Easy Tips for Strip Piecing in Your Quilt Blocks

Strip piecing is a process that involves sewing long strips together and then cutting them into smaller segments that you can use in your quilt block. It can save time and thread. But if can also cause issues in your finished block if the strip pieced units aren't accurate.

Here are my best tips for strip piecing!

Strip Piecing Tips

Sew accurately. Variations in seam allowances can multiply errors across your strip set and cause your segments to be too small or too large. Use a 1/4" foot with a guide on your sewing machine or use a seam guide on your machine, like Diagonal Seam Tape. Use a leader scrap of fabric to start sewing on first, so you get smooth stitches as you sew onto your strips. Sew slowly and pin as needed.

Press smoothly. For best results, press seams after adding each strip. Make sure your iron is dry (not steam) to avoid distorting the fabrics. Press from the front of your fabric to ensure there are no folds or tucks along the seam. Press in one long, smooth motion using your free hand to hold the strip set straight. If your seam curves or gets wonky, press again.

Cut carefully. First, square up one end of your strip set by aligning the lines on your ruler with the seam lines. When cutting segments, align the lines on your ruler with the trimmed edge and the seam lines (not the top/bottom of the strip set). If you have trouble seeing the seam line of your pieces (sometimes this can happen when your fabrics are dark or similar in color to one another), turn the strip set so the wrong side is facing up and align the lines on your ruler with the stitches.

Thanks for joining me for "happy hour",

Lindsay