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How to Machine Piece in the Hoop

Foundation pieced quilts, sometimes called paper pieced quilts, are made by sewing pieces of fabric onto a temporary or 
permanent foundation. This is another "in-the-hoop" technique that can be done very easily with an embroidery machine. 
This method is also referred to as "stitch and flip", as fabric pieces are stitched down and then flipped over.

Now you can produce near perfect patchwork blocks time and again, whether you’re a beginner or an experienced quilter.  

This is also a great way to use up those tiny precious fabric scraps that you can’t bear to throw away. Have fun with different 
colors and fabric types – combine cottons, silks and metallics for exciting effects.

The following tutorial demonstrates how machine piecing is done for our projects. The photos and instructions show our 
Crazy Heart project, however the principles apply to other designs of this nature digitized by The Purple Hat.

Our new "paper-piecing" projects will have a PDF instruction
 file with a numbered pattern grid like the one shown here, 
indicating the order in which the fabric pieces must be attached. 
Shown above is the numbered pattern grid for the Crazy Patch Hearts. 

Hoop stabilizer or fabric (this choice may depend on the 
particular project - please check your PDF instruction file 
for recommendations). Color 1 embroiders a pattern grid 
(without the numbers) for your project. 

Place a piece of fabric over patch 1. Make sure that it covers
 the patch area and is at least a ¼ inch larger on all sides. 
Secure in place with embroidery adhesive spray.
Color 2 attaches the fabric to your hooped stabilizer. 
Color 3 then embroiders the seam-line position for patch 2.

Cut a piece of fabric large enough to cover patch 2. 
Place the fabric on top of patch 1, right sides together, so 
that the edge of your fabric for patch 2 covers the seam-line position.

Color 4 attaches the fabric for patch 2. 
Trim the seam allowance and fold over. Finger press the 
seam line for a neat sharp edge.

Color 5 embroiders the seam-line position for patch 3.
Cut a piece of fabric large enough to cover patch 3. 
Place the fabric on top of patch 1 and 2, right sides together, 
so that the edge of your fabric for patch 3 covers the 
seam-line position.

Color 6 attaches the fabric for patch 3. Trim the seam 
allowance and fold over. Finger press the seam line for a 
neat sharp edge.

Continue adding patches, following the numbered sequence 
until all your panel areas are covered. The next color will 
stitch around the overall shape to keep all the applied fabrics
 nice and flat.

Please note that these instructions only apply to 
The Purple Hat's projects. Pieced in the hoop projects 
available from other designers may use different 
construction techniques.

This particular design is embellished with decorative stitches
and motifs. Follow the color change instructions to add these
details to crazy patch heart.  

Copyright subsists in all artwork, embroidery designs and projects and literary work as defined in the South African Copyright Act No. 98 of 1978.
All embroidery designs and projects on this website are copyrighted. Designs, or parts thereof, may not be shared, resold individually or as a 
package, or used in lessons without our consent. Designs may be stitched on items to sell.