Snowflakes Freezer Paper Shapes – Page 2

As promised, if you just want to dabble into English Paper Piecing, but still end up with a sweet and eminently useable project, this version of my free Spring Basket pattern is just the thing for you!

To make this version of the basket, you’ll follow all the original steps as posted on Sew Mama Sew with just these few modifications:

You’ll need a 32 inch x 6 inch piece of fabric for the outer basket, and only 16, 2.5 inch square-ish scraps for the hexagons.

Prepare and baste 16, 1 inch hexagons. Lay them out and sew into a zigzag line as shown. Then join the two end hexagons together to form a ring. Press well and remove the papers. If you are new to English Paper Piecing, here is the information you need.

Using the extra pattern piece marked [Outer fabric- non-pieced version only], cut four pieces from your outer fabric and sew together as described for the lining pieces.

Line up your ring of hexagons 1/2 inch from the top edge. The top left corner of every fourth hexagon should line up with a seam in the outer fabric. Pin well, then topstitch with your machine on both edges of the ring. (Or hand applique if you are more comfortable with that technique.)

You can cut away your base fabric from behind any light-colored hexies if it shows through. Be sure to leave 1/4 inch seam allowance.

Follow the rest of the project as written. Then, start a new English Paper Piecing project and use this basket to store the pieces 🙂

Visit www.FarawayRoad.com or my Etsy shop to buy a starter kit for this project which includes Snowflakes Freezer Paper Shapes and the In-R-Form stabilizer you’ll need to get going!

Thanks for reading!

❤ Jessie

Now that “Baby Vivian” is firmly a toddler, I want to talk about another little pet project I’ve been nursing along in my spare moments. I’m so excited to announce it here today!

You all know I love English Paper Piecing. Well, I like to use freezer paper templates for my EPP, and I used to wish and hope and Google in vain for a supplier of precut freezer paper shapes. No luck. Eventually I realized that I could be the one to supply them for everyone!

So for the past year or so I’ve been working with a great company to create the dies and have these shapes professionally cut, working with another company to get some packaging created, setting up a website, and of course basting and sewing hundreds and hundreds of little shapes. (In the name of research, y’know?!) I’ve even quietly sold a few packs on my Etsy shop. It’s been so fun.

So… why freezer paper? Quite simply, because freezer paper sticks to your fabric with just a touch from the iron. Then you can just eyeball your seam allowance as you cut around the paper. No tracing around a plastic template and cutting on the lines. The freezer paper sticks to the fabric while you baste the edges, eliminating the need for pins or paper clips. Nothing for your thread to get caught on!

Furthermore, some instructions for EPP would have you start by cutting out your own paper shapes from freezer paper or card stock. That is time that I could be playing with my fabric and sewing, so I’d much rather NOT hand cut a billion paper shapes, thank you very much! Snowflakes are professionally die cut, saving you that time of cutting them yourself, and giving you more accurate results too! I have five shapes in 3-4 sizes each and I’ll be adding more shapes as we go along. In fact, I’m finalizing my next additions now, so if you have a shape you’d like to see, I’d love to hear your opinion!

To celebrate my “soft launch” I’ve got a free pattern for this little Spring Basket over on Sew Mama Sew today! It’s a sweet and rather quick little project (as far as EPP goes), but if you just want to dip your pinky toe into English paper piecing, I’ll be posting a variation later today that’s even quicker. I have a starter kit for sale both in my Etsy shop and on FarawayRoad.com that includes the Snowflakes Freezer Paper Shapes for this project and enough In-R-Form stabilizer for one basket.

For those of you who are curious about EPP but have never tried it, check out my YouTube tutorials here. In the meantime please check out my shop and let me know what shapes you’d like to see Faraway Road produce next!

Thanks for reading!

Love,

Jessie