Just thinking further forward - do most pieced blocks lend themselves to this method?

The folding and trimming sounds good - I think Margo does it that way doesn't she? I have called a halt for today (it's 10 in the evening) but will try that tomorrow!

Once I've got the first two bits of fabric sewn onto the foundation, I like to press them flat, then fold back the paper along the line of the next seam to be sewn. I then use my rotary cutter and a small 6"x1" ruler to trim the fabric sticking out to 1/4". Fold the foundation paper flat again, and line the edge of your new patch up with the trimmed edge and sew the seam. You then have a nice 1/4" seam and no further trimming is required. I also use the tip of pinning along the seam line so that I can flip the fabric over and check it completely covers where it's meant to. I find these two techniques make foundation piecing much quicker for me, I hated it before I did it this way

Thanks Margo for that link - I'll have a look at that in a bit - yes, quite right about taking time and stepping back for a break. Trying to do a feathered star while cooking for six is probably not the way to go!! I will definitely persevere with it though, because although slowly, I am getting there. I also pin through the sewing line to make sure I have got the pieces round the right way before I sew, thats a great tip. Hey ho - thanks for the replies !

Hey Sherry. We have like minds. I have a test block done and will make another because of short pieces on the outer edges and not enough seam allowance for star tip seaming (1/4 inch).Everything you have said is quite true, especially not trying to hurry through the whole project.

A couple of things I concentrated on while doing the January block:
Go slow. I found that if I let myself get in any kind of hurry at all I would make mistakes. Also, when I was ready to sew a seam I would put a pin right in the seam line. Then I would flip it over and fold the fabric piece into place to make sure it was landing right.
Hang in there! I agree totally that it is sometimes hard to get your brain into paper-piecing gear. I certainly did my share of ripping out and re-sewing. Had to re-print a couple of foundations. Had to walk away from it a time or two! But I stuck it out and made a decent feathered star.
Sherry

Hi all: One tip that I found out the hard way - make sure that your printed paper is "printed side out" before sewing. I had printed the pattern on very see-thru paper (foundation paper piecing paper), and that caused me to not realize that the paper was wrong side out! I could still see the notations because it was see thru. I ended up making 4-5 of the portions backwards and had to redo them! Quite frustrating.

Another tip, leave the paper on until the last moment. By the last moment, I mean... never cross a seam that has paper in it (it's too difficult to pick out). But if I have two long seams to sew together, it is much simpler with the paper still intact. It becomes much, much more accurate (I'm a beginner with this!!). Again, I right away, remove that paper within that seamline I just sewed, as you don't want to cross that seamline with another row of stitching. HTH

Jacky, I am dyslexic and also have a lot of trouble with the upside down and backwards stuff with paper piecing. When I did my tutorial for the feathered star I used the ADD-A-QUARTER ruler, and was able to get through the block with lots less mental gyrations! Check it out...maybe it will help!

http://good-times.webshots.com/album/569453221xrxRqK?vhost=good-times

Well, I am having a crack at the feathered star - I am usually a hand sewer and cut fabric with scissors! Add to that an illogical mind and there you have it! I will persevere but am finding the technique quite difficult - it is the back to front, flip things over that is getting me I think - the instructions are very good and hopefully I'll improve as I work through it - but it just doesn't seem to click with me. I also struggle with angles on rulers etc! By the way, I'm pretty sharp generally, but my mind doesn't work this way - any tips?