We LOVE these Postcard Projects by Jen Kingwell! Fabric piecing has never been more fun and simple, with short and sweet instructions and easy to use acrylic templates. Projects can be made by hand or machine, and you can stop at any size! These Postcard Projects make piecing as easy as a snap!
With 18 beautiful designs to choose from, the most difficult part is deciding which to try first!
Simple Steps
The JKD Postcard Projects are perfect scrap busters, but you can also create a coordinated look.
Featured: JKD Postcard Project #14 (Rhomboid).
Using the Sewline Trio Chalk Pencil, trace around the outside edge of the acrylic template on the backside of your fabric. Working on top of this JKD Sandpaper Board makes tracing templates so much easier! It grips the fabric and prevents distortion.
Make a registration dot through each hole of the acrylic template.
Use a straight edge of the template to draw a line from dot to dot. If you line up the guidelines on the acrylic template with your drawn outside edge, you'll get a perfect quarter inch seam allowance as you draw from dot to dot.
Cut along the drawn outside edge. The Kai 6-2/3" Professional Scissors have a serrated edge that grips the fabric as you cut and turn corners, making them the absolute best for easy and precise cutting.
For a chevron pattern like this, you'll need to flip the template when tracing half of the shapes.
Lay out your pieces and play around with different arrangements.
Once you've decided on an arrangement, you'll follow the piecing instructions on the back of the postcard. For Postcard Project #14, we needed to sew the rows together first. Place the fabric pieces right sides together and line up the edge to be sewn. It's important to start by pinning your points. Be sure the pin goes through the dot on both pieces of fabric. Add one more pin in the middle for security, and you are ready to sew.
These blue and red Little House Applique Pins work so well for precise pinning!
If machine sewing, remove the pins as you go, and be sure to start exactly on the dot. Sew a few stitches forward and a couple stitches back. Next, sew down the line, stop exactly on the end dot, and backstitch.
Jen Kingwell is a huge fan of stitching multicolored fabrics using Aurifil Cotton Thread, particularly in the Antique Blush shade. She claims that it beautifully merges with all the colors, and we absolutely agree!
Continue pinning and sewing more pieces to create a row the length of your choice.
After creating your rows, it's time to sew them all together! Remember to pin with precision, and be sure to stop and backstitch when you get to each seam. Pressing is much easier if the seam allowances are left free. We took this tip and more from Jen Kingwell's quilter's handbook, Show Me Your Tips. It's a fantastic guide!
TIP: Only press your seams once your block is complete, and be sure to press to the side if hand piecing. For the best result, be sure to mist with Flatter Smoothing Spray!
Postcard Partners
Combining shapes is always fun! Check out these awesome Postcard Partners that combine multiple Postcard Projects!
