Handpiecing Tips

Handpiecing Tips
Handpieced Blocks

Use 100% cotton thread in a heavy duty weight. I use Conso brand. Usually it's used for outdoor clothing or drapery construction. Polyester threads stretch and your seams will loosen over time.

I use plastic templates and poke a hole with a stiletto where the seams intersect. Mark this dot on your fabric pieces, match them up and sew dot-to-dot.

Make a one loop knot in the end of the thread to begin sewing....just enough to catch in the fabric without pulling through. I always make a backstitch to begin. Without it the knot pulls through after several seams are joined and I have both the knot and the end of the thread showing on the top of my quilt. Take a backstitch every 1.5" to 2". This prevents stretch and the possibility of breaking a thread and having the whole piece come apart. Backstitch at the intersection where you pass the needle through the seam. End with a backstitch and knot.

When hand piecing, never sew over the seam allowances. Hold the seam allowance out of the way with A Handpieced Block Example

your thumb and sew up to the dot previously marked for the seam intersection. Take a backstitch before passing the needle through the seam allowance at the dot. Backstitch on the other side of the seam allowance & continue sewing with a backstitch every 10-15 stitches.

It is not necessary to cut the thread for every seam as when machine piecing. To piece this diamond in a square, for example, use one piece of thread and sew triangle #1 to the diamond, backstitch, add piece #2, pass the needle through the seam allowance. Add #3 and #4 at the dot, backstitch & sew to end.

Also, choose a block pattern that would be difficult to piece on a machine. You'll feel like you're accomplishing more. Inset seams are no problem with handpiecing as you can pivot easily.

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