1. a copy of the "star squares" quilt block i want to make and a copy of the template for each quadrant of the "star squares" block (both courtesy of quilter's cache)...(just so you know what i'm making)...and my fabric choices...
2. you can get freezer paper at your grocery store...it's in the same aisle as the aluminum foil, etc., and it's inexpensive...my roll was about $3.00 for 75 feet!...cut your freezer paper to the same size as your printer paper - 8 1/2" x 11"...you can then print your templates directly onto the freezer paper...no pesky tracing or holding papers up to a "light source," blah, blah, blah!...you'll want to print your template onto the dull side of the freezer paper...not the plastic-coated "shiny" side...with my printer, this means loading the freezer paper into my printer with the "shiny" side up...
3. template printed onto dull side of freezer paper...
4. using your rotary cutter and a ruler (!!!), cut out your freezer paper template pieces ON the seam lines...DO NOT allow for your 1/4" seam allowances at this point...
5. iron your freezer paper template pieces onto the back sides of your fabrics...template right side up/fabric wrong side up...use a dry iron...the plastic coating on the freezer paper works great!...(you'll want to arrange your templates in such a way as to make the best use of your fabrics...for the purpose of these pics, i wasted a bit more fabric than necessary)...=)...
6. using your rotary cutter and a ruler (!!!), cut your fabrics around the ironed-on freezer paper template pieces NOW ALLOWING for your 1/4" seam allowances...
7. fabric pieces all cut out with 1/4" seam allowances...
8. take your first two fabric pieces (templates #1 and #2), put them with your fabrics right sides together and, using pins, go through the fabric at the exact corners of your freezer paper template piece #1, then -
9. go all the way through your fabrics coming out at the exact corners of your freezer paper template piece #2...you are actually lining up your freezer paper template pieces...not necessarily the edges of your fabrics...that's why this method is foolproof - you are reproducing your templates exactly...=)...
10. because i am not such an experienced sew-er, i then pin the sides of the fabric pieces together and remove the first two pins i put in (dawn IS experienced and simply uses the first two pins leaving them in while she sews...i am positive i would somehow injure myself doing this...lol...see her original tutorial for how she does it)...
11. again, because i am not so experienced, i line up my sewing machine needle at my exact starting point before putting my presser foot down...then sew your two fabric pieces together using the freezer paper template piece edge as your guide...NOT the edges of your fabrics...
12. close up of stitching along the edge of the freezer paper template piece...
13. press the seam of your fabric pieces with your iron while the freezer papers are still on your fabrics...they really stablilize the fabrics and your pieces won't stretch or get all wonky...wonky? you know what i'm talking about, right?...=)... 
14. pic of first two fabric pieces pressed open...you can trim off those annoying little waste corners when you are finished with your block piece... 
15. continue with your next fabric piece (template #3) using the same steps as above...and so on and so on until your block piece is complete (however many individual pieces are in your particular pattern/template)...
16. one completed quadrant with nice sharp pointy points!...now you can remove your pieces of freezer paper and reuse them on your next block piece...how cool is that?...the plastic coating is good for several pressings with your iron so this method is great because you're not wasting a ton of paper...=)...and you can now trim off those waste corners...
17. AND my completed block with all four quadrant pieces sewn together!...hooray!
nice, huh? and it just couldn't be easier!
be sure to stop by dawn's blog and thank her for the original tutorial and leave a comment for the drawing for my giveaway!
thank you for stopping by!
28 comments...→:
What a great tutorial! So clear and easy to understand. In fact it's so easy that I realised that yes I have done this before! I did a class at a quilt show and made a star quilt which you can see here...
http://tinyurl.com/3v4nob ...
and I remember how wonderful it was! So much better than paper piecing and everything turned out perfectly pointy :) I can't help but notice how perfect your points are too!
As for the appliquing circles question you asked me, I think it may be time to do a tutorial! I will work on that. I suppose I should have done it long ago considering the name of my blog but it's never occured to me, so thank you!
