Butterfly (Paper Piecing) Tutorial

 Add butterfly color to the back facing out and pin  You can see that it fits the space #1 by holding it up to a light. Make sure it fits over all the seam lines for #1.

 Here's what it looks like from the side that will show.

Now add #2 fabric - in this case background. Pin if desired.

I always pin on the lined side - so while I'm sewing I can see the pins. Sew using strait stitches and small - 15 sts to the inch - so the paper is easily removed without ruining the stitches. Sew on the line between #1 and #2. Sew back stitches on each end.

 Now flip #2 and iron. Cut excess fabric off and trim seam allowances so the yellow doesn't show over the top of the background seam allowance, especially when using white. It'll show as a shadow once you are done. Explained better farther down.

Here's how it looks from the sewing side. I sure got plenty of #2 on there. You can trim that later after adding the next pieces.

 

 

 

 Now to add #3... It's a trickier piece because it extends farther out than the seam... see what I mean?
Sometimes when I don't know if the fabric will cover I'll pin it along the seam line - like below -  and flip it to see if there's enough.

 

Here's how that looks from the other side.

This is it flipped, and

here's how it looks flipped - showing that there is indeed enough fabric to cover #3B.

Unflip and sew from the lined side on the line between #2 and #3B... this is what you get.

 

Flipped back and ironed.

Sewn and showing that it covers all the outside  lines of #3B. On to #4...#5....#6 ... #7... #8 in the same fashion.

Here I'm showing you that the yellow is extending over the white seam allowance. You need to trim the yellow shorter than the white or it will show through the white as a shadow on your final product.

It's been trimmed (above). Now flip and iron. (Never trim the added piece until you have flipped and ironed.

 

Now on this particular pattern I sew the center seam next and make #9 and #10 as one piece each. It saves on bulk and fabric and I like the look better.... See that tomorrow when we finish off the tutorial.

 

Any questions - leave them as a comment or email me.

Happy Butterfly broadcasting.

Hugs,

Terri