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Baste with Commitment and Consistency

When I started EPPing, I didn’t pay much attention to the advice that my corner folds should all point in the same direction. I was too busy figuring out everything else! When it came time to join pieces, however, I quickly learned that within the same project, you MUST be consistent about which edge of each corner you turn in first. If not, the shape may be distorted, and the seam allowances may collide with one another, making a neat fit difficult to impossible.

Still confused? We’ll work through it with an example.

Let’s say you’ve cut out a hexagon template, piece C. The fabric is a red polka-dot fabric, where the right side of the fabric is vivid and the wrong side is paler.

Rough-cut the fabric about ½" (1.3cm) out from all template sides (go down to a generous ¼" [0.65cm] for sharp, small triangles and points). Imagine that there are “L" and “R” markings at each corner, indicating its left and the right sides.

Fold in one side of each corner at a time. Here’s where you’ll make a MONUMENTAL commitment: do you fold in the LEFT side first, or the RIGHT side first? When I started making projects for this book, I decided to always fold the left corner in first, for no particular reason. If you prefer the opposite, follow the same procedure but turn the shape clockwise as you go. Whichever you choose, stick with it, not only for each entire block, but also for the entire project that you’re planning to stitch the blocks into. Yes, this might even turn into a lifetime commitment!

For all of the projects in this book, place the template on the back of the fabric, with the printed side of the cardstock facing up at you.

Hexagons

1. Start at the top corner (A). Fold the left side of the corner in. A dab of glue under the flap will help hold it. Put a dab of glue on top.

2. Next, fold in at corner 2, the right side of the corner, and press (B). At this point, I rotate the piece counterclockwise so corners 3 and 4 are at the top (not shown).

3. Fold in corner 3. Dab glue on top, and fold in corner 4. Continue to do corners 5 and 6, 7 and 8, and 9 and 10 (C to E).

4. For that last corner flap (number 11), tuck the seam allowance into and under the seam allowance between corners 11 and 12 (F). Notice how all of the folds are pointing counterclockwise.

5. This is what a hexagon basted this way will look like from the back (G).

6. This diagram shows how the finished piece would look with right sides folded in first. Notice how all of the folds are pointing clockwise (H).

Angular Shapes

With triangles and other shapes with sharp angles, it’s easier to see why you must stick with one folding direction. Folding sharp angles generates what EPPers call “tails,” “flags,” or “dog ears.”

1. Starting at the top, fold the left side of the top corner over to the right, at 1. Push side 2 over to the left, making a crease in flap 1 (A and B).

2. Turn the piece counterclockwise 90 degrees (C). Push down corner 3.

3. Fold corner 4 to the left. Rotate 90 degrees again. Fold corner 5 into and underneath flap 6 (D). Glue and, if you’re at the ironing board, press well.

4. Take a look at these oddly shaped pieces. They’re all folded the same way, with the tails pointing counterclockwise when viewed from the back (E). The second photo (F) shows the same pieces from the front—from this perspective, the tails point clockwise.

5. Here’s an equilateral triangle, front and back, with its three flags pointing in the same direction, counterclockwise from the back (G) and clockwise from the front (H).

Why Worry about Consistency?

You may think that this is all a bit compulsive. But when you start putting pieces together, you’ll be glad you did it. The seam allowances will nest underneath each other, making it easier to sew pieces together. For example, in the two photos of the red-and-white basted pieces, the seam allowances on both triangles point clockwise (from the front). Their tails will slide underneath each other, allowing them to fit snugly against one another (A and B).

In the back view of the star block (C), you can see how consistent pressing of seam allowances creates a neat whirl in the middle. Along the outer edge, the gold bar and blue triangle tails also nest together.

After you’ve finished basting, it’s time to piece the block together!