Flip-Flop Paper Piecing: Revolutionary Single-Foundation Technique Guarantees Accuracy [Paperback]

Mary Kay Mouton (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 16, 2009

Paper piece dozens of blocks you never could before with this revolutionary single-foundation technique. Includes foundations for 26 blocks.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Mary Kay Mouton is an award-winning quilter who has a passion for foundation piecing.

Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: C&T Publishing (March 16, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1571205403
• ISBN-13: 978-1571205407
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 8.3 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #405,348 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Flipping over Foundation Piecing, April 27, 2009

By 

Dawn (Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Flip-Flop Paper Piecing: Revolutionary Single-Foundation Technique Guarantees Accuracy (Paperback)

I'm lazy, but even with that character flaw, I want whatever I make to look perfect. Perfection in quilt making is assured with foundation piecing. That's the main purpose of foundation piecing -- perfection. And anyone who has striven for perfection knows you can't just willy nilly throw something together and expect accurate seams and piece alignment.

Foundation piecing has intimidated me for years. So when I picked up Flip-Flop Paper Piecing by Mary Kay Mouton my hands trembled. But her step by step directions accurately took me through the process, beginning with the clearest, most understandable directions for basic foundation piecing I have ever encountered. Then patiently she added her innovative approaches that eliminate the need for more than one foundation piece per square.

For a lazy, accident prone person like me -- yes I'm the one who sewed my blouse sleeve to my quilt top -- I instantly embraced the elimination of extra foundation pieces. After all what I want is accuracy from this technique and without the alignment of two foundations, I have a much improved chance for perfection, even given my own ummm imperfections.

I really understood her directions. And the visual aids made so much sense. The way she showed me that if I am patient and don't cut corners so to speak I can easily color code my foundations so I will know exactly what I should do and WHEN! There's no reason to fail with this technique if whoever uses this book patiently reads through the steps one by one from the beginning. This is not a book written for people who like to start at the back or middle and skim. It is laid out in a reasonable format building upon information and technique as the reader's skills and comfort increase.

In Mary Kay's guest blog on (my) Subversive Stitchers: Women Armed with Needles website ([...]) she explains how this technique came about:

"I was constructing a block featuring a plaid fabric. Because I am nothing if not compulsive, I wanted that plaid to look continuous across the block, to be perfectly matched. And yet, I was tired just thinking of fussy cutting each piece and sewing each so precisely that the plaid would appear undisturbed, though actually broken by other non-plaids pieces in the block.

Suddenly I thought, why not just plop the plaid fabric down on a printed paper foundation. Then insert the other non-plaid fabrics by sewing them from both sides of the foundation! The plaid would look continuous because it would be continuous, and it would be precise because it would be foundation pieced on a printed foundation. By golly, I was on to something here!"

I'm with her. It makes so much more sense to use one whole piece of fabric rather than try to cut and manipulate two or three or ten. Her technique gives me so much more control and it encourages me to experiment and use fabrics I might not have otherwise. Stripes, plaids, prints -- they all will work with accuracy.

A beautiful plus is the Flip Flop Sampler one can make from the patterns in the book -- including the appliques that adorn the top and bottom of the project.

Is this a technique I will instantly find easy and successful? Well, knowing my track record, I can see this is going to take some effort and patience on my part. But, I think perfection is worth it. Love, love love the book and C&T can't be beat for the photography, lay-out, balance of white space with text and graphics and clarity of concept. I think it is worth every cent and more! I think this technique ranks right up there with Georgia Bonesteel's lap quilting for innovation and techniques that change the quilting scene.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a great guide, May 5, 2009

By 

Joseph S. Panella (Bannockburn, Il United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Flip-Flop Paper Piecing: Revolutionary Single-Foundation Technique Guarantees Accuracy (Paperback)

I bought this book, and I really love this new method of foundation piecing. The technique is different than others I've tried before, but the detailed instructions and illustrations lead you step by step though each block. At first I wasn't sure where I was going, but once I got the hang of it, I loved it. I especially like the easy iron-on method of finishing part of many seams-no hand sewing or machine sewing, just fuse away! That's the technique for me, although machine sewing or hand sewing are other options given. I would recommend anyone interested in foundation piecing give this book a try. It's not the same old thing again, but something really new. And the blocks turn out so perfect, I'm proud to show them off, and glad I took a chance and learned something unique.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Magnificent, April 30, 2009

By 

Carmen Ellington - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Flip-Flop Paper Piecing: Revolutionary Single-Foundation Technique Guarantees Accuracy (Paperback)

I purchased this book and made a small quilt. This was my first paper piecing and it was such a pleasure. The book was easy to follow and the diagrams were outstanding. I plan to use it in the future to make a larger quilt. I have fell in love with paper piecing. I have been quilting for sometime and I love new ways of doing it. Thanks for the book.