QUILTsocial Winter 2015-15 Issue | Page 42

Paper Piecing Percy the Snowman Nancy Devine If paper piecing intimidates you, watch our video with Nancy Devine demonstrating this technique every step of the way. It’s easier than you think. Once you’re done with the paper piecing part, it’s all fun and craft! Enjoy! English paper piecing is a great quilting technique to master. It uses up scraps and it’s a very portable hand sewing project for taking on long car trips, to waiting rooms, or any other place you could spend some time in the pursuit of the gentle arts. The current resurgence of hexagon quilting projects, and their 3-D cousins, pentagons, has inspired this little winter friend. You will need: •• scraps of white fabric (I used the same fabric for a uniform finish) •• the templates provided printed on regular computer paper •• card stock poster board scraps work very well •• a glue stick •• needle •• flexible thimble •• basting thread •• Gutermann thread to match the fabric •• good quality toy stuffing •• doll or mattress needle •• heavy duty thread •• glue gun •• wooden plaque •• white paint •• black paint •• orange paint •• snow texture paint •• bamboo skewer •• 22 gauge floral wire •• brown floral tape •• scrap of fleece •• one sock – the one that was left behind in the dryer… •• decorative buttons Percy is a snowman created using paper piecing. 42