When I first started learning the quilt process back in 2019 I flailed around trying all sorts of things. One of the techniques I tried was “foundation paper piecing” (FPP) aka paper piecing. I got nowhere with it and decided to stick to “patchwork” quilting (building blocks and rows and columns).
Recently I ran across (in a novel I was reading) the “New York Beauty” quilt and delved into the block. I ran searches and was blown away by the block and the quilts it could create. You can see some of them here One that particularly caught my eye was this one. One item I’ve had on list is curved piecing — this is the epitome of curves 😜
Guyon Grey - New York Beauty
I decided I wanted to make this or something very like it. So I started learning about FPP or paper piecing. I looked at many explainers, both blog pictorial and videos. Here’s a peek at my current design wall. I’ll explain. . .
At the upper top left is my first FPP project. There were only four elements to each block and I made two blocks, just to be sure I had the process down. FPP is very, very different from what I’ve been doing. FPP uses a paper pattern that I sew through to the fabric below so I’m building the block upside down. Brain freeze !! Now you see why I build two.
One of the very best video explanations (here if you want to see it) was “Waiting for Rain” — top row, two of the pattern. While I wasn’t all that enthralled by the pattern, she walked through each and every step of the process and that was invaluable. I think my current project will use a mitered border so the purple fabric draped over the railing will frame the tree and be the start of my learning mitered borders.
Third row, far let is “Tsuru” - origami crane. Another pattern that enthralled me. Perhaps I’ll make a table topper using this block.
I’ll explain the last two rows in my next post. . . .