Foundation Paper Piecing a Scottie Dog

I stumbled upon this Scottie Dog pattern on a website called Womenfolk.com a few years ago. I love this version of a Scottie because the proportions are nice and the fact that I can turn it on point is a fun extra!

When I posted a picture of this Scottie on Instagram the other day, I had several folks asking for a tutorial. So here you go!

The first thing to do is to print the Paper Pieced Scottie from the website. There is another set of templates for piecing with templates. For our purposes we will use the foundation paper pieced version. Foundation paper piecing is stitching right through the paper...so you will want to discard your sewing machine needle after you are finished or at least set it aside and reserve it only for stitching through paper.  

This is a 9 inch block...be sure to copy at 100%.

Now, let's gather the other supplies you will need.

   

You will need the pattern fabric scissors, paper scissors, rotary, ruler and a postcard or rewards card to use in folding.

It's also very useful to have some type of fabric glue. I will use Roxanne's Glue Baste-It.

Reduce the stitch length on your machine to about 1.5. This is necessary to perforate the paper so it is easy to tear away after the block is complete. Also the reduced stitch allows you to tear off the paper without pulling the stitches out.  

Of course, you also need fabric! Foundation paper piecing is a tad wasteful with fabric because you are over-sizing the fabric pieces and cutting back to size. As you become more proficient there is less waste. But for those of you that are using this method for the first time, I would give yourself a little more wiggle room and cut your pieces a bit larger as you go.

I cut my pieces for each section as I need them...not before sewing. 

The key point to remember when cutting your fabric for each section, is to cut it AT LEAST 1/4 INCH LARGER ON EACH SIDE THAN THE SECTION. You will be trimming back as you sew and you need that 1/4 inch for the seam allowance.  

This is an easy pattern to foundation paper piece, but in the future if you have a pattern with a sharp angle, you will need to cut your piece quite a bit larger to accommodate the angle. 

So let's begin...

Take the A section of your pattern and place a small dot of glue on the wrong side of the sub-section marked A 1.

  

A1 takes a background piece. Cut your piece at least a 1/4 inch larger on each side than the pattern. You don't need to cut it carefully, I would just try to remember to keep the straight of grain parallel with the straight edges.

The wrong side of your background fabric will be placed to the wrong side of the pattern. Notice my fabric is larger than sub-section A1. 

Flip the pattern, with the fabric glued to section A1, over and using your card, fold on the line between A1 and A2.

   

The card helps make sure you are folding on the line because you will not be able to see this line.

I am folding back on the line between A1 and A2. My fabric is completely covering section A1 and I still have at least 1/4 inch extra seam allowance on each side of section A1.

Place your ruler so that the edge of the folded paper is hitting the 1/4" mark on your ruler. You will cut along this line, leaving a 1/4 inch seam allowance.

   

Now take the fabric that will cover sub-section A2 (remember it needs to be larger than A2). Place that fabric with right sides facing on top of fabric A1. Be sure the right sides are facing!!! Also, be sure that the fabric is situated so it will completely cover A2 and leave 1/4 inch more on each side. If you can't see A2...hold the pieces up to a light or window and you will be able to see where this fabric needs to hit.

  Go to the sewing machine and stitch on the line between A1 and A2. 

Flip the pattern over and press these two pieces open. Then place your card on the line between A1, A2 and A3, again, fold. You will notice the extra fabric from A1 and A2 extending beyond that line. Place your ruler on the fold be A1, A2 and A3 and trim, leaving 1/4 inch seam allowance.

     

Once you have trimmed, cut a piece of fabric for A3 (larger than you need and to completely cover area A3). Unfold the paper pattern and stitch directly on the line between A1,A2 

and A3.

Press back the fabric, fold, again between A3 and A4, trim seam allowance. Cut fabric for A4, sew on the line between A3 and A4, press A4 back. And repeat for A5!!!

When you have finished an entire section, flip the pattern over and trim on the dotted line. This pattern has included the outer most seam allowance. If you come across a pattern that does not include the outer seam allowance you must leave a quarter inch on the outside of the pattern.

Continue in this manner for the B and C sections of the pattern.

  

When you get to the D section there is no sewing involved. But I place several dabs of glue to hold the fabric to this larger section.

Then trim around the template.

Now you are ready to sew all of the sections together. A to B, AB to C, and ABC to D.
You may want to place a little bit of glue along the seam allowance before you stitch the sections together to keep the fabric from shifting with the paper.

**As you work with this technique, it's important to remember to always leave a quarter inch seam allowance and that the fabrics should be placed right sides facing. With the reduced stitch length, it is difficult to take out stitches.**

After all sections are sewn together....give it a good press and carefully remove the paper.
It is a good idea to place your finger over the stitches in your seams as you remove the paper....just to be sure you don't rip out the stitches.

There you have it! A paper pieced Scottie!
xx mary

  

Tiny Cottage Pincushion Tutorial.....

Here is an easy little pincushion for you or for a friend....

I have made several little cottage cushions....some with embroidered flowers and some using felt as flowers....any way you decorate your cottage - it always looks sweet :)

First print out this pattern...I have given measurements so you can check and adjust your printer appropriately....

