you forgot or can't figure it out. IMPORTANT NOTE: The pattern pieces are printed out as a mirror image of the finished product, because you sew on the wrong side of that paper. On some patterns it doesn't matter, some it does.

Oh, one more thing. The funest part. When the block is all completed, you'll need to pull all the paper off the back. Your machine stitch should be set to one of the smallest setting, 18-20 stitches per inch. This perforates the paper and should make is easy to peel off the paper. Go slowly though, you wouldn't want to pull the stitches out! You also might need tweezers to get them out of the corners.

If you want more beginning instruction with a free learning project, try the paper piecing primer on this site. It is where I learned to paper piece.

http://www.winnowing.com/ppp.html

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