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How To Hand Piece (Tutorial on Hand Piecing, page 1)

Have a special method of piecing? Over a period of time we develop our unique ways of hand piecing. Favorite methods from personal instruction, classes, and books. Just to add to your confusion, here is my method of hand piecing.

Tip! Always make sure that all the pieces on the outside edges of the block are cut on the straight of the grain. If at all possible cut triangles so that a straight grain meets a bias edge giving less chance of stretching the piece while stitching.

Are you Norwegian? You can now read this hand piecing tutorial translated into Norwegian by Bente Wilk.

Step 1

barn door figure 1

Lay out all the pieces of your block exactly in the position you want them stitched together. Pick out the first two triangles to stitch. Hold the right sides together with your fingers.

Start by pinning the two pieces - push the pin straight through at each point of the triangle where the pencil lines meet. Do the same on the other point.

Leave the pins at right angles to the fabric so it doesn't get distorted. I like using Iris Swiss pins or fine glass head pins as they are very skinny.

Step 2

barn door figure 2

Pin in between the points, leaving approximately one to one and a half inch spaces.

All the pins should now be at right angles to the fabric.

Take another pin and line it up with the one already in the triangle tip. Angling the pin almost horizontally push it down and back up through the fabric. Because you have the first pin already steadying the fabric the second one will slide in without shifting the two pieces. Remove the pin at right angles and use this to do the same thing to the next pin. Keep on doing this until you have all the pins properly lodged. This way you will find the pencil marks will stay exactly lined up while you stitch.

Step 3

barn door figure 3

Everyone uses different needles for piecing. I use a straw/milliners needle, some people use a 'sharp' and Jean Lyle recommends using a size 10 appliqué needle.

Thread your needle of choice with either 100% cotton or cotton covered polyester (I like YLI Select hand piecing cotton thread). Use a colour that matches the darker fabric or a neutral shade such as medium gray. Do NOT make a knot at the end of the thread, this makes extra bulk and the less you have to quilt through later - the better!

Take one tiny stitch into the first pinhole. Split the tail with the needle, pull the thread through and tighten to lock in the first stitch.

How to hand piece - page 2
How to hand piece - page 3

Rose Rushbrooke
Artist, Quiltmaker,
Fractalist and Character Animator

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