I cut a strip of fabric for the roof about 4" X 11" and a strip of fabric for the body of the house 4.5" X 11" 

Sew the two strips together using a 1/4 inch seam allowance....

Then fold this sewn piece in half width-wise {roof on top and body on bottom}.  Place your pattern on the fabric so the drawn seam line hits the sewn seam line on your fabric piece.....trace around the pattern with a pencil....

The drawn line will be your sewing line....NOT THE CUTTING LINE....reduce your stitch length and stitch on the drawn line leaving the entire bottom open for now. 

Trim around the stitched line leaving about 1/4 inch beyond the stitched line....

and turn the cottage inside out....

The bottom is open so I had easy access to add a door, windows and flowers - placing them where I wanted....it is your happy house!!!

If you notice on the pattern I have a dotted line just below the door running across the width of the house....be aware of this line while adding your embellishments...this line will be the bottom of the pincushion.

Once you have finished the embroidery and decorating :)  you will need to add gussets to add depth to your pincushion - this will allow it to stand....

Turn the pincushion inside out again so the wrong side is on the outside....with your sewing machine stitches still reduced, stitch from the opening space to the side you previously stitched and then stitch the other side of the opening space to the side of the house where you previously stitched....now you should just have the opening space open....Are You Still With Me?

   

To make the gusset, measure up from the bottom 1 1/2 inches....mark on both sides....meet the side seam and the bottom seam... this will create a triangle at the bottom....extend the 1 1/2 inch line across this triangle....and stitch on this line.  Do the same on the other side of the pincushion....

Once you have stitched across to create the gusset....trim the excess.... and now the bottom should look like this...

  

Then gently turn the cottage right side out and stuff firm....slip stitch the opening closed....and there you have it!  A cute little pincushion cottage!!!

***note*** if you would rather....you may add a quarter inch seam allowance to the pattern and follow your quarter inch foot for your seam.  This way you could add doors and windows before you have stitched.  For me it is easier to get a nice curve when I have a line to stitch on rather than a seam allowance.  Either way should work out fine :)

And here is a happy cottage using felt for the flowers!!!

Have fun....

mary:) 

A Tutorial for Critters In the Cabin.....

I have a little tutorial for my on point log cabin block on the Sew to Speak blog....

hop over if you like :)

Doctors appointment again today....and then, hopefully, a restful afternoon of sewing!

Hope you are sewing today....I would love to know what has been keeping you busy!

mary :)

I Have Decided on a New York Beauty!!!

I have been looking for the next project I want to work on...long term.  And I think I have decided to do a New York Beauty quilt.  Like the Pickle-dish, this is one I have always loved....so I found a few designs I like and did some paper piecing using freezer paper....

I also thought I would do a little mini-tutorial on the freezer paper technique....at least how I do it :)

Begin with your design and trace it onto the non-shiny side of the freezer paper.

Each quadrant of my design is separated into 5 parts and 3 of those will be paper pieced....the center circle I have decided to applique so I don't have a pieced center.

slide your design under the freezer paper and trace

Score the lines of your design with the back of your seam ripper....don't cut all the way through the paper...just score it to make it easier to fold the paper back.

Next cut your fabric so it is at least 1/4 inch larger than your design lines....I am using two fabrics and I will work on the first segment of my design {first triangle working from left to right}  Place a piece of fabric under the freezer paper template...the shiny side will be placed next to the wrong side of your fabric.

my fabric is placed under and extending beyond the lines of the first segment of my design

Using a dry hot iron press the freezer paper so it adheres to the first piece of fabric....then carefully peel back the paper so it is folded on the line of the first triangle.... 

Take your acrylic ruler and place it so the fold of the paper is lined up with the quarter inch mark on the ruler.  Slice the excess fabric so that a quarter inch seam allowance is left extending beyond the paper fold....

Now take your second fabric and place it so the right sides are facing and the raw edges along this quarter inch seam are lined up....

Stitch just along the side of the folded paper....be careful not to sew on the paper....just use the fold as a guide and stitch right next to it {I shorten my stitch length to 1.8}

Then unfold the second fabric...finger press along the seam....and then press the freezer paper again over the second fabric.  Now you will be working on the second segment.  Once the freezer paper is pressed onto the second segment...gently peel back the paper and fold along the next line.....again slice off the excess to leave the quarter inch seam allowance.

second fabric is unfolded...press the freezer paper again to cover the second segment and the second fabric

slice off the excess fabric leaving the quarter inch seam allowance

Continue in the same manner until you have filled in every segment of your design...

then trim around the outside of your design.  My pattern has the quarter inch seam allowance all the way around the outside so I did not need to leave a quarter inch seam allowance.  I trimmed along the outside edge of the paper pattern.  Carefully peel the freezer paper off of your pieced arc.

trimmed pieced arc

I have not sewn my quadrants together or my center circle....I think I will use a dotted fabric for the background....so I will be looking for the right background fabric....

I am not sure I will use this background....I need to audition other dots....

I very much enjoy this type of piecing...even though it can be a bit tedious.

Hope you are having a great Friday!

mary