by Mary Kay Mouton
Class Description
A series of 2-3 hour classes introduces a new system of foundation/paper piecing. With this system a wide range of quilt blocks can be constructed accurately and easily, each block on a single, undivided paper foundation.
The student will leave each class having learned 1 of the 13 techniques of Flip-Flop Paper Piecing, 1 technique taught per book chapter. Each student will have completed 2 or more blocks for each class.
Quilters from beginners to advanced foundation-piecers can enjoy learning this revolutionary new piecing system, the next generation of foundation piecing and the first truly new concept in foundation piecing of this century. Beginners can construct 6" blocks, while advanced piecers can produce both the 6" and the 2 1/4" versions of each block.
Class Length
Each class is ideally 3 hours, but could be compacted into a demo or expanded into a leisurely 6-hour format. If a demo, the instructor would have already completed each block up to the Flip-Flop portion, and would then demonstrate the Flip-Flop maneuver. A 6-hour format could teach more than 1 chapter per class or could present extra blocks for each technique, either 6" or 2 1/4".
Student Supply List
- Required text: Flip-Flop Paper Piecing by Mary Kay Mouton
- Steam-a-Seam 2 fusible strips, 1/4" wide roll (regular, not Lite)
- Pins, preferably thin, silk weight, but definitely no large, plastic heads
- Scissors for cutting paper and scissors for cutting fabric
- Fabric markers that are washable and will not heat-set with an iron (Fons & Porter's White Mechanical Pencil is highly recommended for dark fabrics and EZ Quilter's Disappearing Ink Pen for light fabrics)
- Awl, such as Dritz's Ergonomic Awl (or wooden cuticle stick or seam ripper)
- Thin, see-through ruler (not a thick ruler designed for rotary cutting)
- Iron, ironing surface, and small press cloth or release (parchment) paper to protect iron from fusible web
- Sewing machine with: 1) Open-toed foot (embroidery or other foot with good visibility of sewing line). 2) An 80 or 90 Sharp (Jeans) needle (or a 75 or 90 Titanium needle). 3) Thread and filled bobbin. 4) A single-hole (straight stitch) throat plate, if you have one.
- Extension cord for your sewing machine and iron
- Assortment of fat quarters (ideally darks, mediums, and lights), starched and pressed
Instructor Supply List
- Textbook: Flip-Flop Paper Piecing by Mary Kay Mouton
- Paper foundations for each block to be constructed. Foundations can be copied from Flip-Flop Paper Piecing (6" size for beginners and 6" and 2 1/4" sizes for advanced quilters). Pre-mark "green leg(s)" of each foundation with green highlight pen. (See Highlighted Instructional Blocks in each chapter to identify "green legs.")
- Cutting templates for each block to be constructed. Draft cutting templates for each block by tracing the different pieces needed onto graph paper. Use a ruler to add 1/2" (not 1/4") seam allowance along all sides.
Class Preparation
Any room with tables at which students can sew and outlets for sewing machines/irons is fine. Most tables will be adequate for 2 students, especially if they share an ironing surface.
Class Outline
- Distribute paper foundations and fabric cutting templates for each block.
- Instruct each student to select fabrics, and to mark each numbered space on their foundation with the fabric to be placed there (red stripe, pink dot, etc.).
- Instruct students to cut fabric for each piece needed. Explain that some pieces are extra large to cover 2 spaces at once (such as Piece 6 and 6 in Birds in the Air), and that all templates have 1/2" seams for easier fabric placement.
- Guide students through assembly of each block. If possible make a series of "in-process" examples of each block. The completion of each step of construction is illustrated by a partially completed block, demonstrating each step along the way from the beginning to the completion of the block. Extra-large, 15" in-process blocks are particularly effective.
