Master AitchBee’s low-waste FPP technique and create a striking tote bag featuring a fun 3D effect!
Designed and made by AITCHBEE
FPP PROJECT
BEHIND THE QUILT IT’S ALL ABOUT THE FABRICS!
“I have always been fascinated by the three-dimensional illusions and impossible figures drawn by M.C. Escher and Bruno Ernst and have spent some time devising a whole series of quilt blocks based on their drawings. This design is certainly one which would be almost impossible to make by traditional piecing methods, so I will show you here how to complete it using my simple, low-waste Foundation Paper Piecing technique.
“Getting a 3D patchwork illusion to work depends very much on your choice of fabrics. Start by deciding which main colour you want to use and then choose a second colour as a contrast. I chose blue with a splash of orange. Select fabrics that represent three distinct shades of these colours – dark, medium and light (Fig 1). You also need to select a neutral background fabric that will complement both your main and contrast fabrics. Audition your fabrics by laying them next to each other in order, somewhere with good natural light. You can then either stand back and assess your choices or, alternatively, take a photo of your fabrics on your phone, which will give the same effect. A black and white photo on your phone will sometimes show the relative values of your fabric colours more clearly than a colour photo. If you can’t see a difference between two adjacent colours, you will need to swap one or more fabrics until you are happy with your final three. As you can see from my choices, I have used fabrics with small patterns, tone-on-tone prints and stripes. You could also use plain or shot fabrics. I always recommend that you use 100% cotton that has been made specifically for patchwork and quilting. Avoid directional prints if any change of direction will bother you and avoid large prints or multicoloured batiks where no two pieces cut from the same fabric will be the same colour.” – AITCHBEE
You Will Need
■ Main dark coloured fabric (dark blue) – One (1) fat quarter
■ Main medium coloured fabric (medium blue) – One (1) fat quarter
■ Main light coloured fabric (light blue) – One (1) fat quarter
■ Background fabric (neutral colour) – One (1) fat quarter
■ Contrast dark coloured fabric (dark orange) – One (1) fat eighth
■ Contrast medium coloured fabric (medium orange) – One (1) fat eighth
■ Contrast light coloured fabric (light orange) – One (1) fat eighth
■ Batting –
