Step 1: Gather your supplies

What do you need for foundation paper piecing?

• A sewing machine with a straight stitch

• Fabric scissors/rotary cutter

• Quilting cotton

• Paper for FPP (I recommend newsprint)

• A printer

• Paper scissors

• Tape

• Pins

• Optional, but very helpful: a ruler

• Optional, but very helpful: tweezers

Step 1: Select your pattern

What is your skill level? What are your interests? Are you planning a quilt or a tote bag or a pillow or something else? I would look at the complexity of the pattern, the number of pieces and colors used, and the size of the final design.

As an example, I am going to use the minimalist bird pattern, which has 8 pieces, 4 colors, and finishes 10”x 10”s big.

Step 2: Print

Here you have a few options. You can download your pattern and print it onto computer paper and then trace it on to tracing paper or medical paper.

My preferred method is to use newsprint paper for smaller pieces, and computer paper for larger pieces and to sew directly through the paper (using a 1.5 or 1.8 stitch length).

(Step 4: Trace)

If you want to use the tracing method: Trace from your computer paper onto the medical paper. Make sure you transfer the sew lines and the 1/4” lines, as well as the name of the pieces and color codes. Match your color codes to the colors you want to use.

Step 5: Cut out all your pattern pieces

Now is your time to use your paper scissors to cut out all of your pattern pieces. If you are working on a larger pattern, these pieces might be divided into sections. I suggest only printing out and completing one section at a time. For the Plucky Stitch Patterns, the pattern will have the section name at the bottom.

Step 6: Cutting the fabric

Now you are going to start cutting your fabric. For the Plucky Stitch patterns, the color number is the number in the box, below the piece name and number. There should be a color sheet in the pattern with suggested pattern colors.

For this pattern, I am using a aquamarine for color 1, a navy blue for color 2, yellow for color 3, and white for color 4.

I start with the pieces that are only one color. I lay the pattern pieces with the numbers facing up, on top of the fabric, pin them, and cut around the shape. For a patterned fabric, the wrong side of the fabric will touch the paper. You will need to be exact during the cutting, so ensure that your fabric is ironed (starching also helps) and use a ruler if that helps you to cut a straight line.

For multiple colors:

For your pieces with more than one color, it is helpful to watch a youtube tutorial to show you different strategies. I will explain one. You want every piece to be AT LEAST 1/4 inch bigger than every side of your shape. When you are starting out, it is better to have each piece be a lot bigger than the shape on the paper.

Laying out pieces with multiple colors/sections

To keep things organized, I cut out all the fabric, and then pin it to the piece until I am ready to sew. Other people use tray or baggies or clips to organize their pieces.

When you have all the sections cut out, you are ready to sew. You are going to start with the piece labeled “1” (NOT the color, the piecing number next to the letter). So for this piece I am starting with D1.

I am going to lay the fabric right side down, and then put the paper with the design facing up, on top of the fabric.

You need to ensure that the fabric covers the D1 piece, as well as at least 1/4” seam allowance all the way around the piece. You can always cut off if there is too much, but it is really difficult if there is too little.