English Paper Piecing 4 - Fussy-cutting: on point and square

How you fussy-cut your fabrics will have a dramatic effect on the look of your paper piecing. Using stripes and geometric prints on the outer edge of diamond shapes will act as a frame around fussy-cut motifs for the centre and surrounding 8 hexagons as shown in the sketch above. Consider whether you need to fussy-cut with the featured motif "square" or "on point" to achieve the desired effect. This example is taken from the quilt: "Josephine Baker meets Carmen Miranda"

These hexagons above are all cut "square"

These hexagons above are cut with the motif or stripe "on point"

Levens Hall Quilt

The original Levens Hall quilt (c.1708) has been quilted in a red cross-hatched grid, about 1/2" all over.  My quilting, also in red thread, is cross hatched about 1 1/2" all over.  Crosses, octagons and lozenge shapes have been fussy-cut to showcase special fabrics.

                           

Detail of the panel of squares in the border