3 products that make foundation piecing a joy to do!

Welcome to my first post of 2021. Are we having fun yet? I certainly am!

I’m ready to make a fun project using HeatnBond StitchnSew EZ Print Quilt Block Sheets, some of the Gütermann threads shown below, and a few other great products.

This week’s featured products

With spring and summer just around the corner, there’s no time like the present to make a quilted patio table runner or topper.

This week’s project, a fresh and summery table runner.

Today, I’ll present some basic steps for foundation piecing. For additional help, please also read Robin Bogart’s post, Easy paper piecing with StitchnSew EZ Print Quilt Block Sheets.

The following fabric quantities are needed to make this project:

• ¼ yard for sky fabric
• ¼ yard of dark blue fabric
• ⅛ yard for tree trunk
• ¼ yard for tree fabrics
• ¼ yard for binding
• ⅔ yard for backing fabric

Note: This project is great for using those fabric scraps that have been accumulating for a special project. Unfortunately, I already cut all my scraps to useable squares.

To help make today’s foundation-pieced sailboats, I’ll use a product that’s new to me. When I saw HeatnBond StitchnSew EZ Print Quilt Block Sheets, I knew this would become one of my favorite tools.

StitchnSew EZ Print quilt block sheets by HEATNBOND.

The reason I love this product so much is because it’s printer-friendly. If you have an inkjet printer you can use these sheets. When I printed today’s block, I had zero issues with the StitchnSew sheets, and the printing on the quilt block sheets is crisp. Click on the following link for today’s foundation piecing PDF pattern pictured below. . Make 8 copies of it on the StitchnSew sheets.

Today’s foundation piecing project

Before I start assembling this tree block, I’d like to take a quick moment to talk threads. What kind and weight (wt) thread should you use? My preferred weight is a 50wt. Polyester thread is considered somewhat stronger than cotton. Although I do most of my piecing with 100% cotton threads, I’ll use polyester thread for piecing, quilting and foundation piecing.

I do most of my quilting using a neutral-colored thread such as either Gütermann color 1014 (Ivory) or Gütermann color 9240 (Slate). When I work with many fabrics of the same color family, my thread color will match the fabrics; I’m very much a matchy-matchy fabric and thread quilter!

When I’m feeling particularly matchy-matchy, I’ll pull out the Gütermann 26 spool boxed thread sets. Each comes with its own storage box. The first is Gütermann 26 pc 100% Cotton 100m Thread Set, the second box set is the Gütermann 26 pc Sew-All 100m 100% Polyester Thread Set.

Gütermann cotton and polyester 26-spool boxed thread sets

To construct the table runner or topper, pre-cut the fabric yardages listed above into shapes.

The fabric requirements below are the minimum sizes to pre-cut. I recommend adding an additional ¼” to ½” fabric to both the width and length of the dimensions below. Having the extra bit of fabric ensures everything fits into place with a bit of a fudge factor.

Each tree block will require the following fabric pieces:

A1 – Tree trunk – 1½” x 1¾”

A2 – Water – 1½” x 3¼”

A3 – Water – 1½” x 3¼”

A4 – Tree – 5½” x 7½”

A5 – Sky – 6″ x 5″ (Cut diagonally from corner to corner*)

A6 – Sky – 6″ x 5″ (Cut diagonally from corner to corner*)

A7 – Sky – 1¼” x 7½”

*Note: Each A5 and A6 squares will make two triangles. As only one A5 and A6 are needed per block, the remaining triangles can be used as part of another tree block. Label each piece for future reference.

Now, to start piecing.

Center the A1 fabric over the A1 spot on the quilt block sheet with the wrong side of the fabric on the non-printed side of the Stitch n Sew quilt block sheet.

Place the A1 fabric over the A1 foundation piecing spot on the quilt block sheet.

With the A1 fabric in place, place an A2 piece on top of the A1 fabric piece with right sides together as shown below.

Place an A2 fabric piece over the A1 fabric piece with edges aligned and right sides together.

With the A1 and A2 fabrics in place, sew on the A1/A2 line on the printed side of the quilt block sheet.

When the seam is sewn, and after each subsequent seam is completed, fold the StitchnSew quilt block sheet back to expose the sewn fabrics. Trim the fabrics to ¼” from the fold as shown below.

Fold the quilt block foundation sheet back and trim the fabrics to ¼”.

After trimming fabric, press. Place the A3 fabric piece, right sides together, over the other edge of the A1 fabric piece as shown below. Sew along the A1/A3 line.

Place the A3 fabric piece over the A1 fabric with right sides together.

Finally, press the A3 piece.

A1, A2 and A3 pieces pressed

I’m sure that products like HeatnBond StitchnSew EZ Print Quilt Block Sheets make foundation piecing much easier to execute because they are transparent, easy to trace over and printable, and they are smooth to tear away.

Tomorrow I’ll demonstrate how to add the remaining fabrics to the foundation pattern easily. Until then, I invite everyone to complete the bottom portion of the eight blocks needed to complete this table runner or topper. See you then.

This is part 1 of 5 in this series

Go to part 2: THE secret to making foundation paper-piecing easier!

Print this page or save as a PDF