One question - is your circle already turned under, or is that the raw edge?
We will talk soon ;)
I have never tried doing anything like this but the results were so neat that I am going to real soon. What a pretty square!!! Your directions are so clear and easily understood. And it is certainly inexpensive! Perhaps I will try this with the bright fabrics I have!
I have tried traditional paper piecing...and HATED IT!
This, however, looks like something I could do...and do it right....without using the seam ripper-over-and over-------
Thanks!
In all my bajillion years of sewing I've never ever heard of this. Seriously. Its a great method. I get it. If I had to read that and do it I wouldn't. I just couldn't. I love tutorials!!! YAYY. I just had a blogger ask me about how I paper piece applique and I found a blog with a tutorial and emailed it to her. Isn't that fabulous that we have all this info at our fingertips! It makes me almost emotional. Isn't that weird. I get excited to share and learn things with other super cool ladies like you. Great job. Bravo. And I'm going to look at Dawn's too. I will conquer my Dear Jane block that is supposed to be paper pieced this weekend. I may just be able to do it! I think I can, I think I can, I think I can . . .thanks T
Great tute,t !!! I'd like e to make me a couple of coasters with this pattern to match my h-d coasters !!! Sure hope i win the purple rotary cutter - we eat pizza often !!! Your blog is the best !!!
Oh WOW! Your tutorial is WONDERFUL! You did a great job, and I don't work often in brights and have fallen in love with those bright stars! You did wonderful with the tutorial and your block! I am so happy I inspired you and so happy you are enjoying it. And you know what.... you can buy freezer paper in sheets already 8.5x11! I"ll send you an email!
Wow, great job on the tute! I do love this method of paperpiecing too as I always hated pulling out all that paper!!!
Your tutorial is great! I will have to try this method soon!
Thanks for the super tutorial. You have a good eye for color with your star!
We'll I'll be... I'd never thought about doing it that way.. Very well done tutorial.
WOW! Wonderful tutorial! Thanks!
This looks like something I can try!!!
Great tutorial, and beautiful points!
What a great way to paper piece. And the photos are soooo perfect. I never tried paper piecing this way - I don't liek to ppaper piece - but this way could make want to try again.
Thank you so very much for this great tutorial.
Have a nice weekend.
Anne-Mette from Denmark
What an excellent tutorial! You make it look so easy I might just have to try it for myself.
Great pictures in your tutorial. That method reminds me a lot of the way Cynthia England does her paper pieced picture quilts.
http://www.englanddesign.com/
Wow. Amazing!
Wow! Thanks so much. I'm going to try your method today. I've been afraid to try paper piecing until now but I am inspired by your great directions & gorgeous results.
Julie
Wow! I've not tried paper piecing before but I'm going to try it today. Your instructions are perfect and your results are gorgeous. Thank you for the great tutorial.
Julie
A very clear tutorial, thank You . I must try this.
Oh my gosh I've used freezer paper for piecing before and loved it but not once did I ever think of running it through my printer . That's an awesome idea :)
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! You make it seem so easy! I can't wait to try it now! I am seriously not a technical person (ask lola, I call her whenever I have issues reading patterns, which is often), and this makes total complete sense to me! Again, thank you thank you thank you!
Thanks for the really clear tutorial. This is great! (Ahh...yet another new thing to try...)
Thanks for making this look so easy!
I never thought to use freezer paper to do this! Great idea! Now Ineed to get sewing!
I have been trying to figure out how to post a tutorial with numerous pictures. Yours is exactly like what I am trying to attempt. Did you load the photos in reverse order? If not, what is the secret! Plus I noticed that because the pictures are aranged in order you can click on them to enlarge....HOW!!!!! If you can help me I would really appreciate it. Thanks so much!
Morah
I use freezer paper to applique, but I'm glad to see that there is another use for it! I have a roll of freezer paper that it probably 5 years old because I only applique a little at a time. Thanks for the tutorial!
What a great way to PP. No pesky little slivers of paper to remove.
Great tutorial! Thanks!
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