Schoolhouse Block
Hello! I am happy to share a (finished) 9-inch Schoolhouse Block!
In this blog post, I will go through a brief tutorial on Foundation Paper Piecing this block. I used FPP to create my blocks. There are others who might choose to piece in the traditional way or even to use EPP. I am including templates that can be used for either of these methods.
TEMPLATES FOR TRADITIONAL PIECING OR EPP
FOUNDATION PAPER PIECING TEMPLATES
First, we will need to gather a few supplies.
Fabric for the background and fabric for the house parts.
Copy and cut the FPP templates. Cut out on the perforated line.
A postcard or card stock for helping to fold the paper back on the solid line.
Temporary glue stick, or Roxanne's Glue Baste-It, or pins for holding paper to fabric.
Rotary and acrylic ruler
Iron
Fabric scissors and paper scissors
** Reduce the stitch length on your machine. I reduce to 1.5 on my Janome.
Cut out the templates for the FPP and cut on the perforated lines.
You may want to pencil in the color and background sections on the templates.
We will start with template A. Notice that the template sections are numbered. For FPP we will work in numerical order and for template A that will be 9 sections.
Beginning with section 1, place a dab of glue to the wrong side of section 1 to hold your fabric in place. Now, place your colorful fabric for section 1 with the wrong side of the fabric facing the wrong side of section 1. You will need to make sure that your fabric for section 1 (and all fabric scraps for FPP), is large enough to cover that section plus allow for a 1/4-inch seam allowance on all sides. As an example, if my section is 2 inches by 2 inches, my fabric needs to be at least 2.5 inches by 2.5 inches. I usually cut my pieces much larger than needed to be on the safe side.
Once your colorful fabric is placed, WST, on section 1, take your postcard or cardstock and lay it on top of the solid line between section 1 and section 2. Fold the paper of section 1 back and trim the colorful fabric leaving a 1/4" seam allowance.
Then take your background piece and place it with right sides facing the colorful piece in section 1. Place raw edges together. Remember your background piece needs to be larger than the area of section 2. Unfold the paper so you are looking at the right side of the A template. You will stitch on the solid line between section 1 and section 2. Begin and end on the solid line. You do not need to stitch into the seam allowance. In fact, when we get to the roof, there are a couple Y-seams and you need to have the seam allowance free of stitching.
Flip template A over and press the fabric from section 1 and section 2.
We now have section 1 and section 2 covered. Repeat this process to create section 3. Place your postcard on the line between section 2 and section 3, fold the paper over and trim your 1/4" seam allowance. Place the fabric for section 3 with raw edges matching and right sides together with section 2. Stitch on the solid line between 2 and 3. Press.
Repeat this process and proceed in numerical order until you have finished Template A. Give Template A a press and looking at the right side of the Template trim any excess fabric. The templates have the seam allowance included on the perimeter, so you do not need to add a 1/4" seam allowance.
Continue to stitch Templates B, C, D, E and F. Note that Templates E and F don't require any stitching. Simply glue baste your background fabric to E and F, then trim.
Once you have all sections complete, it's time to attach the Template pieces together! I begin by adding A and D together. The right side of Template D has an engineered corner, which makes lining up to Template A very easy. Pin Template D to Template A stitch along the solid line.
Next is the first Y-seam! Take Template B and pin the long straight edge to the matching edge on Template A. Stitch from the bottom to the point where the house meets the roof on Template A. Remember to stitch only on the solid line. Backstitch at the point where the roof begins. Remove your work from the sewing machine and pivot the pieces to match the roof top in A and D. Begin at the roof top (not in the Y-seam corner) and stitch to the point where the roof begins to angle. Again, stitch only on the solid line and backstitch when you reach the Y-seam.
Now it's time to add the chimney to your schoolhouse. Add Template C to the top of Template D. Match ends and pin. Stitch on the solid line.
The final pieces to add are the two background pieces E and F. Unfortunately, these also have a bit of a Y-seam. Proceed in the same manner as before with the Y-seam in Templates A and B. Begin at the bottom of Templates E and F. Pin in place and end stitching at the Y-seam and backstitch. Remove your work from the machine and match the top and pin in place. Stitch from the top to the Y-seam and backstitch. Make sure you are beginning and ending on the solid line.
When you have finished your block, give it a press and you can remove the papers now or after you have finished your quilt!
Pat yourself on the back! You have a lovely Schoolhouse Block!
